Although Superman is now a household name–and a name that drew millions of people to the box office this summer–the character, invented in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, didn’t immediately start gaining popularity. It was only when the movie “Superman” was released in 1978 that the character truly became popular for his heroic ideals and influential bravery. The alien from Krypton has appeared in over 10 movies, gaining more and more traction each time.
The newly released “Superman” (2025) has been hyped up to the extreme. Unfortunately, after it arrived in cinemas, the movie proved to be underwhelming. A large part of my excitement in watching the film stemmed from the director, James Gunn, who has directed numerous famous movies, including “Joker: Folie à Deux” and the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films. I was also thrilled to hear that notable actors such as David Corenswet (Superman), Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl) and even Milly Alcock (Supergirl) were in the movie. Despite the talented actors, even their skills could not improve the movie.
The script for every character displayed more of a rom-com vibe rather than an action and DC comics feeling. The relationship between Lois and Superman was developed to the point where Lois was entirely aware of his secret backstory, yet the pair had lots of underlying conflicts in their relationship that seemed to be drawn out greatly for the sake of delayed romance. In the first hour of the movie, when the couple was in Lois’s apartment, Superman said that Lois could interview him, but the conversation quickly escalated to an argument. Based on their conversation I assumed that they have attempted interviews before, but it has always turned into an argument. Aside from their constant disagreements the two did not seem to have much chemistry, and they appeared to be better off as friends or just acquaintances.
Plot-driven action couldn’t save it either. Compared to the last Superman movie, “Man of Steel,” the film lacks the tension or suspense surrounding the intense fights that Superman must endure. Although “Superman” takes place after Superman has already established himself as a hero, the opening scene shows him being beaten by a villain and forced to retreat from the fight. Already, viewers like myself began to lose confidence in Superman’s abilities. Unlike the Man of Steel, this Superman is not just coming out as a hero and learning his way; he has already been around for years, and his skills should reflect that.
The citizens of Metropolis have gotten so used to villains attacking their city that in the first half of the film, they appear to be entirely unfazed. The badly executed comedy of a normalized superhuman world adds to the cringeworthiness of the film. At the end of the film, when Lois and her colleagues plan to unveil the evil and corrupt intentions Lex Luther has, the city of Metropolis is torn to bits. Every other person in the city is evacuating and praying for their safety, while Lois Lane is treating the situation as another Tuesday. I can tell that this scene, like many others, was meant to be a humorous scene, but it came off as corny and unrealistic.
Some viewers didn’t totally pan the flick, though. Evelyn Hawkins ‘26 is a current senior who took a trip to the movie theatres and watched “Superman.” In contrast to my review, Evelyn thought the movie was fun.
“I thought that the actors did a really good job with each character, Superman in particular, but honestly, watching with parents made some scenes feel a little longer than necessary,” Evelyn Hawkins ‘26 said.
Conclusion? I’d rate this movie a 2 out of 10 simply because of my favorite actors, but not because of James Gunn’s execution of the movie. Although the actors were not given much to go on, they still displayed their skills and talent that set them apart from others in their field. Additionally, the CGI and makeup were excellent! Due to a black hole and many inhuman monsters appearing in the movie, it is clear that most of the $225 million budget went to the special effects. Superman has been around for decades, and this movie is only a blip in the hero’s story, so, even if this film was no good, there will be many more to come.
