---
title: "Superman"
year: 2025
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/superman"
fi1m_id: "superman"
imdb_id: "tt5950044"
tmdb_id: 1061474
wikidata_id: "Q116547790"
fi1m_score: 66
critics_score: 61
critics_reviews: 15
published: "2026-09-09"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:37:50.469488+00:00"
region: "US"
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."
---

# Superman (2025)

Directed by James Gunn · 2h 10m · MPA PG-13 · Science Fiction, Adventure, Action

## Identity

Superman

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/superman
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** superman
- **IMDb ID:** tt5950044
- **TMDB ID:** 1061474
- **Wikidata ID:** Q116547790
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5950044/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1061474, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116547790

**Fi1m score: 66** · Critics 61 from 15 reviews

*In a sentence:* The nicest man alive, the worst-behaved dog alive, and a script that cannot leave either alone for ten minutes

> James Gunn’s Superman is kind, bright and busy. David Corenswet makes a warm and credible hero and Nicholas Hoult a Luthor worth disliking, but the film keeps adding characters and crises until the last act is mostly noise.

## Synopsis

Superman (David Corenswet) is already a fixture in Metropolis, working as Clark Kent at the Daily Planet alongside Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo). When he steps into a war overseas, public opinion begins to turn against him, and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), a billionaire with a private army and a feel for the news cycle, sets out to finish the job. A dog named Krypto lives with him and does not behave. Other heroes, Mr Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), are in town and not obviously on his side. James Gunn writes and directs.

## Review

James Gunn’s *Superman* skips the origin. There is no rocket, no cornfield, no glasses coming off for the first time; a few lines of text at the start tell us what we need, and the film begins with Superman already famous, already at work and already in trouble, because he has stepped into a war abroad and half the world thinks he had no right to. Gunn, who writes and directs, wants a Superman who is simply good, in public, in an age that finds that suspicious. It is a decent idea and the film means every word of it. It is also so busy that the idea has to shout to be heard.

David Corenswet is the reason to see it. He is large and open-faced and plays the man as somebody who wants badly to be liked and is hurt when he is not, which is a more interesting Superman than the untroubled god we usually get. Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois is quicker than him and knows it, and their long argument in her flat, the two of them on a sofa disagreeing about what he did and why, is the best written scene in the film. Nobody flies during it. Nothing blows up. We would have taken another twenty minutes of it.

Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is a bald tech billionaire with a private army, a bank of screens and a grievance he cannot put down. Hoult plays him tight and sweating, a man losing an argument with someone who is not arguing, and his way of winning is to change the subject, on every screen in the world, until the public forgets what the question was. It is the film’s sharpest thought and Hoult carries it.

Henry Braham shoots all of this in bright, saturated primaries, the camera swooping alongside Superman on wide lenses so that Metropolis bends at the edges of the frame. Beth Mickle’s city is clean and slightly retro, with Luthor’s tower a white glass box that looks like a phone. Judianna Makovsky puts the trunks back on the suit and the film does not apologise for them. John Murphy and David Fleming’s score does the heavy lifting; John Williams is credited too, and his 1978 theme turns up at the moments you would expect. It worked on us every time, which we admit with mild embarrassment.

Then there is everybody else. Edi Gathegi’s Mr Terrific, deadpan and competent, gets the most to do among the other heroes and earns it. Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner has a haircut and one joke, repeated. Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl has wings. María Gabriela de Faría’s Engineer is a henchwoman with a good gimmick and no inner life. Skyler Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen has a subplot that belongs in a sillier film. And there is the dog, Krypto, who steals every scene he is in, which is a problem when the scene was supposed to be about something.

Craig Alpert and William Hoy cut fast, and for an hour that reads as energy. In the last forty minutes it reads as panic. We were tired well before the end, and then cross about being tired by a film that had, an hour earlier, made us care.

