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. 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.”
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.
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. 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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
