Since his debut in Action Comics #1 in 1938, Superman has served as the blueprint for the superhero and action genres across comics, television, and film. While this is true, many adaptations tend to emphasize action and superpowers over the character’s complex layers. James Gunn’s 2025 film Superman successfully explores various facets of the character, establishes a rebooted DC universe, and features spectacular action set-pieces—all while addressing political issues and conveying messages of hope, love, and humanity.
When making Batman Forever, director Joel Schumacher described it as a “pop culture opera” and a “living comic book.” Although this was many years before Superman entered production, the film embodies these titles perfectly. With its bright visuals, comic book-style story beats, and themes, Superman is one of the closest films ever to recreating the experience of a comic book, feeling like an episode of Superman: The Animated Series brought to life in live action.
One of the most important aspects of a Superman story is assembling the perfect cast. From a hopeful yet flawed Clark Kent to a mischievous and villainous Lex Luthor, James Gunn has assembled a group of actors who perfectly embody these iconic characters. David Corenswet embodies the farm boy charm, passive love, and powerful superhero qualities of Superman while remaining inherently flawed and human. The film depicts Clark Kent as more emotional and relatable than any previous interpretation of the Man of Steel. Corenswet brings such compassion and authenticity to the role that by the end of the film, it’s difficult to see him as merely an actor playing Superman—he simply becomes Superman.
Superman’s character has gone by many names, with one of the most iconic being “Champion of the Oppressed.” James Gunn’s iteration of Superman embodies this aspect of the character, offering a new and fresh perspective on the screen.
The film follows Superman amid political controversy after he intervenes in a war between two fictional Middle Eastern countries. This timely story offers compelling commentary on current global political issues. The superheroes are depicted protecting a small, flawed nation from a brutal regime led by bloodthirsty tyrants who show little regard for human life. The film emphasizes Superman’s immigrant background more than previous interpretations, making the story feel more realistic and grounded in contemporary societal and political challenges.
Superman is set in a world where kindness has become the counterculture, and the audience follows his pursuit of a society where tolerance and love are the standards, regardless of ethnicity or origin. This is evident in his fight for the right to live freely and in the Justice Gang’s involvement in the Boravia-Jarhanpur war. The political themes are among the story’s highlights, amplifying the film’s message and evoking a powerful emotional response from many viewers.
Superman is a deeply political film that explores many concepts relevant to modern society. It touches on corrupt politicians, wealthy billionaires conspiring to kill and oppress those they deem unimportant, and the tensions between warring nations. The story also centers on Superman, an immigrant forced to prove his right to live in a place he has called home his entire life. By blending fantastical elements with themes rooted in real-world issues, the film offers a compelling reflection of the challenges humanity faces today.
While politics influence this iteration of Superman being labeled the “Champion of the Oppressed,” he earns the title through numerous small acts demonstrating his care for all life. In a key action scene featuring Superman and the Justice Gang—an ensemble of corporate-sponsored superheroes—fighting a massive monster, Superman’s compassion is evident as he ensures the safety of not only humans but also a dog and a squirrel. This compassion is further highlighted when the Justice Gang attempts to defeat the creature in a gruesome, violent manner, resulting in its death. The film emphasizes Superman’s commitment to preserving all life and promotes a message that regardless of species, size, actions, gender, race, or origin, nobody is illegal or wrong for living authentically, underscoring the inherent value of every life.
When it comes to a Superman story, aside from the title character, the most important person to portray accurately is Lois Lane. Rachel Brosnahan perfectly embodies the character’s spunky and determined nature, which she exemplifies throughout her performance.
Rachel Brosnahan and David Corenswet, as Clark Kent and Lois Lane, deserve a place among the greatest on-screen superhero couples of all time. Their chemistry is palpable whenever they share the screen, effortlessly carrying each scene. Their love for each other is perfectly exemplified—they challenge one another to grow, work together as a team toward a common goal, even when apart. Their looks, words, and emotional exchanges—whether tender or contentious—capture a level of realism rare in superhero films and cinema overall, making them one of the most authentic couples ever portrayed on screen.
