SPOILER WARNING: This review contains major plot points and character details from Superman (2025). Read on only if you’re ready for full spoilers, and full feelings.
By Dara Clariza Evangelista
Let’s just start and say that Superman (2025) is not just a reboot, it’s a full-on reset of what DC movies can and should feel like. For the first time in literally years, you can actually see what’s happening on screen. The colors are back. The sunlight is shining. And best of all? The story makes you feel good. After years of gritty reboots and blacked-out palettes, this movie is fun, sincere, and genuinely hopeful. It doesn’t run from its comic book roots, it embraces them.
At the heart of it all is James Gunn, the mastermind behind this wildly entertaining, unexpectedly emotional new start for the DC Universe. The same guy who made you cry over a racoon or a tree (Guardians of the Galaxy), made you cheer for chaos in The Suicide Squad, and gave us that unhinged nostalgic Scooby-Doo live-action classic? Yep, he’s now in charge of Superman, and he nailed it. Gunn wrote and directed the film himself, pulling inspiration from All-Star Superman and classic comics, while shaping a tone that finally brings color, warmth, and personality back to the big blue boy scout.
Leading the charge is David Corenswet, who completely captures the soul of Clark Kent. He’s not trying to be cool or edgy, he’s just good. Kind. Grounded. Imperfect. You believe this is someone who was raised with values, who listens before he acts, and who still believes in saving the world even when it turns its back on him. His Superman smiles. He messes up. He cares. And when he’s not soaring through the sky or stopping wars, he’s in the Fortress of Solitude rewatching home movies of his Earth parents. It’s that kind of Superman, and it works.
But let’s be honest, Krypto, from the moment he bounds onto the screen, tail wagging and eyes glowing, he’s impossible not to love. He’s naughty but loyal, chaotic but always the goodest boy. He’s the first to pull Superman to safety after a near-death fight. He comforts Joey, Metamorpho’s crying baby, with one soft lick. He destroys the flying surveillance drones that stalk Clark across Metropolis. He bites Lex Luthor. And he does it all with so much personality, you start to wonder why he doesn’t have his own spin-off yet. Krypto isn’t just comic relief, he’s family.
Krypto almost steals the whole movie but in reality, the lovable pup was inspired by James Gunn’s actual rescue dog, Ozu, who served as the 3D model (In the movie, Krypto is computer generated (similar to how Rocket Racoon was brought to life). He also used his own personal pet videos of Ozu playing with his cat as the basis for some of Krypto’s movements onscreen.
Then there’s Rachel Brosnahan, whose Lois Lane might just be the best live-action version we’ve ever seen. She’s fast-talking, fearless, and always two steps ahead. Her comedic timing from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel translates perfectly, but here, it’s paired with intensity, heart, and genuine emotional weight. She and Clark are a real team, not just romantically, but as investigative partners. She fights for truth in the newsroom while still being the one person Clark can always count on. She’s the grounding force in all the madness, and every scene she’s in hits just right.
Right: Wendell Pierce as Perry White during Superman (2025)
Photo Credits to James Gunn, Warner Brothers, and DC Studios
Now for the rest of the gang, because this is very much a team movie. Skyler Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen is the sweet, awkward, lovable mess we expected and wanted. Wendell Pierce’s Perry White brings all the gruff boss energy we didn’t know we missed. He’s loud, principled, and runs the Daily Planet like a newsroom should be run, fast, furious, and full of deadlines. His dynamic with both Lois and Clark adds weight and texture to every scene.
Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is terrifying in the most unsettling way. Fun fact: he originally auditioned to play Superman, but ended up as Lex, and we’re glad. His take is cold, methodical, and delusional in the best possible sense. You believe that he believes he’s the hero. He manipulates, gaslights, and does it all with a calm smile. Opposite him is Sara Sampaio’s Eve Teschmacher, the surprise comedic highlight. She’s part loyal henchwoman, part chaos agent, and kind of in love with Jimmy? We’re obsessed.
Right: Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific in full costume during Superman (2025) –
Photo Credits to James Gunn, Warner Brothers, and DC Studios
Let’s not forget the Justice Gang, and yes, it’s officially called that now thanks to Metamorpho giving Green Lantern the final vote. Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern is cocky, sarcastic, and sporting the most talked-about haircut in superhero cinema. He’s hilarious and tired in the way only a space cop with decades of trauma can be. Edi Gathegi, who fans may remember as Darwin from X-Men: First Class, plays Mister Terrific with cool confidence and sharp intellect. He’s the quiet anchor of the group, the one who’s always three steps ahead.
Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl is fierce and fast, while Anthony Carrigan’s Metamorpho unexpectedly becomes the emotional heart of the group. His relationship with his baby Joey is deeply moving, and his arc from reluctant mutant to full-fledged hero is one of the most satisfying in the film. Plus, that final vote to make “Justice Gang” the official team name? Absolute comedy gold.
But really, this movie soars because it knows what it is. It’s a comic book. A bright, bold, unapologetically fun comic book brought to life. It’s not embarrassed by capes, or powers, or alien dogs. It embraces all of it. And it makes you believe again, not just in Superman, but in what superhero movies can feel like when they’re made with heart.
By the end, it’s not just about Clark or the Justice Gang, it’s about how much we’ve missed this kind of movie. One where the good guys try, where the dog lives, where the world is messy but hopeful. Superman (2025) isn’t just a reboot. It’s a reminder: heroes should make you feel something. And sometimes, they come with a cape and a super dog who bites bad guys.
PS: When Supergirl shows up drunk in the post-credits to pick him up from the Fortress? Iconic. Cute. He’s not just Superman & Supergirl’s best friend, he’s ours, too.
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