2025 was truly DC’s year to sink or swim. After a string of flops like 2023’s The Flash and 2024’s Joker: Folie à Deux, they needed a bona fide hit to get their brand-new cinematic universe off on the right foot and prove to audiences that the DC brand is still worth following. It’s fortunate that they tapped noted superhero movie veteran and geek extraordinaire James Gunn for this nigh-impossible challenge.
Superman is exactly the strong start the DCU needed on the big screen. The film delivers a confident, fast-paced reboot of the Man of Steel, thrusting viewers right into the midst of a thriving superhero universe where David Corenswet’s Supes himself is just one hero among many. Getting to spend time with the likes of Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific, Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl, and Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner is half the fun.
That said, the core Superman cast more than hold their own, with Corenswet’s Kal-El and Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane establishing a chemistry to rival that of Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder. And who could forget the demonic intensity of Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, a villain who brings new meaning to being a professional hater?
Ultimately, it’s Superman’s heart that helps it rise above the pack, with the film making a very pointed argument that kindness and decency are the new punk rock in 2025. The film is a great foundation for the new DCU, and we can’t wait to see what Gunn and his various collaborators have in store over the coming years.
“Let’s be honest, babe, it’s not a very high bar to clear.”
— Kara Zor-El, Supergirl (2026)Here’s my geek rant.
Valerie Perrine was great as the original Miss Tessmacher; Sara Sampaio was credible.
The movie should have had Mercy, the combination driver/assassin from the Animated Series.
It would have made Jimmy Olsen a thousand times more interesting if he’d hooked up with the deadliest woman in Metropolis.
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Superman wasn’t even the best movie with Superman in it this year. Batman Ninja vs Yakuza League was way more interesting and had much more style
Agreed!
I enjoyed superman, but thunderbolts was a better movie.
Does kpop demon hunters count as super hero movie? I think it was at least more entertaining than Superman or fantastic 4 (didn’t watch the thunderbolts)
After watching more random anime, I think like half of anime is superhero genre, okay I’m sure there’s an adult category that has more percentage. Though I assume this article’s category had a limited acceptance like live action and Marvel or DC.
To be fair I didn’t read on their requirements was more of a guess and since I realized now much anime was superhero (random people given powers or has random powers) related, I figured animated didn’t count let alone anime.
I do enjoy animated marvel and DC, wait actually usually better than live action…go figure. Like it’s almost meant for that medium.
Goku is literally just japanese superman.