Superman features a compelling love story between Lois and Clark, but that is just the beginning of the film’s exploration of love. Clark’s relationship with his adoptive parents is filled with warmth and affection, serving as his first connection to humanity when his Kryptonian heritage becomes strained. His love for humanity is evident in every scene, and the film’s greatest act of love is its reverence for the source material. Unlike many comic book adaptations that shy away from the “goofy” or “weird” aspects of their origins, Superman embraces them wholeheartedly. This version of Superman proudly wears bright red underwear on the outside of his vibrant blue costume, flies alongside a man who creates green light constructs of anything he imagines, and shares the screen with a dog in a red cape. The film tells a deeply personal and authentic story while celebrating the quirky elements of the comics that many adaptations fear to bring to life.
The third most important character to perfect in the Superman mythos is his arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor. Actor Nicholas Hoult marks his return to the superhero genre after years of portraying Beast in the X-Men franchise. While many films attempt to make villains sympathetic with complex motivations, Superman‘s Luthor is depicted as a straightforward, envious, and evil man driven by jealousy and hatred of not being the most powerful or revered. Despite his simple motivations, Hoult’s portrayal adds depth and complexity; his condescending gaze at Superman when he believes he’s victorious and his heartbreak at potential failure reveal his deep-seated animosity and love for success. Luthor is an evil, abusive man who cares nothing for life unless it benefits him—willing to do anything to achieve his goals—standing in stark contrast to the loving, pacifist Superman.
While the characters border on perfection, they are not the only fantastic element of the film. James Gunn brings a unique, colorful visual style to Superman that makes it feel like a comic book come to life. The colors are some of the most vibrant ever seen on screen, allowing even the white Fortress of Solitude to pop beautifully. The action scenes blend this comic book flair with stunning special effects and meticulously crafted set pieces, creating shots that resemble an elaborate two-page spread or a climactic battle from Superman: The Animated Series. The combination of practical and visual effects enhances each punch’s weight and makes Superman’s flight feel remarkably realistic.
The film’s storytelling style enhances its comic book or cartoon-like feel, as it plunges viewers into the action three years into Superman’s career, without rehashing his origin story. Tasked with rebooting Superman and establishing a new DC universe, the film introduces a world rich with established relationships and history, making it feel lived-in. The inclusion of various characters and superheroes, including DC figures, sets the stage for future films and TV series, demonstrating that this version of the DC universe has a deep, well-developed history. This allows some projects to skip traditional origin stories, jumping straight into the action with familiar characters audiences have seen reimagined multiple times.
James Gunn is no stranger to making superhero and comic book films, having directed the entire Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and, on the DC side, the 2021 film The Suicide Squad and its sequel series Peacemaker. Throughout these projects, one defining element of his directorial style is music. While Superman relies less on music than Gunn’s other films, it still uses it masterfully. Most of the film features a beautiful score composed by John Murphy and David Fleming, but when pre-existing songs are incorporated, they enhance the narrative and evoke strong emotional responses. Gunn often selects catchy tracks, such as “5 Years Time” by Noah And The Whale and “Punkrocker” by the Teddybears featuring Iggy Pop, ensuring that viewers will have these songs stuck in their heads long after the credits roll.
The true beauty of Superman as a character is that, despite being an alien, he embodies humanity, compassion, and hope. The goal of a Superman story is to inspire hope, love for others, and a sense of possibility, and this film accomplishes that. While not a perfect film, Superman is deeply human; it tells the story of one man who, despite facing adversity, refuses to give up and does everything he can to prevent harm. It is a reflection of what it means to be human—getting up each day, putting one foot in front of the other, and striving to make the world a better place. The film exemplifies what superheroes are meant to be: champions of the oppressed and voices for the voiceless. It reboots the DC universe and brings to life the dreams of young comic fans, but it also offers much more.
Superman is a film that the world needs right now, leaving viewers with a smile, a tear, and a renewed outlook. Being human is a gift and a responsibility—to stand up for what you believe in, to show love, and to be kind. That is humanity, and that is Superman.
