Superman’s always been a hard one to get right. Yeah, he’s got the powers — but the real challenge is capturing what he stands for. He’s supposed to be a symbol of the best parts of humanity: hope, kindness, and doing the right thing even when it’s not easy. And over the years, we’ve seen so many different versions of him — each iteration reflecting what the world needed at the time.
I grew up watching Christopher Reeve, and for me, he’ll always be THE Superman. That mix of charm, humility, and heart — it stuck with me. But before him, there was George Reeves with his classic ‘50s take. In the 1990s, Dean Cain made Superman feel like someone you could know in Lois & Clar,k while in the new millennium, Tom Welling showed us a young Clark Kent figuring things out in Smallville. Brandon Routh honored the Reeve legacy in Superman Returns, and then Henry Cavill came in with a darker, heavier take in Man of Steel. That one really split fans, but you can’t deny it redefined the character for a new generation.
Now we’ve got David Corenswet in Superman (2025), and I have to say — this version feels like a return to what made the character so special to begin with. It’s lighter, more hopeful — and yeah, the internet’s definitely picked up on the contrast. Where Man of Steel leaned into moral gray areas and heavier tones, this movie brings Superman back to center. It’s not corny, and it doesn’t ignore what came before. It just focuses on the heart of who he is.
Corenswet plays Superman as someone who leads with empathy. He’s kind, grounded, and feels very human — not because he’s struggling, but because he cares. He wants to lift people up. It’s subtle, but it works. He’s not trying too hard, and that confidence really shows.
On the flip side, we get a Lex Luthor who truly lives up to his title as Superman’s greatest adversary. Nicholas Hoult is terrifyingly good. For the first time since Gene Hackman’s unforgettable portrayal, Lex Luthor feels like a true intellectual threat. Hoult nails the sinister charm, the cold calculation, and the arrogant genius of the character. This isn’t a mustache-twirling cartoon villain — this Lex is layered, menacing, and disturbingly plausible. Every scene he’s in demands your attention.
James Gunn did a great job with the tone of this movie. It’s big, but not overwhelming. It’s got some good laughs, but it doesn’t undercut the serious moments. And while we get introduced to some other DC heroes — like Nathan Fillion’s wild Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as a super composed Mr. Terrific, and Isabela Merced’s badass Hawkgirl — none of them steal focus. They help build out the world without taking the story away from Superman.
What I appreciated most is that the movie respects the legacy of the character. It doesn’t pretend the other versions didn’t happen. You can feel the influence of Reeve, Routh, and Cavill, but this one still feels fresh and like its own thing. It’s not trying to reinvent Superman. It’s just trying to do him justice.
Is it a perfect movie? No, but it’s solid. It’s clear. And it’s uplifting, which honestly feels rare these days. It remembers that Superman isn’t just here to save the world. He’s here to remind us to believe in it. If this is where DC is headed, I’m finally excited again because they’re bringing back something that’s been missing for a while: hope.
Superman (2025) had a strong opening weekend at the box office, grossing $122 million domestically. The film also earned an additional $95 million internationally, bringing its global total to $220 million, according to Deadline. This marks the best superhero debut for Warner Bros. since “The Batman” in 2022, according to The Verge.
