Superman (2025) Review: Kindness as a Superpower

Is Superman worth watching?

Yes. Superman is a warm, funny and sincere superhero film that rediscovers what makes the character work, and David Corenswet is a genuinely lovable Man of Steel. James Gunn trades the gloom of recent DC films for colour, comedy and a hero whose defining trait is decency, and the approach feels refreshing rather than naive. The reservations are an overstuffed story, with too many characters competing for space, and a final act that leans heavily on effects-driven chaos.

What is Superman about?

Superman (David Corenswet) is already an established hero when the film begins, and already controversial. His intervention in a conflict overseas has triggered public scrutiny at home, and tech billionaire Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) is ready to exploit the backlash to turn the world against him. Clark Kent’s colleague and girlfriend Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), his loyal and very badly behaved dog Krypto, and a handful of other super-powered heroes are pulled into the fight as Clark tries to hold on to the belief that kindness is still his greatest power.

Superman is written and directed by James Gunn and launches a rebooted DC film universe. It is an American production in English, runs 129 minutes and was released in July 2025. Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan and Isabela Merced play fellow heroes.

David Corenswet’s decent, human Superman

The film’s greatest asset is its lead. Corenswet plays Superman as an earnest, sometimes awkward young man who believes in doing the right thing and is visibly hurt when the world does not believe him back. He is strong without being remote, funny without winking, and he makes the character’s goodness feel like a choice rather than a default setting. Few recent superhero performances are this free of irony.

Rachel Brosnahan is a sharp, quick-witted Lois, and her scenes with Corenswet have a lively romantic-comedy spark, including one extended conversation that is among the best things in the film. Nicholas Hoult plays Luthor as a jealous, furious genius whose contempt for Superman feels personal, giving the villain an energy that has often been missing from screen versions.

Gunn’s colourful, crowded world

Gunn builds a universe where heroes already exist, and he has fun with it. Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific is a highlight, dry and hyper-competent, and the film’s playful tone makes room for pocket-sized comedy even during big action scenes. Krypto, a scruffy, disobedient super-dog, is a consistent source of laughs and warmth.

The film looks bright and comic-book vivid, and its score folds John Williams’s classic Superman theme into new music at well-chosen moments. The effect is nostalgic without feeling like a museum piece: a Superman film that remembers why audiences once found the character joyful.

Where it tries to do too much

For all its charm, Superman is overloaded. It is launching a universe, introducing a supporting team, running a political subplot and building a love story, and some of those threads get short shrift. Several supporting heroes are more sketch than character, and the plot’s mechanics can feel rushed as it moves from one crisis to the next.

The final act is also the least distinctive stretch. Its large-scale destruction and digital spectacle are well executed but less memorable than the smaller, character-driven scenes that precede them, and the film briefly loses the human scale that makes it special.

Who should watch Superman?

It is ideal for families, for longtime Superman fans who missed a hopeful take on the character, and for newcomers who want an accessible entry point to DC’s new universe; no homework is required. At just over two hours, it moves quickly. The action includes large-scale destruction and some peril, but little that should trouble most children aged about ten and up.

If it leaves you wanting more:

• Supergirl, the next film in the same universe, following Clark’s more embattled cousin across the galaxy.
• The Fantastic Four: First Steps, another 2025 superhero film that embraces optimism and retro sincerity.
• More from our adventure shelf, for other big-hearted blockbusters.

The verdict

Superman is a generous, optimistic blockbuster that restores the character’s heart and gives DC a charming new lead in David Corenswet. It crams in too much and ends on a noisier note than it needs, but its warmth and sincerity make it one of the most enjoyable superhero films of recent years.

Rating: 4/5