The short answer is yes — Superman (2025) is worth watching, especially if you want a superhero movie that values optimism, character, and comic-book imagination as much as large-scale action.
James Gunn’s first Superman film for the new DC Universe succeeds mainly because David Corenswet makes Clark Kent feel genuinely compassionate rather than simply powerful. Rachel Brosnahan brings energy and intelligence to Lois Lane, while Nicholas Hoult gives Lex Luthor a colder, more obsessive edge.
The biggest strength is the film’s sincere belief in Superman as a symbol of kindness and hope. Its biggest weakness is that Gunn sometimes packs too many characters, ideas, creatures, and DC Universe elements into one movie.
Film Information
Runtime: 2 hours 9 minutes. U.S. rating: PG-13.
What Is Superman (2025) About?
James Gunn does not retell Superman’s childhood or spend half the movie explaining how Clark Kent discovered his abilities. Instead, Superman already exists as an established hero when the story begins.
David Corenswet’s Clark is balancing his public identity as Superman with his life as a reporter at the Daily Planet. His interventions in global conflicts have also attracted political criticism, while billionaire Lex Luthor sees an opportunity to turn public uncertainty against him.
The situation becomes increasingly dangerous as Luthor attempts to undermine Superman both physically and morally. At the same time, the movie introduces a much larger superhero world containing figures including Mister Terrific, Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, and others.
DC’s official Superman movie page confirms James Gunn as writer and director, with David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.
That larger universe makes Superman feel like part of a world that existed before the opening scene rather than the beginning of another slow superhero origin story. It is exciting, although it also creates one of the movie’s main problems: there is almost always something new competing for attention.
David Corenswet Understands What Makes Superman Work
Casting a new Superman is difficult because the character needs to appear almost impossibly powerful without becoming emotionally distant. David Corenswet handles that balance well.
His Superman can stop enormous threats, fly across the world, and survive punishment that would destroy an ordinary person, but Corenswet rarely plays him as someone who believes that power makes him superior.
Instead, his Clark is sometimes awkward, frustrated, stubborn, and emotionally vulnerable. That humanity becomes essential to the movie.
Superman does not always make the perfect decision. He cares deeply about how his actions affect other people, and criticism genuinely bothers him. His morality is strong without turning him into an emotionless symbol.
Corenswet also distinguishes Clark Kent from Superman without exaggerating the difference into parody.
The result is an interpretation that feels classic without simply copying Christopher Reeve or attempting to reproduce the darker approach associated with more recent versions of the character.
For another recent DCU perspective, read CinePulse24’s Supergirl (2026) review.
Rachel Brosnahan Gives Lois Lane Real Importance
Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane is more than Superman’s romantic interest. She is curious, skeptical, ambitious, and willing to challenge Clark when his emotional certainty gets ahead of his reasoning.
Her chemistry with Corenswet works because the relationship contains disagreement rather than constant admiration. Lois wants answers. Clark sometimes wants to believe that doing the morally right thing should be enough.
That difference gives their scenes tension.
Brosnahan also captures the confidence required for Lois to exist beside superheroes without feeling insignificant. She cannot fly or punch through walls, but the film consistently presents her intelligence and journalistic instincts as valuable abilities of their own.
The movie becomes noticeably stronger whenever it slows down enough to let Clark and Lois actually talk. Those quieter scenes help prevent Superman from becoming nothing more than a collection of digital battles.
Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor Is Driven by Resentment
Nicholas Hoult takes Lex Luthor in a different direction. This Lex is enormously intelligent, technologically capable, wealthy, and completely consumed by the idea that Superman should not exist above ordinary humanity.
His hostility is not simply a business rivalry. It feels personal.
Lex believes Superman’s power fundamentally distorts the world around him, but his intellectual arguments repeatedly collide with jealousy, resentment, and an intense desire for control.
Hoult avoids making the character charming enough for viewers to forget what he is capable of. There are humorous moments around Lex and his elaborate operations, but the performance works best when the billionaire’s calm exterior gives way to obsession.
Gunn’s screenplay occasionally pushes the villain toward broad comic-book territory, yet Hoult maintains enough seriousness to make him threatening. The conflict therefore becomes more interesting than a basic question of who can hit harder.
Superman represents power restrained by empathy. Lex represents intelligence corrupted by resentment and control.
James Gunn Makes Superman Feel Like a Comic Book
One reason reactions to the movie can differ is James Gunn’s style. This is not a restrained or realistic interpretation of the Superman universe.
There are strange creatures, colorful superheroes, giant threats, unusual technology, robots, unexpected jokes, a superpowered dog, and a constant sense that almost anything could appear next.
