SUPERMAN
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Theatrical Release: July 11, 2025
Home Media Release: Digital – August 15, 2025; Streaming (HBO Max) – September 19, 2025; Physical Media – September 23, 2025
Description: Superman, DC Studios’ first feature film to hit the big screen, is set to soar into theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures. In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind.
DC Studios heads Peter Safran and Gunn are producing the film, which Gunn directs from his own screenplay, based on characters from DC, Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
The film stars David Corenswet (Twisters, Hollywood) in the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult (the X-Men movies, Juror #2) as Lex Luthor. The film also stars Edi Gathegi (For All Mankind), Anthony Carrigan (Barry, Gotham), Nathan Fillion (the Guardians of the Galaxy films, The Suicide Squad), Isabela Merced (Alien Romulus), Skyler Gisondo (Licorice Pizza, Booksmart), Sara Sampaio (At Midnight), María Gabriela de Faría (The Moodys), Wendell Pierce (Selma, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan), Alan Tudyk (Andor), Pruitt Taylor Vince (Bird Box) and Neva Howell (Greedy People).
Superman is executive produced by Nikolas Korda, Chantal Nong Vo and Lars Winther. Behind the camera, Gunn is joined by frequent collaborators, including director of photography Henry Braham, production designer Beth Mickle, costume designer Judianna Makovsky and composer John Murphy, along with editors Craig Alpert (Deadpool 2, Blue Beetle), Jason Ballantine (the IT films, The Flash) and William Hoy (The Batman).
By James Harvey
Bursting with heart and character, and jam-packed with bold visuals and high-energy storytelling, James Gunn’s Superman is a bold, beautiful, and revitalizing take on the Man of Steel. Exploring what it means to truly be a hero, writer/director James Gunn delivers a fun and thoughtful version of Superman that feels modern, relevant, and sharp. While Superman‘s plot is just a bit too overstuffed and the pacing a bit too swift, this latest take is nevertheless arguably one of the best theatrical outings ever for the world’s first superhero.
Superman follows the legendary hero as he must come to terms with his Kryptonian heritage and what that means for his human upbringing and role as Earth’s servant and protector. When Superman (David Corenswet) gets drawn into an international conflict, leading those in power to question his motives and actions, Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) sees this as the perfect opportunity to pounce and turn public opinion against the Man of Steel. With the odds stacked against him, Superman will need to look within, and reach out for a little help, if he’s going to win the day!
A thrilling adventure with a resonant message at its heart, Superman lives up to the hype, even with a few stumbles – including one debatably misguided origin tweak – along the way. Superman hits the ground running, throwing viewers right into this fantastical world, and doesn’t let up until the end credits roll. With love, hope, and empathy front and center, Gunn crafts a fast-paced ride, one overflowing with nods and homages to Superman’s eclectic history, that hits harder than expected thanks to its surprisingly heartfelt emotional core. And the fact that it all lands without feeling cheesy is a testament to how Superman just feels effortlessly right from beginning to end.
To cut to the chase, Corenswet’s heartfelt and grounded portrayal of the Man of Steel is arguably the single most important reason this film works, and his performance feels so natural that it almost seems as though he was born for the role. Rivaling, but not surpassing, Christopher Reeve’s iconic spin as the world’s greatest superhero, Corenswet inhabits both Superman and Clark Kent with such authenticity that the line between the two feels intentionally blurred. This version of Clark isn’t just a bumbling disguise, and Superman isn’t portrayed as a distant, godlike figure. Instead, the character exists as a thoughtful fusion of both personas, each influencing the other depending on which suit he’s wearing.
Speaking of visuals, Corenswet’s Superman is spot-on. The stylized ‘S’ works, and the suit is a bold, vibrant take that blends classic colors with just enough modern flair to make it pop. It’s a clean, confident, and iconic homage to the comics that complements rather than competes with Corenswet’s strong, charismatic performance.
Corenswet’s Superman radiates warmth and kindness, and not only does that actively define this interpretation of the character, it’s actually a key aspect of the story Gunn is trying to tell. Keeping plot details as sparse as possible, Luthor’s goal in Superman is the complete annihilation of the hero, and he uses everything within his considerable means to do so – but the Man of Steel can take it. As someone who truly wants to help and do good, he can take whatever’s thrown at him, and no matter how rattled he gets, it’s that drive that gets him back out into the fray, much to Luthor’s increasingly volatile dismay.
Superman believes in the power of doing good for others, and as corny as that sounds, that’s exactly how Superman should be. He cares about all creatures, great and small, and that’s part of why this movie works so well. Superman isn’t about a hero’s self-realization, but self-actualization. The Man of Steel doesn’t go through a journey of change here but instead doubling down on his values and ethics to win the day. It’s no spoiler that Superman will prove victorious in the end, but it’s how he achieves that which makes him (and this movie) interesting.
