---
title: "Man of Steel: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/man-of-steel/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/man-of-steel"
critics_score: 59
critics_reviews: 25
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Man of Steel (2013): what the critics said

Critics' score 59 from 25 reviews: 9 positive, 10 mixed, 6 negative.

The reviews split almost evenly between praise, reservation and dislike, and the consensus settles on a film that is ambitious and large but hard to warm to. Where critics agree is on the scale: most find the Krypton sequences and the sheer size of the spectacle impressive, whatever they make of the rest. Henry Cavill draws steady approval for a confident, physical Superman, and several reviews single out the quieter scenes with Kevin Costner as the moments that land. Michael Shannon’s General Zod is praised more than once for his menace.

The reservations cluster on tone and length. Most critics find the film grim and short on humour, and even admirers say the fighting runs too long and becomes numbing. A few note that the female characters are thinly written. The spread is wide: /Film calls it phenomenal, Vulture finds it noisy and nearly pleasure-free, and The AV Club dissents on Cavill, finding him posing rather than acting.

## Time Out — Dave Calhoun

Rating 4/5. 19 July 2012. 

The critic’s opening verdict dismisses claims that comic-book films are ‘real’ and ‘psychological’ as clichéd and tiresome. The available text singles out those claims as the complaint, but does not reveal the review’s overall verdict.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/man-of-steel)

## Total Film — Matthew Leyland

Rating 4/5. 17 June 2013. 

The review calls the film a bracing, accomplished reboot that could launch something special, though it lacks warmth and charm. It praises the striking visual design while criticizing the repetitive exposition and overlong action.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/man-of-steel-review/)

## IndieWire — Charlie Schmidlin

Rating B. 10 June 2013. 

The critic finds the film bold and heartfelt, though its action excesses and underwritten female characters weaken it. They praise Henry Cavill’s compelling portrayal of Clark Kent’s journey into Superman.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-man-of-steel-directed-by-zack-snyder-starring-henry-cavill-amy-adams-michael-shannon-97130/)

## Empire — Dan Jolin

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 June 2013. 

Jolin finds the film overly serious and lacking warmth, but ultimately a spectacular, operatic Superman origin story. He particularly praises the scale and ambition of its sci-fi spectacle.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/man-steel-review/)

## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 June 2013. 

McCarthy finds the film an overwhelmingly forceful, entertaining spectacle, despite its relentless action and an over-the-top ending. He praises the spirited rapport between Henry Cavill and Amy Adams, as well as the intimate quality of some flying shots.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/man-steel-film-review-565025/)

## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 11 June 2013. 

The page identifies this as Tim Grierson’s review, but the review text is hidden behind a registration wall. Its verdict and specific points of praise or criticism cannot be established from the accessible text.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/man-of-steel/5057154.article)

## The AV Club — Ignatiy Vishnevetsky

Rating C+. 12 June 2013. 

The critic finds the film visually fascinating but argues it leaves Superman without depth or agency. He singles out its striking imagery while criticizing Henry Cavill’s performance as posing rather than acting.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/man-of-steel-1798177062)

## RogerEbert.com — Matt Zoller Seitz

Rating 2.5/4. 12 June 2013. 

Seitz gives the film a mixed verdict. He criticizes its grim tone and overlong action sequences.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/man-of-steel-2013)

## Little White Lies — Jonathan Crocker

Rating 5/3/3. 11 June 2013. 

Crocker finds the film overblown and emotionally underdeveloped despite its ambition. He praises the cast’s restrained performances, especially Kevin Costner’s quiet, powerful moments.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/man-of-steel)

## Radio Times — Jeremy Aspinall

Rating 3/5. 

Aspinall gives the reboot a lukewarm three-star assessment. He contrasts Snyder’s approach with the earlier Superman films, but the available review text cuts off before identifying a specific strength or weakness.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-c4vq10/man-of-steel/)

## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 13 June 2013. 

Bradshaw finds the film a grand, meaty superhero adventure that broadly succeeds, though it runs too long. He praises Michael Shannon’s menacing General Zod but misses the original Superman’s gentle, everyday pleasures.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jun/13/man-of-steel-review)

## Variety — Scott Foundas

Fi1m's normalised score 52/100 (inferred from the text). 11 June 2013. 

