Well, they did it. They took one of the most iconic, hopeful figures in all of fiction and managed to turn his highly anticipated cinematic return into an unmitigated disaster. My fears were not just realized but amplified. “Superman” (2025) is a resounding 1 out of 10.
From the opening scenes, it’s clear the film has no idea what it wants to be, or rather, it tries to be everything simultaneously and fails spectacularly at each attempt. It’s an unbalanced mess of competing tones, narrative threads, and poorly conceived ideas. One moment it’s trying for a gritty political thriller, the next it awkwardly veers into slapstick comedy, only to pivot again to a generic CGI spectacle.
The pacing is a nightmare, jumping from exposition dumps to chaotic action sequences without ever giving the audience a chance to breathe or, more importantly, care. Character introductions feel rushed, plot points are introduced and then discarded or forgotten, leaving you with a sense of dizzying narrative whiplash. There’s no cohesive vision, just a jumbled collection of scenes that never merge into a meaningful story.
The prime culprit for this tonal whiplash and narrative muddle is unequivocally James Gunn. Let me be blunt: James Gunn is not good at this. His signature style, so effective in other corners of the superhero genre, proves to be fundamentally unsuited for the Man of Steel. He strips away the gravitas, the aspirational quality, the very hope that Superman embodies, replacing it with a cynical, self-aware smirk that falls flat. The attempts at humor are forced and frequently undermine any shred of emotional impact the film tries to build.
It feels like Gunn tried to apply the “Guardians of the Galaxy” formula to a character who demands respect, sincerity, and genuine heroism, and the result is a jarring mismatch. His direction of the action sequences is equally problematic: a chaotic blur of generic CGI blasts that lack any real impact or artistry. It’s not just that he’s not good in this context; it’s that his approach actively undermines the core appeal and legacy of Superman.
Even the performances, through no fault of the talented actors, feel adrift in a script that doesn’t understand its own characters. Superman himself feels like a pale imitation, lacking the innate goodness and formidable presence we expect. Lois Lane is reduced to a caricature, and the villains are forgettable at best, annoying at worst.
This isn’t just a bad Superman movie; it’s a bad movie, period. A colossal misfire that leaves you feeling exhausted, confused, and utterly let down. Save your money, save your time, and perhaps, save your hope for a better future for the Man of Tomorrow, because this film certainly isn’t it.
I Give This Movie 1 Out of 10 Stars
– Anthony Ferrara
