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Opening Date

10 Jul 2025

Rating

PG13 Some Violence

些许暴力画面

Runtime

129 mins

Language

English with English & Chinese subtitles

Genre

Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Director

James Gunn

Cast

David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Anthony Carrigan, Edi Gathegi, Skylar Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, María Gabriela de Faría, Wendell Pierce, Alan Tudyk, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Neva Howell

Synopsis

When Superman is drawn into conflicts both abroad and at home, his actions to protect humankind are questioned, and his vulnerability allows tech billionaire and master deceiver Lex Luthor to leverage the opportunity to get Superman out of the way for good. Will the Daily Planet’s intrepid reporter Lois Lane, together with the aid of Metropolis’s other metahumans and Superman’s own four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help Superman before Luthor can completely destroy him?

The film follows Superman’s journey to reconcile his heritage as the Kryptonian Kal-El with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas, and his selfless determination to use his power for good as humanity’s protector. Guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned, he is the embodiment of truth, justice and a better tomorrow.

Reviews

By InCinemas 10 Jul 2025

David Corenswet soars as the new generation’s Superman.

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Co-CEO of DC Studios, James Gunn, has given himself the mammoth task of writing, directing and producing the first great big film of the cinematic DC Universe (DCU), a la Iron Man for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

There’s a lot riding on its shoulders, not only carrying the fate of the franchise’s future in its hands but also the studio’s reputation and chance to silence naysayers after the failure of the now-defunct DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

This clearly looks like a job for Superman because what better DC superhero to lead the charge that the poster boy of DC comics himself?

Gunn, on the other hand, has always had a penchant for the underdogs and unlikeliest of heroes (hence, the successes of Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and The Suicide Squad) but the man of steel, arguably one of the most well-known superheroes of all-time, hardly fits those criterias. One would almost argue if the director was the right man to helm this film of all films. But to his credit, Gunn’s passion for championing eccentricity has allowed him to deliver us a Superman we rarely get to see: a quirky oddball alien finding his place on earth.

The Superman we’ve always known is the definition of Lawful Good. He’s no different here, being the best man he can be and helping those in need – a trait, as we learned, is strongly motivated by half a message from his Kryptonian parents, one he listens to frequently because he finds it soothing, as if it’s his own personalised Calm episode. But he's not just a good looking macho hero, he's also naive and vulnerable.

Donning the red and blue suit and black rimmed glasses (separately) is David Corenswet, leading a stellar supporting cast consisting of Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Nathan Fillion, Edi Gathegi, Isabela Merced, Anthony Carrigan, Skyler Gisondo, Beck Bennett, Mikaela Hoover, Wendell Pierce and more.

In this version of Superman, earth’s dwellers are well aware of superheroes because they have existed for three centuries. And us audience should already be familiar enough with Superman’s origin story because the film takes place three years after his debut as earth’s most powerful metahuman.

The film starts by showing us Superman's first downfall at the hands of the mysterious “Hammer of Boravia” – a result of the former’s interference in the Boravia invasion of Jarhanpur, both fictional countries but obvious stand-ins for real countries because no film is safe from not making a political statement these days.

Stepping into a role of this magnitude is a lot of weight to bear but Corenswet eases into it with great proficiency and compassion, balancing his character’s power and naivety with vulnerability and authority. He’s a delightful Superman as he is the bumbling Clark Kent, exuding an endearing charm both ways that will make you fall more in love with his character(s) as the minutes pass.

Bouncing off his incredible energy are the equally accomplished Brosnahan and Hoult, oocupying space as coworker/companion and foe respectively. Brosnahan, best known for the hit series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, induces the same level of Mrs. Maisel’s quick wit and feist to her iteration of Lois Lane. It is perhaps her strong command of the screen that makes her one of the more formidable Lois’ we’ve seen on the big screen. Her electric chemistry with Corenswet is easily one of the best parts of the film (which should’ve really been called Superman & Lois.)

On the other end of the spectrum is Lex Luthor, played by a deliciously nefarious Hoult. He’s oh so wily and the actual source behind the whole Boravia vs Jarhanpur debacle. Similar to Brosnahan and her tv show, it seems Hoult’s time on The Great has allowed him to master the snidey air of entitlement that the wealthy intellectual villain Luthor emits.

Thrown into the mix are also a ragtag trio of superheroes who call themselves the Justice Gang – Green Lantern Guy Gardner (Fillion), Hawkgirl (Merced), and Mister Terrific (Gathegi). Whilst Gunn's effort in utilising lesser known heroes is comendable, their inclusion felt more distracting of the bigger picture, especially the whole subplot on a character that deserves to have their own film instead of leeching off Superman's. It’s reminscent of the Justice Society of America in Black Adam except that was probably executed a touch better. What ever happened to plain old focus?

Superman may be overpopulated with characters that don’t do much but at least it serves thrilling action set pieces made for the big screens. It’s also comically wacky for those looking for a laugh in the midst of war (at times too wacky for it’s own good that it’s hard to decipher the real tone they’re trying to set here.)

Fortunately, there’s some genuine moments that give the film an edge with quality and realism to counter the ones where it falters – specifically scenes Clark shares with Lois where they have a heated argument as equals, and later with his parents John and Martha at their Kansas farm where we see them as the real foundation behind Clark/Superman’s virtue. It is through these little moments that we see the true potential of Superman, both as a film and character. If only Gunn had found better harmony between zany and dire.

Superman may not have been the faultless triumphant saving grace the studio was looking for to (re-)jumpstart its comic book cinematic franchise but it does have heart and gives hope. If that’s not enough, it’s pertinent to reiterate its incredible feat at boasting a phenomenal cast we can’t wait to see more of in the future.

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