Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 9, 2025 · Entertainment

Superman: A 'Poppy Reboot' or an 'Overstuffed' Marvel?

Warner Bros. held the Los Angeles premiere of Superman at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Monday, with fans and critics already praising the film on social media.

Superman Soars, But James Gunn's Comments Spark Fury

The wait is over for fans of the iconic Man of Steel, as Warner Bros.' Superman finally hits theaters, and the verdict is in: it's a game-changer! But don't get too excited just yet, folks, because director James Gunn has been sparking controversy with his comments about the film.

Gunn, who took over as head of DC alongside Peter Safran, has been under fire for saying that Superman is "the story of America... an immigrant that came from other places and populated the country." Yeah, it's safe to say that didn't go over well with everyone. Fox News' Greg Gutfeld accused Gunn of operating with a "woke shield," while Kellyanne Conway, former counselor to President Donald Trump, claimed he missed the point of moviegoing altogether.

David Corenswet takes over as the title character, with Rachel Brosnahan (above) portraying his Daily Planet colleague and girlfriend Lois Lane, with Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor

So, what's all the fuss about? Is Superman still the hero we love, or has it gone woke?

A Fresh Take on the Classic

For starters, let's get this out of the way: David Corenswet takes over as the titular character, and he brings a certain charm to the role. Rachel Brosnahan shines as Lois Lane, his Daily Planet colleague and girlfriend. And Nicholas Hoult gives us a deliciously over-the-top performance as Lex Luthor.

While the budget has been reported to be $225 million, Gunn recently shot down rumors that his film needs a huge result at the box office

But what about the film itself? Well, it's been praised by many critics for its lighthearted tone, pacy pacing, and winning trio of leads. The Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney called it "exuberant and poppy," while Variety's Owen Gleiberman described it as a "reset not just one studio’s fortunes but the very idea of what a comic-book movie is."

Not Without Its Flaws

Of course, not everyone has been singing Superman's praises. The Toronto Star's Peter Howell called it "all over the place," geographically and narratively. IndieWire's Dave Ehrlich admitted that while Corenswet and Brosnahan are great in their roles, the film "overcorrects for the Zack Snyder era" and struggles to find its footing.

The film also brings in numerous other beloved characters from the DC Comics like Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan), Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), plus the beloved Crypto the Super-Dog

The Verdict

So, what's the takeaway? Is Superman a must-see or a miss? We think it's worth checking out, even if it's not perfect. The New York Times' Alissa Wilkinson referred to herself as a "superhero-weary critic," but even she couldn't help but be won over by the film's sincerity and goofiness.

The Box Office

The film follows the Man of Steel as he tries to balance his life as mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent while also being the most powerful entity on the planet.

As for the box office, analysts are predicting an opening weekend between $130 million and $170 million. But Gunn has been quick to debunk rumors that the film needs to crack $700 million to be a success. "This is not the riskiest endeavor in the world," he told GQ. "Is there something riding on it? Yeah, but it's not as big as people make it out to be."

The Budget

So, what about the budget? A whopping $225 million, according to reports. But don't worry, folks; Gunn has reassured us that it's not all about the Benjamins. "It doesn't need to be as big of a situation as people are saying," he said.

One of the other negative reviews was from IndieWire 's Dave Ehrlich, who admits that both David Corenswet as Superman and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane are 'great,' but adds it 'overcorrects for the Zack Snyder era,' the last filmmaker who tackled the Man of Steel in several super-serious and dark movies.

The Scholarly Note

In conclusion, Superman is a film worth checking out, even if it's not without its flaws. And let's be real – who can resist a good superhero movie? But what do you think, readers? Are you Team Gunn or Team Gutfeld? Share your thoughts with us!

Gunn himself has been facing backlash for comments he made in an interview in The Sunday Times of London last week.

'But it¿s about human kindness and obviously there will be jerks out there who are just not kind and will take it as offensive just because it is about kindness. But screw them,' he said.