When Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel came out in theatres in 2013, it showed audiences a darker, more serious version of Superman—one that divided fans but changed how the character could be shown in movies. Over ten years later, the cape is back, now directed by James Gunn. With Superman (2025), Gunn isn’t just starting the story of the world’s most famous superhero again—he’s changing him, removing the cold, hard image and putting humanity at the center of the story.

Instead of focusing only on Superman’s strength and almost unbreakable nature, the story looks at his weaknesses, his sense of who he is, and the challenge of having great power while still making very human decisions. Gunn’s Superman feels less like a faraway god watching the world and more like someone truly living in it, able to do the impossible while showing hope, kindness, and emotional depth that the character has lacked for years. It gives the hero who began it all a meaningful new start and offers what might be the most relatable version of Superman we have seen so far.

David Corenswet is one of the biggest reasons this version of Superman works so well. The moment Clark puts on the cape, you can feel the shift in his posture and personality, but he never becomes cold, brooding or weighed down by the role. Corenswet plays him with a warmth and easy charm that feels fresh while still recalling the hopeful Superman many of us grew up with. He smiles at the people he saves, reassures them when they are frightened and even stops in the middle of the chaos to rescue a squirrel. It may seem like a tiny moment, but that is exactly the point: his Superman does not only care when the whole world is in danger—he believes every life is worth saving.

The best thing is that Corenswet balances both sides of the role really well. His Clark Kent is just awkward enough, charming with a smile, and able to move through the newsroom without drawing attention. As Superman, he shows confidence and hope. For the first time in a while, you watch Superman on screen and think, that’s the hero I’ve been waiting for. Gunn clearly wanted to bring the character back to basics, with less of a tough exterior and more heart, and Corenswet makes it work.

avid Corenswet is a huge part of why this version of Superman feels so refreshing. The moment Clark steps into the suit, there is an obvious change in the way he carries himself, but he never becomes cold or overly serious. He is warm, hopeful and easy to root for, with a charm that feels new while still bringing back some of the qualities people loved about the classic Superman. He smiles at the people he rescues, calms them when they are frightened and even takes a moment during all the destruction to save a squirrel. That tiny scene tells you almost everything you need to know about him — no life is too small to matter.

Corenswet is just as convincing when he steps out of the suit. His Clark Kent is awkward without turning into a cartoon, using a nervous smile, slightly clumsy body language and an ability to disappear into the Daily Planet newsroom despite being the tallest person in it. Superman, meanwhile, stands straighter and carries himself with the calm confidence people expect from him. The difference between the two never feels forced, and for the first time in quite a while, watching Superman leaves you thinking, yes, this is the hero we have been waiting for. Gunn may have stripped away some of the steel, but Corenswet makes sure there is plenty of heart underneath.

The chemistry between David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan is one of the film’s strongest qualities. Their conversations have a quick, slightly messy energy that makes Clark and Lois feel like two people with a real history rather than a romance included because the story expects one. Brosnahan’s Lois is smart, stubborn and fearless, but she is never reduced to the tough reporter who always has the perfect comeback ready. Her sharpness plays beautifully against Clark’s sincerity, and whenever the two are together, the film immediately feels more alive. If anything, you are left wishing Gunn had given their relationship a little more room to breathe.

Nicholas Hoult takes a very different approach to Lex Luthor, and it works. He is not played as a loud comic-book villain constantly announcing how evil he is — he feels more like a modern tech billionaire who has convinced himself that money and intelligence give him the right to control everyone else. Hoult makes him smug, obsessive and uncomfortably believable, which turns his conflict with Superman into something more interesting than another hero-versus-villain showdown. Lex does not simply hate Superman because he is powerful—he hates what Superman represents and cannot stand that all his influence still cannot make people look at him the same way.

Jimmy Olsen, Mister Terrific, Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, and the thoroughly chaotic Krypto all bring something enjoyable to the movie, and several of them steal entire scenes without much effort. Still, the film occasionally feels as though it is introducing a whole universe while also trying to tell Superman’s story. None of these characters actively hurts the movie, but their sheer number means Clark, Lois and Lex sometimes lose screen time they could have used. It is a fun crowd—just a very crowded one.

When Superman decides to go big, it really goes for it. The film throws Clark into everything from a battle with a towering kaiju to high-speed chases, citywide rescues and a stadium fight that looks as though someone lifted an entire splash page from a comic book. What makes these scenes work is that you can usually tell what is happening and where everyone is. Gunn keeps the action moving without chopping it into a hundred frantic cuts, so every punch, flight and last-second save has room to land.

The visual effects carry much of the movie, from Superman tearing through the clouds to Krypto bouncing around like the world’s least disciplined super-powered dog. Most importantly, the spectacle never forgets who Superman is. He is not there simply to hit the biggest thing on screen; he is constantly watching for the people and animals caught underneath it all. Those smaller rescues give the action its heart and keep the destruction from feeling like expensive background noise. The film may be packed with digital chaos, but its best moments still come down to one person choosing to help another.

By the time the credits finished, what stayed with me was not the giant monsters or falling buildings, but how truly hopeful the film felt. That should not be unusual for a Superman story, yet after years of superhero movies becoming darker, louder and more complex, seeing the character played with this much honesty feels surprisingly new. Gunn has not changed the genre, but he has remembered something many big movies forget: audiences need a reason to care about the person wearing the cape.

Corenswet is essential to making that work. He gives Superman an openness that makes him feel approachable without diminishing his strength, while Brosnahan brings enough intelligence and stubbornness to Lois that she always feels like his equal. Hoult completes the central trio with a Lex Luthor who is unsettling because his ego, resentment and obsession with control do not feel especially far removed from the real world. The performances give the film a strong emotional centre, even when everything around them becomes busy.

And it does become busy. Gunn tries to establish an entire new corner of the DC Universe while telling a personal Superman story, and there are moments when those ambitions compete with each other. The supporting cast is enjoyable, but the pacing occasionally rushes past scenes that deserve more time, particularly those involving Clark, Lois and Lex. The film could have slowed down, taken a breath and trusted its main characters a little more.

Even with its flaws, the film gets the most important thing right— it understands Superman. This version may not work for everyone, especially those who prefer the character darker and more strict, but his strength has never been the most interesting thing about him—it is the fact that, despite everything he could do, he still chooses to be kind. I did not walk out of the cinema thinking superhero fatigue had magically disappeared; I simply remembered that when these characters are treated with sincerity, they can still mean something, and sometimes all it takes is the right Superman to make you believe again.

IMDb: 7.0 | Tomatometer: 83% | Popcornmeter: 90% | Average: 81

Rating: ★★★★☆