Superman doesn’t go it alone, either, as he gets support from friends and family while overcoming Luthor’s latest machinations. The supporting cast doesn’t get as much screen time, but they’re just as perfectly cast as the Caped Kryptonian himself, and they all feel absolutely ripped from the four-color page. Lois Lane naturally gets the most focus and leaves a big impression, but that doesn’t mean the others don’t hold their own. Honestly, with casting this good, pretty much everyone leaves a mark.
Starting with The Daily Planet’s best journalist, Rachel Brosnahan is pitch-perfect as Lois Lane. Her chemistry with Corenswet crackles, and she effortlessly captures the wit and tenacity essential to Lois’ character. The 10-minute interview scene between her and Corenswet plays like a perfectly calibrated two-hander, one charged with chemistry, rich in character insight, and anchored by performances so natural and in sync, it feels less like acting and more like genuine electricity. She’s a fully realized, three-dimensional character with agency, not just someone there to be saved by Superman or dictate plot points.
In fact, Lois leads the charge to help save Superman from one of many devious designs Lex Luthor unleashes in Superman. As with Brosnahan, Hoult excellently embodies the Man of Steel’s most iconic antagonist, here near-palpably bursting with rage and petty jealousy over Metropolis’ favorite son. Luthor is calculating, contemporary, and genuinely unsettling in his realism – relying not solely on Kryptonite, but weaponizing the media and online platforms to systematically dismantle Superman, along with using meta thugs to do some of the dirty work
Given how superabundant the cast is for Superman – which could arguably be considered one of the movie’s few weak points, though far from a fatal flaw – it’s not a surprise that some members of the film’s considerable ensemble only get a few scattered lines and moments of screen time. As much of a blast as it is to see them, the likes of Hawkgirl, Guy Gardner, and The Engineer don’t get much development, though all do get a show-stopping scene or two. Same with The Daily Planet crew: Perry White, Ron Troupe, Steve Lombard, and Cat Grant garner only a few notable snippets each.
There are more than a few standouts among the film’s large roster, aside from those already mentioned, including Mr. Terrific, Jimmy Olsen, and Krypto the Superdog. Even Eve Teschmacher gets a key moment to shine and leaves quite the impression despite a fairly brief role. Mr. Terrific is easily the coolest cat on screen whenever he enters the frame (and gets a dedicated set piece to prove it), Olsen surprisingly garners a lot of the movie’s laughs, and Krypto is simply adorable and a comically unpredictable menace to everyone.
The film’s focus rarely wavers from the Man of Tomorrow, so Superman never comes across as a “team film” even with its plentiful pack of players. However, the movie is slightly overstuffed, occasionally coming off as too crowded and hectic. The pacing can also seem a little intense as a result, leading to a couple awkward scene transitions – such as a dark moment abruptly jumping to something more upbeat – and some scenes feeling disjointed or trimmed right down to the bone, such as the film’s scenes at The Daily Planet. All that said, the movie zips by without ever getting remotely bogged down or limp.
Outside of the swift storytelling, the film’s only other detriments are the occasional janky visual effect and a score that doesn’t quite hit the heights of Superman’s previous big-screen adventures. While the film isn’t without its flaws, they do little to detract from what’s undeniably a thrilling, triumphant, and ultimately reaffirming experience. More importantly, Gunn demonstrates a deep understanding of these characters, bringing an added layer of authenticity that makes his Superman film feel genuinely faithful to the four-color source material. Watching Superman is like stepping straight into one of the hero’s classic comic book adventures.
Despite an issue or two with its execution, and one or two questionable plot points, the story Gunn tells here is a strong one that gives Superman genuine obstacles that can’t just be punched into submission. More importantly, this film reminds us that Superman is a hero who leads with hope, wears a smile, saves lives, and proves that compassion isn’t weakness, but strength in its purest form. It’s not the power he wields that makes Superman special, but how he chooses to use his gifts.
A Man of Steel truly accessible to both longtime fans and newcomers to Metropolis, Superman deftly captures the essence of the character and reestablishes him as a timeless symbol of hope and optimism in an increasingly uncertain world. Gunn fully (and unapologetically) embraces the wild, wondrous spirit of the DC Universe, delivering on his vision with style, confidence, and a genuine sense of excitement. As the debut feature for DC Studios, Superman is an empowering and rewarding thrill ride that reminds us why this man from another planet remains, in every sense, super. A Must See!
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Assorted home media releases:
Check out this free tie-in comic book from DC Comics and Milk-Bone!
Tie-in releases from DC Comics include: “DC Comics Presents: Superman – The Official Comic Book Stories That Inspired The New Movie,” “Action Comics #775 Facsimile Edition” and “The Superman Box Set.”
Want to catch the latest adventures of the Man of Steel?
The DC Comics “Summer of Superman” publishing initiative has you covered!
Get a look at more of Superman’s assorted adventures from DC Comics, including the 2025
Free Comic Book Day special release spotlighting the Man of Steel!
Plus: DC Comics’ “Superman”-Themed Variant Comic Cover Gallery
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