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Superman 2025 Movie Review

<div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752013453194SPMN-17728rv3_proxy.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">David Corenswet as Superman | Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>The new <strong><em>Superman</em></strong> movie is equal parts earnest and awesome. <strong>James Gunn</strong>’s vision for the character is a very refreshing take that’s not necessarily the most “groundbreaking,” but it’s probably the most satisfying version of the Man of Steel in recent years.</p><p>It’s one thing for an overhyped film to meet expectations but when it’s an overhyped film based on a character that’s beloved by generation after generation, best believe that the bar set is impossible to reach by human standards. It’s a good thing that <strong>DC Studios</strong> head honcho James Gunn has creative chops that can go head-to-head with<strong> Lex Luthor</strong> (played by <strong>Nicholas Hoult</strong>)<strong></strong>.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752012928112SPMN-31173r_proxy.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Nicholas Hoult and David Corenswet with James Gunn | Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Still, depending on who you ask, the Superman and DC reboot was either a necessary pivot or completely superfluous, though not surprising. With the numerous superhero films released since the 2013 reboot featuring<strong> Henry Cavill </strong>a<strong></strong>nd<strong> Zack Snyder</strong>, superhero fatigue has become increasingly evident, particularly at the box office.</p><p>It’s a good thing that Gunn chose to start the film not as an origin story but simply as a reintroduction of the character. Everyone knows Superman. It’s been a considerable number of years since he began his superheroics, saving lives, preventing wars, and entering and exiting airspace without permission, among other feats. But as the film opens, we witness Superman (<strong>David Corenswet</strong>) crash, bleeding and near lifeless, in an icy wasteland. </p><p>He whistles, and here comes <strong>Krypto</strong>, his super dog, to the rescue. Krypto drags his master to the Fortress of Solitude. Super robots swarm and assist him back to health by exposing him to some yellow sun radiation, while the final (albeit incomplete) message left by Kal-El’s biological parents plays in the background. And just like that, he comes back to life and flies to Metropolis for round 2 with the Hammer of Boravia, who just gave him his first-ever defeat.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752013033555SPMN-CC-TRL-0027_High_Res_JPEG_custom-proxy.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Superman with Krypto and one of his Super robots | Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Oddly enough, the villain quickly retreats after giving Supes his second-ever loss instead of delivering the final blow. It’s as if he&#x27;s issuing a warning on behalf of Boravia, who denies any affiliation with the Hammer.</p><p>As the dust settles in the city, we are introduced to Superman’s alter ego, <strong>Clark Kent</strong>, a reporter at the <strong>Daily Planet </strong>who has the front-page headline for his interview with Superman right after the fight. His colleague, Lois Lane (<strong>Rachel Brosnahan</strong>), tells Clark she&#x27;s suspicious not just because Clark gets all the interviews with Superman but also because of why the Hammer just left in the middle of the fight. Clark argues that he might have gotten scared because of Superman, but Lois feels there might be something more sinister happening behind the scenes.</p><p>While die-hard Zack Snyder fans may argue that the Snyderverse Superman is more epic (operatic in many ways) than the 2025 <em>Superman</em>, Gunn’s version of Supes is far and away more complete as a theatrical and storytelling experience. This new world feels complete and livable. More importantly, Gunn finally kicked his sometimes annoying storytelling habit of having too many quips. The dialogues are tight but have enough breathing room for the occasional one-liner from<strong> Guy Gardner/Green Lantern</strong> (<strong>Nathan Fillion</strong>) or <strong>Jimmy Olsen </strong>(<strong>Skyler Gisondo</strong>).</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752013141255SPMN-25159rv1_proxy.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and David Corenswet as Superman | Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Casting is impeccable. David Corenswet is perfect as the new Superman. His performance as Clark has just enough affability to make him likable without making him too much of a “human.” And as Superman, he has the gravitas to be godly without being tyrannical or intimidating.</p><p><strong>Rachel Brosnahan</strong> as <strong>Lois Lane</strong> also feels like an ideal choice as she has enough pep to stand at the side of Superman and for once, Lois is not just another liability. A pretty face but never a liability. </p><p>On the villain’s side of things, Lex Luthor played by Nicholas Hoult is not just menacing and scary, he’s also annoying on a visceral level. Along with his team of superpowered minions, Lex actually gives Superman a very hard time, and amidst all the well-thought-out action sequences, he’ll make you believe that Superman might actually lose.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752013253615Superman_Rachel Brosnahan, David Corenswet.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and David Corenswet as Superman | Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Welcome appearances by characters like <strong>Mr. Terrific </strong>(<strong>Edi Gathegi</strong>), <strong>Hawkgirl</strong> (<strong>Isabela Merced</strong>), and <strong>Metamorpho</strong> (<strong>Anthony Carrigan</strong>) signal that we’re about to see more of our beloved DC characters come to life once again.</p><p>But unlike other superhero movies of late, Gunn doesn’t force the issue. He did not overload Superman with half-cooked details or Easter eggs that might or might not bear fruit in the next phase of the film. But it still feels quite expansive, and I’d love to watch it again to catch the things I might have missed. </p><p>Though it is a reboot, the Superman movie and the new DC universe start off strong with a good, solid foundation. Gunn has created something that feels familiar yet malleable enough to fit more super stories to come. DC is finally back!</p><div><br/></div><div><strong><em>“SUPERMAN” opens only in cinemas and IMAX on Wednesday, July 9. Rated PG<br/></em></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Photos courtesy of<strong> Warner Bros. Pictures</strong></p>

<p>James Gunn’s vision for the character is a very refreshing take that’s not necessarily the most “groundbreaking,” but it’s probably the most satisfying version of the Man of Steel in recent years.</p>

James Gunn’s vision for the character is a very refreshing take that’s not necessarily the most “groundbreaking,” but it’s probably the most satisfying version of the Man of Steel in recent years.

Movie Review: Why Gunn's Superman Is the Most Satisfying Version of the Man of Steel Since Christopher Reeve

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Movie Review: Why Gunn's Superman Is the Most Satisfying Version of the Man of Steel Since Christopher Reeve

Alex Cruz

Published Jul 09, 2025 06:30 AM PHT

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Updated Jul 09, 2025 07:07 AM PHT

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Culture

Superman

Movie Review

David Corenswet

Rachel Brosnahan

Nicholas Hoult

James Gunn

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