There’s a feeling you get when a movie you’ve been cautiously optimistic about doesn’t just meet your expectations, but gently pushes them aside and gives you something better. That’s the feeling I had walking out of James Gunn’s Superman.
After years of seeing the character pulled in different directions, it’s easy to become a bit cynical. I’ve found plenty to like in past movies, sure (I’ll even still go to bat for Man of Steel’s bold choices), but this one felt different. It wasn’t trying to be edgy or deconstruct the myth. It was just… Superman. And in today’s world, presenting a hero with that much sincerity is the boldest choice of all. It’s a movie that feels like it finally gets it.
The Man at the Heart of It All
None of Superman works if you don’t buy the guy in the suit. The whole thing would have fallen apart. David Corenswet doesn’t just carry that responsibility; he makes it look effortless. There’s a warmth to his Clark Kent. An almost soulful quality that makes him instantly relatable. Then, when he’s in the suit, he radiates a calm that never tips into arrogance. It’s all in the eyes. He conveys this immense power that’s tempered by an even greater sense of empathy. For me, the gold standard for a live-action Superman story is still the TV series Superman & Lois on the CW, it gets the emotional core of the family man so perfectly. But what Corenswet does here is give us the best big-screen version of the character since Christopher Reeve, hands down. It’s not just an imitation, it’s like he tapped into the same source code of what makes the character work. He makes you believe in Superman’s goodness, and that’s the most important part.
And a huge part of what makes Corenswet’s Superman so great is the world he gets to play in. The entire cast is just electric but the heart of the movie is really the dynamic between Corenswet’s Clark and Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane. Their chemistry is sharp, funny, and built on a foundation of mutual respect. This isn’t a story where Lois is just someone to be rescued; she’s an active partner, a brilliant reporter who challenges Clark and keeps him grounded. Every scene they have together just pops. You believe in them as a team from the get-go, and that relationship gives all the world-ending stakes a real, human anchor.
The rest of the cast is just as fantastic as well. Nicolas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is a brilliant take on the iconic villain. He has this theatrical, self-important flair that made Gene Hackman’s version so memorable, but it’s filtered through a very modern lens of narcissistic tech genius that can’t stand the thought of anyone being better than him. He is truly menacing.
On the hero side of things, Edi Gathegi pretty much steals the show in every scene he’s in as Mister Terrific. He has this incredible, effortless cool that makes you desperate to see more of. Nathan Fillion and Isabela Merced, while they don’t have large roles, are good in their own way as Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl. Krypto the Super-dog is a fun, heartwarming part of the story that adds another layer to the charm of Clark’s life.
Dropping into the DCU
One of my favorite things about Superman is how it throws you right into the deep end. James Gunn makes the bold choice to skip the origin story we’ve all seen a dozen times. Instead, we land in a Metropolis where superheroes and villains are already part of daily life. It honestly feels like you just picked up a random issue of a comicbook, say issue #142, and have to catch up on the fly. You learn about the world through the conversations and action, not some long exposition dumps. It’s a move that trusts the audience, and it pays off by making the universe feel instantly deep and full of history. You get the sense that stories have been happening long before we showed up, and will continue long after.
If anything, I do have a small critique. Because the movie is so eager to show you this big, wide world, it can feel a bit overstuffed at times. You can feel the gears turning as it lays breadcrumbs for future movies, introducing a lot of characters and concepts all at once. It’s a bit bloated, for sure. But it’s a flaw that comes from a place of abundance, not scarcity. And the movie moves with such energy and charm that it never really drags. It’s the kind of “problem” you want a new universe to have.
A New Era of Hope
When it all comes together, you can feel James Gunn’s passion for this world in every single frame. This is a movie made by someone who truly loves Superman. He knows how to stage incredible, creative action, but he also knows when to pull back and let a quiet, character moment do the heavy lifting. The whole thing is infused with a sense of wonder and optimism that feels like a breath of fresh air in the blockbuster landscape.
I walked out of Superman feeling more than just satisfied. I felt excited for the future. This feels like a true beginning, a launchpad for a DC Universe that’s full of promise. It’s a movie that respects its legacy while forging its own path forward. More than anything, it’s a powerful, fun, and moving reminder that the story of an alien who crash-landed in Smallville and grew up to be a good person trying to do the right thing, is the most heroic story of all. And when you look up, that’s not a bird. It’s not a plane. It’s… SUPERMAN!
That Nerd Zach 