Superman Review (2025) | Super Or Not So Much?

🎬 Why Superman (2025) Is Good… But Not Great | MikeOnMedia Superman Review

Introduction

James Gunn’s Superman (2025) arrives with the weight of a cinematic universe on its back—and it shows. Despite solid performances, exciting visuals, and moments of genuine charm, the film falls short of greatness due to conflicting goals and an overstuffed narrative. In this Superman review, we’ll dive deep into what works, what doesn’t, and why the very thing that makes this Superman good is what keeps it from being great.

Superman: The First Chapter of a New DCU

Released on July 11, 2025, Superman marks the beginning of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe reboot. Gunn serves as both writer and director, and the film stars David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. It’s the first official chapter in the new DCU—a “soft reboot” meant to reset expectations and chart a new course.

The stakes are high. Superman isn’t just another superhero—he’s the superhero. And with this being the most anticipated movie of 2025, the pressure to deliver was immense.

Plot Overview

In a refreshing change, Gunn skips the often-repeated origin story. When the film begins, Superman has already been active for three years. The world he inhabits, however, has been dealing with metahumans—powered individuals—for over 300 years.

We’re introduced quickly to Superman, his canine companion Krypto, and the Fortress of Solitude, where a small team of helpful robots assist him. Meanwhile, Clark Kent is dating Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), and their relationship brings a new dimension to familiar characters.

The plot kicks off with a global conflict between two fictional nations—Boravia and Jarhanpur—and escalates as Lex Luthor joins forces with dangerous metahumans including The Hammer of Boravia, Ultraman, and The Engineer. The stakes balloon into interdimensional threats, battles across realities, and a large-scale showdown involving the Justice Gang—a prequel team to the Justice League.

Strengths of Superman (2025)

No Superman review would be complete without giving credit where it’s due. There are several areas where the film truly shines:

David Corenswet Is a Convincing Superman

Corenswet brings a likable, grounded energy to the role. He’s believable, confident, and instantly commands the screen. While the film doesn’t show much of Clark Kent outside of the suit, Corenswet manages to embody the heart of the character effectively.

Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor

Hoult delivers a strong performance as Luthor—cold, cerebral, and ambitious. While the writing sometimes lets the character down, Hoult remains compelling throughout. For fans who never fully embraced Gene Hackman’s campier version of Lex in the 1978 classic, Hoult is a welcome recalibration.

Smart Decisions in Structure

One of Gunn’s best creative decisions was to skip Superman’s origin. Audiences know it well, and revisiting it again would have wasted valuable time. Unlike Man of Steel (2013) or Superman (1978)—both of which took over 45 minutes to show Superman in costume—Gunn delivers Superman in the very first scene.

Visual Appeal and CGI

The CGI is plentiful but polished. While not quite “visually stunning,” the film’s aesthetics are cohesive and enjoyable. The visuals support the action rather than overwhelm it, and that’s a tricky balance for a superhero film.

Krypto the Superdog

Including Krypto was a charming and effective move. Fans of Superman comics will appreciate the nod, and general audiences get to enjoy a lovable, powerful dog sidekick. Krypto adds warmth and humor without feeling like a gimmick.

Humor, Gunn-Style

Gunn’s signature humor is sprinkled throughout. While not every joke lands, several comedic moments are genuinely funny and add levity without derailing the story.

The Core Weakness: Competing Priorities

The biggest takeaway from this Superman review? The film’s dual agenda undermines its storytelling.

James Gunn clearly has two goals:

Tell a compelling Superman story
Establish a foundation for the DC Universe reboot

Unfortunately, these objectives clash. The effort to introduce multiple metahumans, tease upcoming storylines, and construct a larger universe distracts from Superman himself. Rather than feeling like a self-contained story, the movie often feels like a launch platform.

Would Batman Begins or the original Iron Man have worked as well if they had jammed in half a dozen other heroes and interdimensional storylines? Probably not. This approach risks making Superman feel like just another cog in a larger machine, rather than the centerpiece.

Overloaded Plot

The film attempts to juggle too many elements—international conflict, multiverse shenanigans, Luthor’s schemes, multiple villains, and team dynamics—all within a 129-minute runtime. As a result, it lacks the narrative focus that great superhero films like The Dark Knight or Spider-Man 2 manage so well.

Redefining Superman’s World

One major complaint in this Superman review is how the film recontextualizes Superman. In this world, he’s not a one-of-a-kind alien savior, but a late arrival in a metahuman-filled history. This robs Superman of his uniqueness. If dozens of other beings already wield world-shaking power, why does Superman matter so much?

The Lex Luthor Problem

Although Hoult gives a strong performance, the script elevates Luthor through technology, rather than intellect. This makes him feel more like a generic sci-fi villain than the brilliant strategist fans know and love.

Too Much Fantasy, Not Enough Focus

Superman (2025) leans heavily into comic book fantasy: nanotech villains, parallel universes, super-powered nations, and magical technologies. While these ideas are rooted in source material, their combination here is overwhelming. The result is a film that feels bloated and less emotionally grounded.

Political Overtones

The fictional war between Boravia and Jarhanpur draws clear parallels to real-world Middle East conflicts. While this might aim for relevance, it works against the escapism many seek in superhero stories.

Hit-and-Miss Humor

Though the film has moments of genuine levity, several jokes fall flat. Gunn’s comedic instincts are mostly intact, but more restraint could have benefited the tone.

Problematic Retcons

Superman’s backstory undergoes changes that might frustrate longtime fans. A subplot involving Superman’s Kryptonian parents introduces retconning that feels unnecessary and out of step with the core mythos.

Fun Fact: Krypto’s Real-Life Roots

One of the most delightful details from this Superman review is about Krypto. The CGI model was based on James Gunn’s real-life dog, Ozu. In fact, the film’s opening scene—where Krypto enthusiastically attacks Superman—was inspired by home footage of Ozu playing with Gunn’s cat. It’s a fun touch that brings personality to the film.

Final Verdict

In closing this Superman review, it’s clear the film is good, not great. David Corenswet is a promising Superman, the visuals are strong, and the film has moments of charm. But conflicting priorities, over-complication, and a loss of character focus hold it back from excellence.

Still, as the first chapter of a new DC Universe, Superman (2025) is a movie you should see—if only to form your own opinion about where DC is heading.

Superman Review – Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Video Chapters – Superman Review

00:00 Introduction
01:34 Plot
03:44 Theme
04:28 Strengths
08:12 Weaknesses
14:19 Fun Fact
14:48 Conclusion