Because it had. A scene in Kansas, Clark on the porch with his adoptive father, no music under it, saying little, moved us more than anything else in the picture, and it moved us because Corenswet lets the hurt show and Gunn holds the shot. The film knows how to do this. It does it twice and then goes back to the robots.

Gunn’s [*Guardians of the Galaxy*](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy) (2014) had the same chatter and the same fondness for oddballs, and it had five people to spend them on; here he has a dozen and a mythology to restart. The Christopher Reeve films let one man and one woman stand for the whole thing, and this one keeps looking over their shoulders to see who else is arriving. See it in a cinema if you can, where the colour and the theme do their work and the noise is at least honest noise. It runs 130 minutes, carries a 12A, and would have been a better film at 110 with three fewer heroes and the same dog.

*Fi1m score 66, published 9 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews split widely, from outright dismissal to something close to a rave, and most land on the warmer side. The praise clusters on David Corenswet, whose earnest, slightly nerdy Superman several critics call the most likeable since Christopher Reeve, and on his chemistry with Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane. Krypto the dog is mentioned approvingly more often than anyone might expect, and a number of critics welcome the film’s sincerity and its immigrant theme after years of dour DC pictures. Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor draws his share of approval.

The reservations cluster just as tightly: too many villains and side characters, a plot that keeps stopping to explain itself, and a computer-generated city apocalypse for a finale. The dissent is firm rather than scattered. The Guardian finds it cluttered and soulless, Empire says the tone never coheres, and The New Yorker thinks the hero’s credo shallow. Even the harsher notices tend to spare Corenswet.

## Straight answers

**Is Superman worth watching?**

*Superman* is worth watching for anyone who wants a warm, bright superhero film and can forgive a crowded last act, and we scored it 66. David Corenswet is a hurt, likeable hero and Nicholas Hoult a Luthor worth disliking, but James Gunn keeps adding heroes and crises until the final forty minutes are mostly noise. See it in a cinema if you can.

**How long is Superman, and what is it rated?**

*Superman* runs 2h 10m and is rated PG-13 by the MPA in the US. It is a science fiction and adventure film.

**Where can I watch Superman in the US?**

*Superman* is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Hulu and The Roku Channel in the US, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from $5.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Superman compare to The Iron Giant?**

*Superman* and [*The Iron Giant*](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant) tell similar stories about a good, powerful outsider, and the earlier film is the tighter and more affecting of the two. Brad Bird spends 86 minutes on one boy and one robot and earns its feelings; Gunn spends 130 on a dozen heroes and a mythology. Choose *Superman* for spectacle and Corenswet, *The Iron Giant* for the film that lands its emotions.

**What should I watch after Superman?**

After *Superman*, try [*Spider-Man 2*](https://film.one/film/spider-man-2) (2004, Fi1m 85): A decent man tired of being decent; still the model for the sincere superhero film. Then [*The Iron Giant*](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant) (1999, Fi1m 88): A Superman story in all but name, told in 86 minutes with one metal hero; and [*Guardians of the Galaxy*](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy) (2014, Fi1m 80): Gunn’s chatter and oddballs at their best, with a cast small enough to love.

