Superman (2025) Movie Review Spoiler Free

The caped boy scout in the onesie is back, after just a year of ending the DCEU, big blue flies back onto the screen, kicking off the new DCU in a messy, solid flick. 

Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi

Director: James Gunn

Cast: David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Brosnahan, Nathan Fillion, Edi Gathegi, Maria Gabriela de Faría, Anthony Carrigan, Sara Sampaio, Skyler Gisondo & Isabela Merced.

Run Time: 129 min.

US Release: 11 July 2025

UK Release: 11 July 2025

German Release: 10 July 2025

It’s finally out: one of my most anticipated movies of the year has landed on the big screen! If you read any of my previous reviews, you’ll know that I am a massive comic book reader. While Clark himself isn’t in my top five ( he was always a bit too perfect and overpowered), I really enjoyed Snyder/Cavill’s depiction of the Last Son of Krypton. So, given Gunn’s success with Guardians, as well as his soft reboot of The Suicide Squad, I was looking forward to see what he would bring to the table. I liked the characters, but the film itself was… okay. So soar with me through Metropolis as I review Superman.

Clark Kent, a.k.a. Superman, must reconcile his alien heritage with his earthly upbringing. But when wealthy industrialist Lex Luthor frames the Man of Steel for an international incident, the Kryptonian soon finds himself facing a world that sees his ideals as old-fashioned.

In the midst of the DCEU chaos, Warner merged with Discovery, with Zaslav taking over as Warner’s new CEO. Wanting to restructure the messy interconnected cinematic universe, Zaslav approached Gunn, asking him to write a Superman film, originally conceived as a standalone. Later, a Cavill-led Man of Steel sequel was considered, but in October 2022, Warner announced Peter Safran and James Gunn as co-heads of the newly reformed DC Studios. With that, the DCEU was done, paving the way for a reboot of DC’s cinematic universe.

Let’s talk about the director’s script, focusing on its strengths first. He clearly understands who the “Man of Tomorrow” is, something  Snyder’s versions never fully captured. The tone plus atmosphere is very lighthearted, suiting the character perfectly, without needing to sacrifice on darker themes. Then there is the earnest attempt at exploring hope, kindness, just like empathy. Finally, the pacing is overall solid, never dragging.

That said, there are some serious issues. For one, the plot is overcrowded with characters that could easily have been trimmed or given less screen time. As it stands, smaller supporting roles fade into the background to make way for Guy Gardner and his Justice Gang, who ironically aren’t even explored that much either. While the pacing is consistent, it rarely lets important scenes breathe, rushing from one action sequence to the next. Structurally, it’s uneven, with some major emotionally manipulative beats.

The dialogue shines in quieter moments, with honest conversations between Clark and Lois. Unfortunately, those instances are too few and constantly disrupted by the Gunn’s trademark humour. The emotional impact of some scenes would have hit harder if the comedy had been dialled down.

Character-wise, too many are introduced for what should have been a focused reboot. The core Superman cast gets lost in a sea of unnecessary cameos.. Instead of Guy Gardner with his Justice Gang, I would have preferred more Perry White, more Jimmy Olsen… hell, or even a deeper dive into the toxic dynamic between Lex and Eve’s relationship.

David Corenswet, as Clark Kent / Superman, is a fantastic casting choice. He not only looks the part, but he also brings an endearing sense of naivety and idealism to the role. His Kal-El trusts everyone because he believes in the good of the people. He’s not perfect, though; he gets frustrated when being misunderstood or falsely accused, because in the end, he is only human. Unfortunately, we don’t get a lot of Clark in his human form. 

Rachel Brosnahan is equally great as Lois Lane. Brosnahan perfectly captures Lois’s determination as a reporter, relentlessly chasing the next big story like a dog with a bone. I liked how her sceptical, world-weary nature balanced out Clark's overly trusting being. Brosnahan’s chemistry with Corenswet is also off the charts. 

Nicholas Hoult delivers an impressive turn as Lex Luthor. Though I still prefer the more nuanced performance by Michael Rosenbaum, Hoult gives, undoubtedly, the best big-screen performance of Lex yet. He is a narcissist whose fragile ego would rather see the world burn than let the world accept Superman as their hero.  If he can’t be humanity’s saviour, no one can.

The biggest surprise, however, is Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific. I did not expect him to have such a large presence. He is sharp-tongued, smart and adds much-needed energy in the second act. His banter with Kal is very entertaining. 

The cinematography in this superhero blockbuster is simply stunning. The camera uses handheld, yet stabilised shots during action segments, giving the scenes a grounded dynamic. This gives way to a more focused style of storytelling, while the aspect ratio of 1.85:1 adds more immersion. The colour is brighter, more saturated, reflecting the hero’s world views of hope plus kindness. 

A major highlight is the effects work. The seamless blend of practical effects and CGI gives the film texture and realism, especially during the flying sequences, which are jaw-droppingly gorgeous. When the movie leans too heavily on CGI, the quality dips slightly, but never enough to ruin the experience. The costume and set designs embrace a “punk-rock” edge that surprisingly fits the tone.

The soundtrack, composed by John Murphy and David Flemming, modernises John Williams’ classic theme with a rock twist. Upbeat rock tracks sprinkled throughout further energise key scenes.

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Verdict: Leaving the cinema, I could not help feeling a little underwhelmed. Though James Gunn succeeds at creating an engaging Superman, the story itself is a little lukewarm. It would have probably fitted more to scale it down, focusing on a smaller narrative, for a reboot’s first entry. That said, the flick shines in an optimistic tone, as well as a hopeful atmosphere, reflective of the hero’s ideals. The cinematography is a big win, making use of handheld, stabilised cameras that give the whole picture an energetic, yet anchored look. The action segments are well handled, the flying scenes are jaw-droppingly beautiful, and the bright colours enhance the feeling of hope. Sadly, it throws in too many characters, making it impossible to focus on the important ones, while the ill-timed comedy disrupts emotional moments. I would have wished for a more focused version of the movie. Superman obtains a hopeful 7.0 out of 10. 

So what did you think of 2025's big-screen return of the Caped Boy Scout? Do you agree with me? Thank you as always for reading & if you like these reviews, don’t forget to like, subscribe & share.