A couple of weeks ago was my birthday, and I decided to treat myself to a movie. Within the last couple of months, I鈥檝e actually been to the picture show twice.聽The picture show聽鈥� that鈥檚 what my high school football coach used to call going to the movies. And I鈥檓 glad I went, because I saw the highly anticipated reboot of聽Superman, and it was awesome!
Superman聽is written and directed by聽James Gunn. Not only is it one of the biggest box office hits of the year (as of this weekend, it鈥檚 brought in a whopping聽$406.8 million worldwide), but it鈥檚 also one of those movies that reminds you why we love superheroes in the first place.
A Fresh Take on the Man of Steel
First off, I loved how they didn鈥檛 spend time retelling聽Superman鈥檚 origin story. We all know it by now. Instead, the movie jumps right into the action 鈥� literally 鈥� with the opening moments landing us face-first at the tail end of a major battle. It felt like the perfect way to start fresh with a character we all know and love.
Gunn also introduced us to some interesting friends of聽Superman鈥檚 that we haven鈥檛 seen on the big screen before. One standout?聽Krypto,聽Superman鈥檚 trusty yet spastic superdog, who rescues聽Superman聽and drags him to the Fortress of Solitude. When I saw the entrance to that crystal fortress with the聽Superman聽logo on the side, it took me right back to my childhood.
Fun fact: Krypto is based on James Gunn鈥檚聽actual dog聽鈥� both in personality and appearance. As Krypto ushers聽Superman聽into his home, we also see a different side of the Man of Steel:聽the engineer. He鈥檚 built聽Superman聽robots to help guard the Fortress while he鈥檚 away living in Metropolis and working at the聽Daily Planet聽as Clark Kent.
David Corenswet聽seems like he was born to play the role of Clark Kent/Superman. He鈥檚 believable, strong, vulnerable, and carries that quiet nobility we鈥檝e come to expect from聽Superman聽鈥� much like聽Christopher Reeve聽had, but in his own way.
Rachel Brosnahan聽plays Lois Lane, and she absolutely nails it 鈥� smart, bold, emotionally grounded, and a straight shooter. I appreciated that their relationship was already established. And Gunn gives a great nod to cinematic history by revisiting the iconic Lois/Superman聽interview 鈥� this time with a twist in the circumstances.
And then there鈥檚聽Nicholas Hoult聽as聽Lex Luthor聽鈥� cold, calculating, and modern. Now listen, it鈥檚 hard to top the late聽Gene Hackman, but Hoult definitely made the role his own. His character probably has the most compelling arc in the film 鈥� he goes from bad to worse and, in doing so, really brings out the goodness in聽Superman聽and his allies, the聽Justice Gang, headed up by their self-proclaimed leader,聽Green Lantern. It just works.
Meet the Justice Gang
One of the best parts of this film is how James Gunn slowly introduces more characters from the DC Universe 鈥� not just as cameos, but as actual parts of the story. We get the formation of what some fans are calling the聽Justice Gang, with appearances from:
Edi Gathegi聽as Mister Terrific
Nathan Fillion聽as Guy Gardner / Green Lantern
Isabela Merced聽as Hawkgirl
Anthony Carrigan聽as Metamorpho
Skyler Gisondo聽as a perfectly awkward and hilarious Jimmy Olsen
Wendell Pierce聽as the no-nonsense Perry White
And the scene-stealing聽Krypto the Superdog, modeled after Gunn鈥檚 chaotic real-life pup
Other cast members include聽Mar铆a Gabriela de Far铆a,聽Sara Sampaio,聽Alan Tudyk,聽Frank Grillo,聽Bradley Cooper,聽Angela Sarafyan,聽Sean Gunn,聽Christopher McDonald,聽Beck Bennett, and many more.
Oh, and keep an eye out for two uncredited surprises:聽John Cena聽as聽Peacemaker聽and聽Milly Alcock聽as聽Supergirl.
That James Gunn Style
If you鈥檝e seen聽Guardians of the Galaxy, you鈥檒l recognize James Gunn鈥檚 fingerprints all over this movie. From the vibrant visuals to the killer soundtrack, the film flows with energy. Music plays a big role 鈥� especially during fight sequences 鈥� giving the whole thing a slightly offbeat but heartfelt rhythm.
One standout scene features聽Mr. Terrific聽and聽Lois Lane聽in a creative, action-packed sequence set to music. It put a big smile on my face. Total Gunn move 鈥� and it worked.
Superman鈥檚 fight scenes highlight his power, vulnerability, morality, and courage. The flying and fighting sequences are very emblematic of聽Superman聽comics and past films.
贬别鈥檚听faster than a speeding bullet聽鈥� like when he jumps in front of nearly two dozen tall helium tanks about to strike a young girl.
Stronger than a locomotive聽鈥� like when he keeps a fire-breathing alien monster the size of a skyscraper from crushing nearby buildings, redirecting its descent safely into a city park.
Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound聽鈥� like in his aerial battle against the powerful Ultraman
Campy? A Little. Fun? Absolutely.
Is the movie a little campy? Yeah, at times. But that鈥檚 part of its charm. It leans into the classic聽Superman聽idealism without being cheesy. It walks a fine line between grounded storytelling and comic-book spectacle 鈥� and for the most part, it gets it right.
Would I bring my young son to see it? Probably not just yet 鈥� some moments are intense. But for teens and adults, it鈥檚 a fun, heartfelt, and surprisingly thoughtful superhero movie
A Biblical Lens on聽Superman
Now here鈥檚 where I get a little personal.
As someone who views the world through a biblical lens, I often find myself looking for redemptive threads or gospel parallels in story arcs 鈥� and聽Superman鈥檚 story has always had that kind of undertone. James Gunn even acknowledged this in interviews, referring to聽Superman聽as an immigrant from another world.
And it鈥檚 true 鈥斅燬uperman聽颈蝉苍鈥檛聽from this world. He was sent here to protect and save people. That reminds me of something deeper. In聽Philippians 3:20, the Apostle Paul writes:
鈥淥ur citizenship is in heaven.鈥�
As believers in Jesus, we too are foreigners in this world 鈥� sent here for a purpose.
Even聽Superman鈥檚 origin reflects that idea:聽Jor-El and Lara聽sending their son to Earth to give the world hope. That sounds an awful lot like聽John 3:16:
鈥淔or God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.鈥�
Now, I鈥檓 not saying聽Superman聽is Jesus 鈥� not even close. But stories like this remind us of something bigger: a world in need of saving, and the hope that someone was sent to do just that.
Final Verdict: See It
So yeah 鈥� I thought聽Superman听(2025)聽was a blast. It鈥檚 fun, fast-paced, heartfelt, and had just enough meaning beneath the surface to make it memorable. There鈥檚 so much more I could say about the film, but whether you鈥檙e a longtime DC fan or just want to catch a good picture show this summer, I say check it out.
Thanks for reading 鈥� and
Have a SUPER day.
Review by: Michael Taylor
Image ourtesy of Warner Bros – 漏 Warner Bros.