### Reviews we read (20)

- **The Independent**, Clarisse Loughrey (4/5): The critic sees the film as a convincing manifesto for the future of superhero movies and the DC universe, praising its balance of ideological playground and emotional clarity. It singles out the natural, endearing performances—especially Corenswet’s childlike restlessness—and Gunn’s signature silly humour and fondness for creatures like Krypto for praise. [Read](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/superman-review-james-gunn-david-corenswet-b2785267.html)
- **The Telegraph**, Robbie Collin (4/5): The critic calls the film a snappily vivacious reboot that is Hollywood’s best hope of beating superhero fatigue. He praises its focus on Superman as a well-meaning everyman navigating moral relativism in the social-media age. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/superman-review-film-james-gunn-david-corenswet/)
- **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (80/100, inferred): Gunn’s exuberant reboot channels the spirit of the comics with genuine emotional stakes and layered conflicts that feel like a comic book come to life, though it is frenetic and occasionally exhausting. [Read](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/superman-review-james-gunn-david-corenswet-1236444126/)
- **Sight and Sound**, Kim Newman (75/100, inferred): Gunn's playful take embraces the character's comic-book whimsy and immigrant origins without shame. It singles out the inclusion of Krypto the superdog and satirical jabs at real-world figures for praise. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/superman-james-gunns-superman-isnt-afraid-its-whimsical-comic-book-origins)
- **Screen Daily** (70/100, inferred): Gunn puts his stamp on the character with sincerity and quirky humour, resulting in an ambitious but overstuffed film. It singles out Corenswet's likeable, introspective Superman as the most appealing since Reeve. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/superman-review-james-gunn-puts-his-own-stamp-on-the-iconic-man-of-steel/5206505.article)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Amy Nicholson (45/100, inferred): The reboot gives the Man of Steel a mind of marshmallow, making him impulsive, obtuse and overwhelmed rather than sincerely earnest. It is entertaining in its pop-punk energy but unsure how to be truly sincere without overdoing it. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-07-08/superman-review-james-gunn-david-corenswet-rachel-brosnahan-nicholas-hoult)
- **The i Paper**, Francesca Steele (40/100, inferred): The critic calls Corenswet the best Superman since Christopher Reeve for his sweet, nerdy charm and strong chemistry with Brosnahan, but faults the film for muddled plots, too many villains and side characters, and derivative geopolitics that feel nonsensical. It singles out the quiet human moments in Kansas for praise amid the overall confusion. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/superman-film-derivative-nonsense-3794799)
- **The New Yorker**, Richard Brody (40/100, inferred): Gunn’s Superman applies a Guardians-style formula that results in a hero whose credo is shallow and broad, with a universe lacking grandeur or wonder and characters who feel thin and constrained. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/07/21/superman-movie-review)
- **Empire**, Sophie Butcher (30/100, inferred): The critic finds solid performances and bold visuals that entertain for the first hour, but criticises the lack of context and stakes, clunky writing, CGI chaos in the finale, and an intermittent tone that fails to cohere. It singles out Krypto the dog as a saving grace and notes Corenswet’s admirable take on the role. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/superman-2025/)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (20/100, inferred): The critic finds James Gunn’s reboot a cluttered, pointless and soulless franchise restarter that fails to justify its own existence. He singles out the wearisome intertitles explaining a contrived new backstory and the inevitable CGI city apocalypse for particular complaint. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jul/08/superman-review-david-corenswet-james-gunn)
- **Radio Times**, Jeremy Aspinall (★★★☆☆): Gunn delivers an entertaining relaunch with a genial Boy Scout Superman and strong chemistry between leads. It singles out nods to the 1978 film and colourful supporting heroes for praise while noting too many underused characters. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/app/superman-review-an-entertaining-relaunch-for-the-last-son-of-krypton/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney: The critic finds James Gunn's Superman a fun, pacy and enjoyable comic-book adventure with a warm human heart and deep affection for the material. Strong performances from David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane are singled out for praise amid some overstuffing in the screenplay. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/superman-review-david-corenswet-rachel-brosnahan-james-gunn-1236305764/)
- **The New York Times**, Alissa Wilkinson (Critic’s Pick): Gunn’s charming take on the Superman myth succeeds as a sincere but goofy movie with well-timed twists and added characters that keep things light. The new Superman is believable when he says he just loves people. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/08/movies/superman-review.html)
- **Vulture**, Alison Willmore: The critic calls Gunn's take delightful, praising its mixture of sincerity and irreverence that opens a sunny window after dour DC films. The timely refugee and immigrant themes, along with strong turns from Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, are highlighted. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-james-gunns-superman-cant-help-but-be-political.html)
- **The Wrap** (90/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a fabulously smart and entertaining reboot that packs in Superman's wonder, morality and universe while succeeding overall despite trying too hard. David Corenswet's star-making turn as a relatable, optimistic hero is singled out for praise. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/superman-2025-review-james-gunn-david-corenswet/)
- **Collider**, Ross Bonaime (8/10): The critic praises James Gunn's Superman as one of the most optimistic, playful, and fun takes on the character in decades, highlighting its modern relevance through immigrant themes and public perception issues. They single out the lead performances, especially the chemistry between David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, and the fresh perspective on the hero's vulnerabilities. [Read](https://collider.com/superman-2025-review-james-gunn-dc-david-corenswet/)
- **/Film**, Chris Evangelista (8/10): The critic praises the film as a charming, silly, fun crowd-pleaser that embraces absurdity and earnestness, highlighting the strong cast and refreshing tone, while noting some script issues like on-the-nose dialogue. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1906722/superman-james-gunn-movie-review/)
- **The Ringer**, Joshua Rivera (70/100, inferred): The critic argues that a strong Superman film requires a compelling Lex Luthor, and Gunn's version succeeds by making Nicholas Hoult's Luthor a timely amalgam of tech billionaires and classic villain tropes, using media manipulation and absurdity to reflect real-world power dynamics. They praise how it integrates spectacle with commentary on contemporary villainy. [Read](https://www.theringer.com/2025/07/15/dc/superman-movie-lex-luthor-villain-nicholas-hoult)
- **NME**, Lou Thomas (3/5): The review calls it a solid but not spectacular Superman outing that faithfully captures the DC Comics world with textured supporting characters and fun Krypto moments. It notes insufficient humor, a lack of classic charm in the leads, and a busy plot that fails to push boundaries. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/superman-review-james-gunn-dc-david-corenswet-nicholas-hoult-3877201)
- **Den of Geek**, David Crow (4 out of 5): The critic praises the electricity and chemistry between David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan as the film's standout element, evoking classic Superman magic, alongside strong ensemble casting and comic-book worldbuilding. The film is critiqued for feeling cluttered and overstuffed with shared-universe elements that dilute the central Lois-Clark focus. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/superman-review-james-gunn-lost-magic/)

