Superman (2025) Movie Review – The symbol of hope gives life to a new DC Universe

The Review Geek

11-07-2025

The symbol of hope gives life to a new DC Universe
James Gunn had a big task in his hands. With the new Superman, he not only had to make a compelling superhero movie, but also an exciting and fresh start to his DC Universe. And what a great universe it'll be, because he excels at both. In fact, he finally gave us the first real Superman film in a long time.
Lex Luthor attacks Superman on all fronts, hurting him and trying to make the hero the public enemy number one. That puts him in the middle of a war between two foreign countries, becoming a symbol of hope outside the US.
That's one of the best things about the movie. Instead of a god-like figure or the representation of the American dream, Superman is a hero for the whole world. Meaning, he exudes compassion and hope, just like in his best comic book stories.
And we can see that by everything he does, even small gestures. In the middle of a kaiju fight, he stops to save a squirrel from getting crushed. It might seem like a one-off joke, but it's as meaningful as when he puts himself in harm's way to save a child, for example. He truly is a hero for all.
When the oppressed country reaches the climax of the armed conflict, we get the movie's best moment. A group of kids raise a flag, not of their nation, but of the hero. In that moment, you know everyone in the theatre is thinking, 'That's who Superman is.' It's hard not to get emotional.
Many actors have said this during interviews, but it's incredible how David Corenswet makes a clear distinction between the hero and Clark Kent with his acting and appearance. The whole cast deserves praise, mainly Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor) and Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane).
Lex is just as smart and petty as he needs to be. Seeing how he can quickly switch from the cruel archnemesis to a cartoonishly evil character is delightful. The script works for both the serious and the more light-hearted side of the plot. We can never forget that what a superhero story needs to be at its core is pure fun.
Gunn fully understands that, never letting the movie take itself too seriously. It knows when it must take a step back to focus on the doubts in Clark's mind and how to overcome them. But it also knows when to have Lex use internet-savvy monkeys to harass Superman online.
But it's a two-way fight against Lex, and Lois Lane is an important player in this confrontation. It's interesting seeing her in that role, as the romantic interests in superhero stories usually don't have another purpose besides that, especially if they're regular citizens.
However, Lois holds her own as a character and shows how much she cares about justice and truth. All while making the Daily Planet — the newspaper where she and Clark work — an integral part of their universe.
As James Gunn's mission with Superman isn't just making an origin story, but starting the DCU, that's essential. He introduces Krypto (who we'll see again in the Supergirl movie) Metamorpho, and the Justice Gang, composed of Mister Terrific, Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl.
All of them are building blocks for something bigger, but they're a natural part of this movie as well. It doesn't feel like a superficial attempt to fit them into this narrative. Not to mention, Krypto and Mister Terrific are so well-written that they are two of the best characters in Superman.
However, having all these moving pieces to adjust also means that they aren't getting the same amount of care. Gunn doesn't fumble any of them, but they leave a few things to be desired. Even Lex Luthor feels like he could have been a greater villain if he had more time.
Also, Gunn handles all of them by making the film incredibly dynamic. That means the movie rarely stops and lets the emotion sink in. Superman doesn't feel rushed, but a few scenes could have hit harder if the next one didn't need to come so soon.
Still, Gunn understands the medium enough to know when to cut a few things. We never see the fall of Krypton or Superman arriving as a baby, because we don't need to. He knows this is common knowledge, just like Spider-Man losing his uncle, for example.
And James Gunn is in his element, and it shows. It's fun, has the right dosage of jokes, and can make you jump out of your chair in excitement. At one point, there's even a musical fight scene that seems straight out of Guardians of the Galaxy.
After seeing this movie, it's hard to think of a better director for it. Superman gives us the symbol of hope we need with heart-pounding action and great special effects. The new DC Universe breathes.
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