“They sent me here to serve humanity and help the world be a better place.” That’s the lesson that James Gunn’s movie adaptation of Superman 2025 sticks by. Superman is the strongest superhero of all and yet he makes it his mission to do whatever it takes to protect everyone he can. That’s the true meaning of a hero.
The movie of the summer, Superman (2025) rekindles the flame people used to have for superheroes as it changed what it means to be a superhero movie for the better. There’s been a lot of online buzz about the movie, despite it coming out months ago; articles, edits, and fanart commemorating Superman’s acts of heroism fill social media, showing how impactful this movie still is. The film was recently released on HBO Max for anyone who wants to experience a movie of a lifetime.
The director James Gunn’s use of vibrant colors in costume and quick camera angles instantly draws attention. The bright red and blue of his suit pop against his foes, making it feel like he jumped out of a comic strip. Every fight is so immersive the audience experiences the heaviness of the harsh air as if they are being flown through the sky alongside the man himself. Behind the scenes footage reveals the extensive effort behind every creative choice; even using shorter actors to accentuate Superman’s large physique.
It’s clear with Gunn’s overall lighter tone and colorful storytelling that he intends to bring the DC Universe back to its roots in the original comics. One of the film’s greatest strengths was how it managed to stay true to the classic hero by honing in on his vital heroism. Superman’s always been a powerful symbol of hope and what it means to be a true hero. David Corenswet as Superman saves a squirrel while in the middle of an intense monster fight, causing a chain of “awws” to echo through the theater.
The casting of David Corenswet as Superman and Nicholas Hoult as the main villain Lex Luthor couldn’t have been more perfect. Luthor acts as the perfect counterpart to Superman: a corrupted billionaire whose biggest goal is to turn the public perception of the flying hero. The on-screen tension of the two amplifies the whole experience as you just can’t help but love to hate the villain.
Gunn’s take on the classic superhero draws from the comics, incorporating the more lively and jolly traits of superman into his. His work majorly shifts away from the grittier, more destructive version seen in Zach Snyder’s Man of Steel. Snyder focuses heavily on trying to portray Superman as realistic and dark, which cuts away from the entire point of what Superman stands for. As one viewer put it, he’s “a guy who flies around, shoots lasers out of his eyes, wears blue and red, is goofy.”
Instead of demolishing cities and sacrificing life for winning, Gunn’s Superman emphasizes protection, humanity, and hope. He actively goes out of his way to cause as little harm as possible. Rather than a god-like figure of destruction, this Superman is grounded in his roots on Earth and has more humanity than any previous version. His words “I screw up all the time. But THAT is being human… and that’s my greatest strength.” echo in the minds of the audience.
The focus on justice and relatability is reflective of how the director plans to shift the entire trajectory around the DC universe. Superman is the heart of DC as well as superheroes in general. This leads us to believe all of DC’s upcoming movies will follow suit by sticking to the comics. Ultimately, James Gunn’s legacy on DC will likely end up reclaiming the role of the greatest superhero franchise while reclaiming the hearts of fans.
