Superman Review: James Gunn Reboots Hope for the DCU

Is Superman (2025) good?

Yes — James Gunn’s Superman reboot holds an 83% Critic Score and a 90% Audience Score, with a 68 Metascore, a 3.6 on Letterboxd, and a 7.2 on IMDb. The first chapter of the new DC Universe succeeds by making kindness feel radical again: David Corenswet plays Clark Kent without irony, Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane matches him beat for beat, and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor finally gets a motivation beyond generic evil. Critics and audiences largely agree this is the strongest DC launch in years.

What is Superman (2025) about?

Clark Kent’s attempts to help the world draw backlash at home and abroad, giving Lex Luthor an opening to turn public opinion against the Man of Steel. Gunn balances globe-spanning rescue set pieces with Smallville warmth and Daily Planet banter, grounding Superman in journalism, family, and a dog who steals every scene. The film establishes a DCU where heroes already exist — Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, and others appear early — but keeps Clark’s moral question front and center: can you lead with compassion when the world rewards cynicism?

Should you watch Superman before Supergirl?

Yes — Supergirl directly builds on the world Gunn establishes here, and Corenswet’s Superman appears in both films. Watching this first clarifies the DCU’s tone, Kara Zor-El’s relationship to her famous cousin, and why audiences warmed to a universe that feels cohesive rather than fragmented. You don’t need a homework list of prior DC films; this Superman is designed as a clean entry point.

Does Superman (2025) have a post-credits scene?

Yes — stay through the credits for teases that connect Clark’s world to upcoming DCU projects, including threads that pay off in Supergirl. Gunn treats stingers as world-building rather than empty fan service, naming characters and conflicts that matter to the larger Chapter One plan. It’s worth staying seated if you’re planning to follow the franchise forward.

How does this Superman compare to Man of Steel?

Zack Snyder’s 2013 film framed Kryptonian power through mythic solemnity and collateral-damage anxiety; Gunn’s version argues that hope is the point, not the problem. Corenswet’s Clark smiles more, listens more, and still throws punches when required — but the film’s identity is warmth, not awe. Where Man of Steel asked whether Earth deserved Superman, this one asks whether Superman can remind Earth why it should try.