Look Up! It’s Superman (2025)

vanessabland
7 days ago
6 min read

In unfortunate news, Nic’s Flix has officially been retired from Grapeshot as the legendary Nic Chang has now graduated. (RIP Nic Chang, not dead, just in a worse place (aka, no Grapey).) In good news, the movie reviews GO ON! Editor-in-Chief, Beth Nicholls (aka a certified nerd), reviews one of the latest superhero movies to hit our screens: Superman.

Look, everyone surely knows the barebone plot of Superman, however, I am giving spoiler warnings for Superman (2025) because the magic of this adaptation will be revealed throughout this review, and I think that’s most of what makes this specific film so special. You have been WARNED…

Now, if I have seen a movie more than once in cinemas, that is usually a main indicator that the movie is worth your time. And in the case of Superman, it is very much true, considering I may or may not have seen it twice within eight days, and contemplated seeing it a third just days after my first re-watch… Anyways, enough yapping about my current hyperfixation state and onto the actual review!

Superman is a reboot of the classic DC series and the first film instalment in the new DC Universe (DCU), directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Broshenren as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. The film bypasses the origin story of Superman, and instead takes you to a timeline where Superman is well known within Metropolis whilst he is reconciling with his alien heritage, human-upbringing and identity, and Lois Lane is quite definitely aware of Clark Kent’s hidden identity.

For me, the key takeaways from this film were: journalism is power, kindness is the new punk rock, and that we all have a part to play in making change, where nothing is as hopeless as it seems.

Journalism has always been a powerful tool, and is one of the many pillars of a functioning society. In Superman, journalism wasn’t just a sideplot that had minimal purpose; instead, it was at the forefront of the film. The audience saw the roles of various journalists at The Daily Planet, and how they all play an important role in uncovering and reporting on the truth.

James Gunn states that: “today, when journalists are especially under fire from people all across the political spectrum who don’t want them to be reporting on what is, but instead, on what they want the truth to be, I’m grateful for those people.”^[1]

This is evident in the film, where through Lois Lane and Jimmy Olson’s (Skyler Gisondo) investigative reporting, they find out the truth about Lex Luthor and his plans. This ultimate truth they discover, and subsequently reveal to Metropolis through The Daily Planet , is inevitably what saves the city, alongside Superman’s efforts.

It’s these types of journalists which drive towards a better functioning society; one’s that aren’t afraid to pursue the truth and ask the hard questions. The ones that will write the “hard” stories, no matter if it’s what people in power don’t want to hear. Journalists hold so much power, and their pursuit of the truth won’t ever be shut down.

Now, the casting of this film is absolutely on point and chefs kiss. Corenswet really embodies every part of Superman and Clark Kent’s characters, both emotionally and physically. His portrayal of the two personas is so distinct and evident, especially during the scene in Lois Lane’s living room, where eventually she manages (with ease) to convince Kent to be interviewed as Superman. Corenswet’s ability to shift his body language and lower the pitch of his voice indicates to the audience that although physically he appears the same on screen, Kent is not the character who we are watching now, but instead Superman.

Furthermore, this scene between Lane and Kent went for over twelve minutes, but every time I watched the scene it flew right before my eyes. The on-screen chemistry that Broshenren and Corenswet share was evident throughout the whole film, but this scene (and the kitchen one only moments prior) really allowed their connection to shine. It was through this interview turned-almost argument, that you learn where Lois and Clark stand, and that they both so passionately stand for their beliefs, and fight for what they believe is right. It’s what makes both of these characters truly who they are, as both individuals and together as a pair.

Broshenren, to me, really embodied Lois Lane, who is bold, passionate and unafraid - and she portrayed all these characteristics on screen so well. Lane is a well-versed reporter, who is undeniably good at her job, and certainly knows how to keep her personal feelings in check. Throughout the film the audience is able to see Lane’s personal journey with her feelings towards Kent, as she grapples with the idea that she does love him, after initially thinking that the relationship “wasn’t gonna work”, and that pursuing romantic feelings wasn’t her forte. Watching her grow as a reporter, human, and lover is beautiful - and it shows all the sides of her to the viewer, and that she isn’t just one-dimensional and positioned solely as “Superman’s lover”.

Backtracking slightly, the film opens with a scene revealing things that happened: three centuries ago, three decades ago, three years ago, three weeks ago, three hours ago, and three minutes ago. Though, three months is very clearly omitted from the list. Later, it is revealed, through a shared scene, that it has been three months since Lois and Clark went on their first date, and this holds significance. As for Clark and Lois, this three month mark was something worth celebrating (even if it was with breakfast for dinner), but their romantic relationship did not need to be revealed from the start before the audience even met the characters.

Nicholas Hoult absolutely nailed the generational hater vibe of Lex Luthor. Luthor contrasts everything that Superman stands for, where he believes in superiority within the human race, and that his envy drives him, which he sees as the “sole hope for humanity.” Obviously, Luthor is quite literally a terrible person and there aren't any redeemable qualities about him, but his position as a villain is so powerful, where it shows the audience the impacts of unchecked power, especially from one who is devoid of ethical principles.

Many conservative commentators have remarked that the film is “too political”, with someone from Fox News in the United States going as far as calling it “Superwoke”.^[2]Such criticisms come from the film’s pro-immigration status and the parallels created between the film and the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. The film explored the clear issues that stem from mainstream media, where Lex Luthor goes on TV and blatantly spreads misinformation about Superman, which everyone goes on to believe without further questioning. Gunn carefully constructed these themes and ideologies throughout the film with enough ambiguity from said real-world events to be plausibly deniable.

Like most movies, this one wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, with elements present that can’t be described as flawless, but the work from Gunn and the cast was phenomenal in my opinion, and it’s hard to pinpoint massive moments that could have been done better. (However, to be fair, I am quite attached to the film and still nerding out, so I probably have clouded judgment).

It was an extremely fresh portrayal of Superman, which set it apart from other recent adaptations, such as Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman (2016). This film was able to capture a sense of hope, and give the audience a sense that they have the power to create change, and that sometimes kindness is all we need in times of crisis and pain. Seeing Superman be irrevocably human, where he so fiercely loves and acts with continuous compassion, is more powerful than his superhuman powers and ability to hold up crumbling buildings. (Also, I think Krypto also gives this adaptation MULTIPLE bonus points).

Though not the first film in such a vein, Superman has broken new ground and dawns a new era for the DCU. It restores hope for humanity, and isn’t afraid to be political and make bold statements. People have come together in a way that hasn’t been witnessed in years, and it’s beautiful. The film encapsulates everything Superman is supposed to be, with splashes of romance and humour, and a perfect cast as the cherry on top.

TLDR; my Letterboxd review (in the most non-cohesive way) quite literally calls out Clark Kent’s gender (David Corenswet, oh how I love you), how hot Lois Lane is (Rachel Broshenren, you’re the PERFECT Lois), and how the movie just overall slayed. If you haven’t seen it - this is my formal recommendation to go see it!!! (Although by the time you read this, the movie is probably long gone from the cinemas and available on streaming services instead. But the point still stands!)

Rating: 4 stars

ENDNOTES:

[1] DC Comics. “Why Journalism Had to Be at the Heart of Superman.” DC, 18 July 2025, www.dc.com/blog/2025/07/18/why-journalism-had-to-be-at-the-heart-of-superman.

[2] Fox News Radio. “Superman Goes Woke.” Fox News Radio, 11 July 2025, https://radio.foxnews.com/2025/07/11/superman-goes-woke/.

Look Up! It’s Superman (2025)

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