Foundas finds the film’s humorless, relentlessly noisy approach undermines its ambitious Superman reinvention. He praises Kevin Costner’s touching performance but objects to the overwhelming action and visual bombast.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-man-of-steel-1200493929/)

## Evening Standard — The Standard

Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 16 June 2013. 

The critic finds the reboot respectful and spectacular, but says its prolonged fights eventually become numbing. Henry Cavill is singled out as a fetching, convincing star despite some wooden stiffness.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/man-of-steel-film-review-8658523.html)

## Slant Magazine — Chris Cabin

Rating 1.5/4. 12 June 2013. 

The review finds the film dull, bombastic, and burdened by faux-patriotism. It praises the action sequences as thrilling, while criticizing the film’s manipulative nationalism and destruction-heavy approach.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/man-of-steel/)

## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan

Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 12 June 2013. 

Turan finds the film ambitious but only partially satisfying, with its drama unable to match its scope. He praises Henry Cavill’s casting and the broad science-fiction conception, but says the relentless action becomes numbing.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-man-of-steel-20130613-story.html)

## The New Yorker

Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 

The critic finds the film portentous and overblown. They single out its endless declamation and violence as major faults.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/man-of-steel-2)

## Vulture — David Edelstein

Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 12 June 2013. 

Edelstein finds the film noisy, cluttered, and largely pleasure-free. He singles out Amy Adams’s spirited Lois Lane and the grounded scenes with Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as its most affecting elements.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2013/06/movie-review-man-of-steel.html)

## /Film — Germain Lussier

Rating 8.5 out of 10. 10 June 2013. 

The critic calls the film phenomenal and says it successfully reboots Superman. He especially praises the enormous, thrilling action and Henry Cavill’s confident performance.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/526505/man-of-steel-review-a-super-film-that-delivers-on-all-levels/)

## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds

Rating 4/5. 11 June 2013. 

The review finds the film exhilarating and a strong foundation for future Superman adventures, despite some flaws. It especially praises the energetic action and the physicality of Henry Cavill’s performance.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a488432/man-of-steel-review-henry-cavill-soars-in-new-superman-movie/)

## The Skinny — Chris Fyvie

Rating ★★★★. 13 June 2013. 

The review praises Snyder’s reboot as an exhilarating blockbuster with unexpected depth and melancholy. It singles out the effective humanisation of Clark through his childhood and adoptive parents.

[Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/man-of-steel)

## The Wrap

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 June 2013. 

The critic finds the film successful and provocative, though it does not quite soar. They praise Henry Cavill’s portrayal of Superman as powerful yet uncertain and bewildered.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/man-steel-review-grimmer-superman-might-not-soar-it-flies-96296/)

## Eye for Film — Scott Macdonald

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 20 June 2013. 

The critic finds it reasonable entertainment, with a strong origin story and impressive technical execution, but little humor or joy. They praise the performances and visual craft while criticizing the gender politics and the shift toward destructive action.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/man-of-steel-2013-film-review-by-scott-macdonald)

## Den of Geek — Mike Cecchini

Rating 3/5. 12 June 2013. 

The critic finds the film entertaining but overburdened by spectacle and short on heart. Henry Cavill’s confident, charismatic Superman is singled out as a major strength.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/comics/man-of-steel-review/)

## Paste — Michael Burgin

Rating 5.8/10. 12 June 2013. 

Burgin finds the film a poorly told, frustrating start for the DC universe. He praises Snyder’s richly designed Krypton sequences but criticizes the sluggish pacing, destructive action, and heavy-handed allegory.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/man-of-steel)

## Consequence — Michael Roffman

Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 13 June 2013. 

Roffman finds the film ambitious but ultimately frustrated by a chaotic, incoherent story. He praises the cast, particularly Michael Shannon’s unsettling General Zod, while faulting the screenplay for leaving characters and action without emotional investment.

[Read the review](https://consequence.net/2013/06/film-review-man-of-steel/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/man-of-steel.md