Superman

Director: James Gunn
Starring: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Ed Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, Wendell Pierce, Sara Sampaio, María Gabriela de Faría, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Nina Howell, Mikaela Hoover, Beck Bennett, Christopher McDonald, Bradley Cooper, Angela Sarafyan, Alan Tudyk, Michael Rooker, Pom Klementieff
Running Time: 129 min.
Rating: PG-13

★★★ ½ (out of ★★★★)  

In the decades following Richard Donner's Superman and its 1980 sequel, there's been this massive struggle over how to best present a new film that would again do justice to an iconic character. But from the slavish homage that was 2006's Superman Returns to Zack Snyder's broodier take on the material with his divisive Man of Steel in 2013, no one's really been able to crack the code since. 

Part of the problem stems from just how familiar we are with the origin story, putting the franchise in a precarious spot where DC's entire future hinges on studio chief and writer/director James Gunn's ability to somehow work around it. But within the first few minutes of 2025's Superman, he does just that, as a few sentences of text appear across the screen to concisely bring us up to speed. 

We're immediately off to the races with composer John Murphy's spine tingling new version of John Williams' iconic score as backdrop, giving us our most promising sign in years that someone may finally get this right. And with our hero's beaten and bloodied body prone on the ground, Gunn already sheds much of the baggage that's held this property down by simply getting right down to business. From then on, there's no looking back, which isn't to say the movie's flawless, just that it seems to grasp Superman's essence in a way other attempts haven't. 

After stopping the nation of Boravia from invading the neighboring country of Jarhanpur, Superman (David Corenswet) is left battered by an armored metahuman assassin known as the "Hammer of Boravia" before rambunctious super dog Krypto drags him back to his Fortress of Solitude to heal. But upon returning to Metropolis, Superman discovers billionaire Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) has unleashed a monster kaiju on the city, getting help to fight it from"Justice Gang" heroes Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Mr. Terrific (Ed Gathegi) and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced).  

As Superman's interview with Daily Planet colleague and girlfriend Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) puts a temporary strain on their relationship, Luthor and his mercenaries Ultraman and The Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría) have infiltrated Superman's fortress, restoring a controversial message from his birth parents, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van (Bradley Cooper and Angela Sarafyan) that turns the public and government against him. Demoralized and full of self-doubt, Superman will now need to rediscover his true purpose in order to thwart Luthor's master plan. 

Gunn doesn't shy away from Superman's inherent goodness, reflected in the character's ability to see the world for how it should be rather than what it is. Christopher Reeve played this trait sincerely, which is what made him the measuring stick for all who followed, including Corenswet, who possesses that similar quality when wearing the cape or bumbling around the Daily Planet offices as Clark Kent. And like Reeve, there's no adjustment period needed for us to wrap our heads around the fact he's Superman. From the first moment we see him, he just is.

With Superman still beloved by the citizens of Metropolis at the film's start, alter ego Clark Kent is in the awkward early goings of a secret relationship with Lois, who's already well aware of his true identity. While none of their Daily Planet co-workers even know they're dating or have an inkling who Clark really is, the fun facade they put on at work is enough to wish the film spent even more time there. 

You could actually quibble we don't get quite enough of Corenswet as Clark, if only because he plays the role so effectively. With his trademark glasses and  moptop of unkempt curly hair, his physical transformation is topped only by an underconfident demeanor and body language that has you believing photographer Jimmy Olsen (Skylar Gisondo) and editor-in-chief Perry White (an underutilized Wendell Pierce) wouldn't suspect a thing. 

If it's easy to immediately accept Corenswet, this applies equally to Brosnahan as the spunky, determined reporter with whom he shares a palpable chemistry that serves the film well, even when they're apart. Their flirty but occasionally contentious back-and-forth during her interview sets the stage for what follows, including the crisis of confidence Superman experiences when his biological parents' unsettling goal for him is revealed. So rattled by this, he'll eventually seek solace and answers back home in Smallville, where adoptive parents Jonathan and Martha Kent (Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell) help him rediscover his true purpose.

Once Superman surrenders and is held in Luthor's pocket universe prison, Gunn's script hits its stride at a midway point where most superhero entries drag or lose steam. Helping is Hoult's coldly consistent portrayal of Luthor as an Elon Musk-inspired meglomaniac who not only comes across as a credibly dangerous geopolitical threat, but a petty, jealous control freak whose ego can't handle the mere existence of a Superman. And those  worried the ancillary heroes would overwhelm the story or merely serve as a DCEU spin-off teaser will be pleased to know the Justice Gang's introduction couldn't go smoother. The only complaint is that Merced's Hawkgirl should have more to do, but Fillion's cocky, bowl haired Guy Gardner and Gathegi's stoic but hilarious Mr. Terrific make up for it, each leaving huge impressions.  

Gathegi's Terrific nearly steals the movie in his teaming with Lois, particularly during a brilliant fight sequence set to Noah and the Whale's "Five Years Time." But the most important supporting character is Krypto, the loyal caped canine with a knack for misbehaving at the right moments, like during Superman's fight against a formidable and strangely familiar looking Ultraman. Gisondo's Jimmy Olsen's involvement plays better than expected while Anthony Carrigan impresses as Metamorpho, a cell mate whose unusual abilities could either destroy or save Superman. 

It may be the worst kept best secret but Milly Alcock's cameo as Superman's cousin, Kara Zor-El/Supergirl is noteworthy, less for her showing up than the edgier context and presentation of this character. Think Will Smith in Hancock, or maybe more accurately the beloved comic book on which her upcoming film is based. True to form, Gunn also delivers a highly anticipated Superman/Luthor showdown that'll be remembered more for philosophy than fists. The speech and ensuing reaction is surprisingly emotional, resulting in a different kind of closure. At least until we get the inevitable rematch. 

With a plot both timely and direct, this incarnation of Superman doesn't lose sight of the idea that heroes are nothing without formidable villains and action spectacles mean more when you care about those involved. Briskly paced and judiciously edited, it's a good sign when any blockbuster comes to a close and you find yourself wanting more. By giving us what many complain superhero movies lately lack, Gunn avoids the pitfalls plaguing an iconic character and hampering a desperately needed rebirth. Now that he's gotten one, the rest of the pieces just might fall into place.