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Superman (2025) Review: James Gunn’s Bright, Earnest DC Reboot

James Gunn’s Superman makes compassion feel heroic and launches DC’s screen universe with color and energy, though its crowded story can blunt its ideas.
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Superman is an appealing new start for DC’s screen universe: colorful, energetic and built around the idea that kindness can be a form of heroism. James Gunn’s film is not an unqualified triumph—the story can feel crowded, and some of its themes are handled less clearly than its central character—but David Corenswet gives it a warm, watchable center.

Is James Gunn’s Superman any good?

Overall, yes. The film’s strongest choice is to treat Superman’s compassion and faith in people as active qualities, not just a slogan attached to his powers. DC describes its hero as “driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind”; that is the studio’s stated aim, and the movie’s most effective scenes make that optimism feel like a meaningful choice.

Corenswet’s Clark Kent brings warmth to the role, while the film surrounds him with a lively, colorful world. Its scale and energy make it entertaining, and its interest in what a powerful person owes others gives the spectacle a moral center. The result is a Superman who is more interested in helping than in looking invulnerable.

That approach has limits. William Bibbiani’s July 8, 2025 review for TheWrap praises the film’s ambition and entertainment value but argues that its maximalist story gets overpacked. He also finds its political allegory and treatment of journalism imperfect. Those are one critic’s readings, not universal verdicts, but they point to the film’s main weakness: it has more ideas and moving parts than it always gives time to develop.

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#1 Best Overall

What works—and what may not

What works What may not
Corenswet gives Superman a warm, approachable presence. The number of story elements can make the film feel crowded.
The bright, energetic style suits a hero whose defining trait is hope. Some political and journalistic themes do not land with the same clarity as the character focus, in Bibbiani’s reading.
Its emphasis on compassion gives the action a clear emotional purpose. Viewers looking for a tightly focused story may find the maximalist approach distracting.

Bibbiani captures the tension between ambition and execution in his conclusion: “James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ may not be the greatest superhero story ever told but it’s trying to be, and I respect that.” The film’s reach is part of its appeal, even when the result feels uneven.

Cast, runtime and release details

James Gunn wrote and directed the 2025 DC Studios film, and produced it with Peter Safran. David Corenswet plays Superman/Clark Kent, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. The ensemble also includes Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, María Gabriela de Faría, Wendell Pierce, Alan Tudyk, Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell. DC credits Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster as the creators of the Superman character.

  • Runtime: 2 hours 9 minutes, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
  • Rating: PG-13, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
  • Theatrical release: July 11, 2025 in the United States; July 9, 2025 internationally, according to DC.

What critics and audiences think

Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus praises the film for building a dynamic world while keeping Superman’s “big, beating heart front and center.” Its audience summary singles out Krypto as a scene-stealer. As accessed October 8, 2026, Rotten Tomatoes displayed an 83% Tomatometer from 509 reviews and a 90% Popcornmeter from more than 25,000 verified ratings. Those are a dated snapshot, not permanent scores; the site’s figures can change.

Where to watch Superman (2025)

DC’s official movie site currently displays digital and disc viewing categories. Rotten Tomatoes lists August 15, 2025 as the streaming-release date, but that listing does not establish current availability on a particular service. Check the official movie site and your local retailers or streaming platforms for current options.

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Verdict

Superman is worth watching if you want a hopeful, entertaining superhero film whose central idea is that decency matters. Its crowded storytelling and uneven thematic follow-through keep it from feeling fully cohesive, but its earnestness, energy and Corenswet’s performance make this a promising new beginning for DC on screen.

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