Spoiler Warning: This piece discusses major plot points from ‘Superman (2025)’
From its very first frame, ‘Superman’ (2025) reasserts what has always made the Man of Steel endure: his boundless goodness and unwavering faith in humanity’s better nature. Rather than forcing Superman into the mold of a shadowy, brooding antihero, the filmmakers double down on what makes him inspiring. He’s kept radiant – a beacon of optimism in a world often saturated with cynicism. Batman can finally take a day off, because Superman is here to remind us that shining brightly beats lurking in the shadows every time.
In line with recent heroic reboots, there’s no slog through tired origin stories or rehashed ‘how he got his powers’ beats – the film knows Superman’s place in pop culture is unshakable and dives straight into the action. By skipping the elevator music and cutting right to the hits, ‘Superman’ (2025) lets us focus on what really matters: the heart, the fight, and (most importantly) the hope that keeps Superman soaring.
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Optimism Is Superman’s Superpower
In an age when superhero movies often drown in gloom and moral ambiguity to seem more ‘mature,’ ‘Superman’ (2025) makes a compelling case for keeping the Man of Steel radiant. It would be all too easy to drag Superman into some shadowy mess, but doing so would strip away the very soul that’s made him endure for decades. David Corenswet’s performance embodies steadfast optimism – not as naivety, but as Superman’s defining strength.
Here, Superman isn’t a tortured vigilante but a beacon of hope, proving that relentless goodness is neither outdated nor weak – it’s revolutionary, even punk rock. The film leans into this fully, showing that his faith in humanity isn’t a soft spot but a seismic force that lifts the entire narrative. While other heroes may brood in the shadows, Superman reminds us that hope still packs a punch.
Adding Krypto the Superdog is a clear crowd-pleaser – his infectious energy and loyalty bring both laughs and heart. And while the film may lean a bit too heavily on his cuteness at times, Krypto ultimately highlights what sets Superman apart: his compassion extends to all living beings, not just the people cheering him on. It’s a fun, sweet touch that reinforces the film’s true core – Superman’s hope and kindness as the antidote to a world gone gray.
Lex Luthor: Generational Hater
Forget tangled backstories or villains who ‘might have a point’ – ‘Superman’ (2025) distills Lex Luthor to his purest form: an unfiltered hater, allergic to everything Superman represents. Nicholas Hoult delivers a knockout performance, embracing the character’s most over-the-top traits while grounding them with razor-sharp intelligence and chilling menace. He leans all the way in, making Lex as riveting as he is reprehensible – cold, cunning, and evil enough to create a world-threatening pocket universe just to torture and imprison innocents.
What makes this version of Luthor so magnetic isn’t complexity, but clarity. Gone are the overwrought motives and half-baked moral ambiguity; what remains is raw, elemental hatred, set on a collision course with Superman’s hope. It’s a classic duel – heart versus bitterness, positivity versus relentless distrust – made even more striking by Luthor’s delusion that his jealousy is somehow saving the world.
Lois & Clark Become A True North
Casting Clark Kent and Lois Lane firmly as a couple – not as two isolated figures – is a masterstroke that grounds the film emotionally, bringing real chemistry to a partnership that feels as essential as the emblem on Superman’s chest. Their romance isn’t a mere sidebar; it’s a vital pillar, the film’s true heartbeat. While most adaptations acknowledge the importance of Lois and Clark’s relationship, ‘Superman’ (2025) fully embraces it, revealing the man behind the cape as someone who loves, doubts, and hopes – not just for the world, but for the person beside him.
At the centre of this is Rachel Brosnahan’s standout performance, portraying Lois as a fierce, uncompromising journalist who balances integrity with vulnerability. Unafraid to voice her own convictions – even when they clash with Clark’s – an argument in a living room can feel just as dynamic as the Fortress of Solitude erupting from ice. Their connection is vital to understanding who Clark Kent is behind the Man of Steel, providing the hero’s journey with an emotional core that becomes inseparable from what makes Superman truly super.
From Krypton To Kansas
Clark’s adoptive Earth parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, have long served as the moral foundation of Superman’s story. Grounding him in sturdy Midwestern values of kindness, humility, and responsibility, they instill in Clark a clear sense of right and wrong. Most movie versions pair this warmth with the beyond-the-grave wisdom of Clark’s Kryptonian father, Jor-El – though in the comics and series like ‘Smallville,’ we occasionally glimpse the idea that Krypton’s ideals aren’t always so pure.
‘Superman’ (2025) swings the pendulum dramatically, framing Clark’s Kryptonian heritage as a source of alarming, imperialist dogma – delivered via hologram by Bradley Cooper’s unusually flat, oddly out-of-place Jor-El. While this choice succeeds in spotlighting the Kents’ nurturing love as the true source of Superman’s heroism, Jor-El’s scenes come off cartoonishly villainous and emotionally disconnected.
Still, despite the heavy-handedness, the film sticks its emotional landing. In the final act, when Clark chooses his messy, heartfelt Earth memories over Krypton’s cold legacy, the sentimentality hits home – if you can momentarily forget that Cooper’s Jor-El, at one point, awkwardly suggests his son form a ‘harem.’
When Heroism Mirrors Reality
The most controversial aspect of ‘Superman’ (2025) has undoubtedly stemmed from the fictional war at the heart of the film. Despite filmmaker James Gunn’s repeated denials that the plotline serves as a direct allegory, many viewers have found the parallels to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict too striking to ignore.
The depiction of a heavily militarised, U.S.-backed nation (Boravia) invading a poorer, oppressed neighbour (Jarhanpur) echoes real-world events with uncomfortable proximity – prompting polarised reactions. Ultimately, ‘Superman’ (2025) becomes a reminder that superhero stories, grounded in timeless ideals of justice and hope, can’t help but reflect contemporary realities – especially when they draw a bold ‘good versus evil’ line in the sand.
Under different global circumstances, the film’s plot might be seen simply as a classic superhero narrative: a hero rising to defend the underdog. But given the timing of its release, the story has become a lightning rod. While the climax of the war plotline may feel overly dramatic or even heavy-handed, the film’s core message still lands: that even in dark times, optimism and courage can lead the way.
Born in Korea and raised in Hong Kong, Min Ji has combined her degree in anthropology and creative writing with her passion for going on unsolicited tangents as an editor at Friday Club. In between watching an endless amount of movies, she enjoys trying new cocktails and pastas while occasionally snapping a few pictures.
