Truth, Justice, and a Little Punk Rock: Superman Is Back

James Gunn’s Superman isn’t just another superhero movie. It's a love letter to what the genre can be at its best and is easily the most accurate take on the character in a long time. With so many comic book films trying to be gritty and cynical, Superman chooses to be sincere. That choice makes all the difference.

This article features minor spoilers for Superman (2025). Proceed with caution.

Photo courtesy of DC Studios.

The film’s overarching message is clear and powerful. Our weaknesses make us human, and humanity is our greatest strength. Unlike previous big screen iterations of Superman, Gunn’s take on Clark Kent reclaims the character from martyrdom. For the last twenty years, he’s often been depicted as a Christ-like figure or a savior who doesn’t belong. Superman flips that, and shows that the modern Superman belongs here. He’s one of our own, and that shift is everything.

Overall, it doesn’t get more traditionally ‘Superman’ than this. Raised on a farm in Kansas, Clark is shown to truly just be a man, an obviously strong man, but not absurdly chiseled or emotionally untouchable. Throughout the movie, he’s vulnerable, both physically and mentally. He gets beat up constantly, and he beats himself up constantly too. It feels real and relatable.

The casting, of course, is perfect. David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan bring so much charm to Clark and Lois. Their chemistry is natural. Brosnahan plays Lois with sharp wit and energy, while Corenswet gives Clark just the right balance of humility and quiet strength. They feel like real people, not just symbols.

One of the best moments in the film is a quiet exchange between them that reveals a lot about who they are.

Photo courtesy of DC Studios.

Lois - “...We’re so different. I was just some punk rock kid from Bakerline and you’re… Superman.”

Clark - “I’m punk rock.”

Lois - “You are not punk rock.”

Clark - “I like the Strangle Fellows, the P.O.D.s, and the Mighty Crabjoys.”

Lois - “Those are pop radio bands, they’re not punk rock. The Mighty Crabjoys suck.”

Clark - “Ah, well, a lot of people love ‘em.”

Lois - “My point is I question everything and everyone. You trust everyone and think everyone you ever met is, like… beautiful.”

Clark - “Maybe that’s the real punk rock.”

This conversation captures exactly what this movie is trying to point out. In a world that tells us to be cynical and guarded, Superman chooses trust and compassion. That is his superpower and it can be ours, too.

Photo courtesy of DC Studios.

And then there is Lex Luthor. Nicholas Hoult might have delivered one of the greatest hater performances since Kendrick vs. Drake. Hoult steals the show with his performance, perfectly portraying Lex as both a petty genius and a pathetic loser all at once.

Sure, the movie is a little messy, maybe even a bit rushed at some points. But the joy you could feel in that theater as the credits rolled was electric. That final moment is scored to “Punkrocker” by Teddybears, and it is a perfect way to end this movie, sending moviegoers out of the theater with a grin.

Since seeing it, I have not been able to stop thinking about it. I already want to go back and experience it again. DC is back. And for the first time in a long time, Superman feels like he is too.

Buy tickets to see Superman (2025) through Regal, AMC, Cinemark, and everywhere else you see movies here.