When I first heard that yet another Superman reboot was in the works at DC Comics, I rolled my eyes and mentally added it to the growing pile of “nostalgia-bait movies I won’t be watching.” I’d never been a fan of the DC Universe, and most previous iterations of Superman had struck me as forgettable at best and cynical cash grabs at worst.
I only ended up in the theater at a friend’s request, fully expecting another recycled storyline about an alien savior protecting helpless humans. What I didn’t expect was to leave with tears in my eyes, a song stuck in my head, and a desperate need to unpack every single scene.
The film, starring David Corenswet, reintroduces Clark Kent as a young man navigating the tension between his calling as Superman and the darker realities of human corruption. The central conflict kicks off when Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) kidnaps Kent’s beloved dog, Krypto. On paper, the setup sounds almost too simple. But under James Gunn’s direction, it becomes one of the most engaging and emotionally resonant superhero stories of the past decade.
I wasn’t the only one surprised. Since its July release, Superman has grossed $614.1 million worldwide, including $353.3 million domestically—surpassing Zack Snyder’s 2013 Man of Steel. It currently holds an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.2/10 on IMDb. To some, these may not seem like stellar ratings or profits, with some sources even boldly claiming in click-bait titles that it “bombed the box office,” it is still undeniable that Superman stands as one of DC's strongest projects in years, with both critics and audiences praising its emotional authenticity and refreshing approach to the superhero genre.
Much of that success can be traced back to Gunn’s creative vision. Known for his ability to balance humor, heart and music in films like Guardians of the Galaxy, Gunn brings the same sensibility here. His love for animals shines through in the inclusion of Krypto (and even a small but memorable squirrel cameo). His knack for curating music heightens the film’s most emotional beats—whether it’s Mr. Terrific’s training sequence set to “Five Years Time” or the ironic closing track “Punkrocker” that lingers long after the credits roll.
But what truly sets Superman apart from its superhero peers is its refreshing simplicity. Corenswet’s Clark Kent doesn’t save people because of a mystical destiny tied to Krypton. He saves them because it’s the right thing to do. Hoult’s Lex Luthor isn’t driven by a convoluted tragedy or a pseudo-philosophical motive; he’s driven by sheer hatred and jealousy. Good and evil are drawn clearly, not because the film lacks nuance, but because it understands the timeless power of that contrast.
And that, to me, is fascinating. In an era where superhero films often bury themselves under layers of lore, tragic backstories, and morally gray characters, Superman dares to be straightforward. It reminds us of what these stories were always meant to do: inspire hope, celebrate goodness and insist that evil can be confronted and overcome.
Superman isn’t remarkable because of its visual effects or high-budget fight scenes. It’s remarkable because, in a time marked by fear, division and cynicism, it dares to say that kindness matters. A hero who refuses to sacrifice even a single life for the sake of politics or power is the kind of hero worth believing in. A hero like Superman is a hero that I will gladly watch and support, continuing to hope that better days will come to us through good and kindness.
Illustration courtesy of Alexandra Castillo