On July 11, 2025, fans of the world’s most famous superhero made their way to the cinema to watch the newest Superman movie. After years of waiting, fans were pleased to see their hero on the big screen again, this time with a new face and revitalized aesthetic. The movie is another adaptation of DC Comics, where a young man who has special powers has to save the world using not only his superpowers, but also his kindness and likability. Directed by James Gunn, this spectacular movie was a box office success, making over $569 million dollars and achieving a score of 83% from critics.
The story follows the character Clark Kent, Superman, played by David Corenswet and his struggles with being a hero who fights for justice, truth and hope. While Kent is battling between his roles internally, his archenemy Lex Luther, Nicholas Hoult, is plotting something to end Superman’s life and destroy Metropolis as a whole. As a character, Lex Luther really shows the audience how much he despises Superman and Hoult does an incredible job of showing passion against him. The actor really allows movie watchers to root for Superman and go against the villain who is truly evil.
“I was surprisingly interested in the movie. It will either have you laughing, smiling, shocked or maybe even crying. Though I had never watched a Superman movie before, I kind of just thought he’d act corny. I had read a few comics in previous years and I never really took an interest in that type of superhero stuff, but as soon as I finished watching the movie, my mind had been changed. He wasn’t corny at all, he was a hero,” sophomore Ja’khiylah Rainey said.
An element that made this movie a hit was its hopeful tone that allowed viewers to leave the theatre with a smile on their face. As rumors of the movie coming out circulated, fans took to the internet to share their opinions on how they thought David Corenswet would portray this beloved character. Compared to the previous three actors who have played Superman in the past, Corenswet portrayed Superman as a more optimistic, kind-hearted and modern hero. This change in tone a positive one, as the difference did the character justice, showing how Superman is a character who is lovable and dear to many.
A key difference this movie has against the others was the CGI and practical effects Gunn included in the movie that really brightened up the screen. Although it is evident that the older movies came out with different advancements in technology, Superman 2025 really took it to the next level.
The opening scene of the movie is a shot of the superhero flying through a snowy scene, this is one of the most talked about parts of the movie and one of the most modern as well. Gunn explained to fans that they shot the scene using large screens in the background instead of CGI, allowing realistic lighting and depth. Not only did this expert technique allow Corenswet to perform more realistically, movie watchers were able to feel the speed and force Superman was going at, giving the movie a unique touch.
“I liked it a lot… I mean it was the first Superman movie I’ve watched and I really enjoyed it. I loved how Superman was portrayed, how balanced both his personalities were and how “human” he was by doing the morally right thing. I always thought he was always showing off in a pretentious manner, but by watching this movie, I realized that he actually does care and wants to do the right thing. I’m glad Superman fans got this great rendition of the movie,” sophomore Lua Paz said.
Another admirable thing about the film is the political references. The story introduces a fictional Eastern-European country that is on the verge of breaking into pieces, due to corruption. The conflict gives Superman the dilemma of whether or not he should intervene with the war, skillfully adding suspense to the plot. .
“Superman 2025 was packed with positive messages while still showing parallels to political events happening in real life. I hadn’t watched any Superman movies before this, I knew he was supposed to be a hero and child friendly, he saves anyone no matter their background, and the new movie really showed that,” sophomore Loren Teran said.
Though the movie had rave reviews, there were a few criticisms about how childish the movie was. A few fans thought the movie was too bright and optimistic, which goes against the original dark and moody act the other Supermen have. They believed that the creators made the superhero too silly and unserious, as Kent saying dad jokes here and there gave the character a cartoony TV show energy.
Many also thought the movie had too many plots going on at once, which took away from the main story. Reviewers believed the modified backstory of Superman’s presence on Earth had no purpose in the movie, causing it to be more cluttered and making it overstuffed.
“The plot of the movie was very good. I hadn’t heard anything about Superman that most people didn’t know already, but I was shocked when his parents basically brought him on Earth to be a villain, not a superhero,” sophomore Alejandra Perez said.
All in all, the new superman movie reinforced how much of a heroic figure Superman is to the world. From being emotional and dark, to showing hope and kindness in such a bleak world, the movie allowed groups of people to connect to the plot and believe that kindness is always important. Though all of the actors do an amazing job of playing the character, it is clear why the audience and critics love David Corenswet’s portrayal of the character and are very much excited to see what’s next for the Superman franchise.