Some viewers will love that freedom. Others may find the film overly busy.
Gunn clearly prefers embracing the absurdity of comic books rather than apologizing for it. The movie does not appear embarrassed by Superman’s costume, Krypto, bizarre villains, or the existence of multiple superheroes operating in the same world.
That confidence gives the movie personality. It also creates tonal jumps. A serious conversation can quickly give way to a joke or an extravagant action sequence.
Most of those transitions work because the emotional center remains Superman himself, but the film occasionally feels as though Gunn is trying to establish an entire universe while simultaneously telling Clark’s story.
If you are ready to watch or rewatch the movie, see our Where to Watch Superman (2025) guide for the current streaming, rental and digital purchase options.
Action and Visual Effects
Superman obviously needs spectacle, and the movie delivers plenty of it. The action emphasizes how difficult it would be for one person — even Superman — to protect civilians while fighting enemies powerful enough to devastate a city.
Corenswet’s Superman frequently appears more concerned with saving individual lives than demonstrating his strength. That detail matters because it turns rescue into part of the action rather than something that happens after the fighting stops.
The visual effects are generally effective, particularly when Superman’s speed and strength interact with large environments. Not every digital element looks equally convincing, however. Several effects-heavy sequences contain so much movement and destruction that the visual clarity suffers.
Fortunately, the best moments do not depend entirely on CGI. The strongest Superman imagery comes from the contrast between extraordinary power and very ordinary acts of kindness.
Krypto Nearly Steals the Movie
Krypto could easily have become an obvious merchandising device. Instead, Gunn allows the super-powered dog to behave like an actual badly trained dog who happens to possess extraordinary abilities.
He is chaotic, funny, useful, and frequently difficult to control. That unpredictability creates some of the movie’s funniest moments.
More importantly, Krypto fits the movie’s emotional philosophy.
Superman’s relationship with animals, strangers, friends, and even people who criticize him continually reinforces the idea that compassion is not something reserved for dramatic heroic speeches.
Sometimes heroism is simply choosing to care.
Where Superman (2025) Falls Short
The movie’s biggest weakness is overcrowding.
James Gunn introduces Superman, Lois, Lex, Krypto, the Daily Planet staff, several established superheroes, multiple political conflicts, Kryptonian history, enormous threats, and connections to the wider DC Universe.
Individually, many of these elements are entertaining. Together, they can make the story feel rushed.
Characters such as Mister Terrific make strong impressions, but the sheer number of supporting players means not everyone receives meaningful development. The pacing also rarely slows for long.
That energetic rhythm prevents the movie from becoming boring, yet a few emotional scenes would have benefited from additional space before the next joke, revelation, or action sequence arrived.
Viewers hoping for a grounded superhero drama may therefore find Gunn’s approach excessive.
Anyone comfortable with colorful comic-book storytelling is likely to be much more receptive. For a darker ensemble approach to the superhero genre, read our Thunderbolts movie review.
Superman 2025 Rotten Tomatoes Scores
As checked on October 11, 2026, Rotten Tomatoes lists 83% from critics and 90% from verified audiences. Aggregates can change; individual reviews are available on the film’s Rotten Tomatoes page.
Superman 2025 Box Office
As checked on October 11, 2026, Box Office Mojo lists approximately $354.2 million domestically and $264.5 million internationally, totaling $618.7 million worldwide. Its reported domestic opening was about $125 million; the listed production budget is $225 million.
How Does Superman Set Up the New DC Universe?
Superman is more than another standalone superhero reboot. DC describes it as the first DC Studios feature film in its newly imagined cinematic universe.
The movie therefore introduces a world where superheroes already exist rather than gradually building toward one. That approach could help future DC movies avoid repeating lengthy origin stories.
It also means Superman carries significant franchise responsibilities, and some of the film’s overcrowding clearly comes from establishing that larger world.
The strategy has already continued beyond this movie. DC has officially announced Man of Tomorrow, with James Gunn, David Corenswet, and Nicholas Hoult returning, for a theatrical release scheduled for July 9, 2027.
For more from the new DC Universe, CinePulse24 readers can also explore our Supergirl (2026) review and our Sasha Calle / Supergirl DCU transition guide.
Final Verdict
Corenswet’s warmth and the film’s commitment to compassion make this an engaging reboot. Gunn’s crowded supporting cast and rapid tonal shifts sometimes leave the emotional scenes short of breathing room.
CinePulse24 Rating: 8/10.
Watch the Superman (2025) Official Trailer
The Warner Bros. UK & Ireland trailer and embedded official trailer preview the cast, action and comic-book tone. Skip them if you prefer to avoid additional footage before watching.