## Details

- **Director:** James Gunn
- **Director:** James Gunn
- **Writer:** James Gunn
- **Cinematography:** Henry Braham
- **Editor:** William Hoy, Craig Alpert
- **Music:** John Murphy, David Fleming, John Williams
- **Production design:** Beth Mickle
- **Costume design:** Judianna Makovsky
- **Producer:** Peter Safran, James Gunn
- **Cast:** David Corenswet as Superman; Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane; Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor; Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific; Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner; Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl; María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer; Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen
- **Runtime:** 2h 10m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13
- **Release (the US):** 11 July 2025
- **Genres:** Science Fiction, Adventure, Action
- **Budget:** $225 million
- **Box office:** $619 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MikgqM0LXr4

## Where to watch in the US

- Amazon Prime Video: streaming, uhd
- HBO Max: streaming, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd
- Hulu: add-on, hd
- The Roku Channel: add-on, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $5.99, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, uhd

*Checked 2026-09-10.*

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TH, TR, UA, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Superman* (1978): Reeve and Kidder prove one man and one woman can carry the whole myth.
- *Spider-Man 2* (2004), Fi1m 85: A decent man tired of being decent; still the model for the sincere superhero film. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-2.md)
- *The Iron Giant* (1999), Fi1m 88: A Superman story in all but name, told in 86 minutes with one metal hero. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant.md)
- *Shin Ultraman* (2022): Japan’s own alien in a bright suit, deadpan, earnest and pleasingly odd.
- *Guardians of the Galaxy* (2014), Fi1m 80: Gunn’s chatter and oddballs at their best, with a cast small enough to love. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy.md)

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