Spoilers Superman (2025) Grade and Discussion

[Gaith]

A very odd movie. Feels like a mashup of Man of Steel and Black Adam, of all flicks, plus Gunn's signature weirdness, of course. Probably the best live-action Superman movie yet, though I haven't seen III or IV, but it's still only mid; could definitely have used at least five fewer minutes of crashy-bangy towards the end. It does feel that its heart is mostly in the right place, apart from a very weird comedic runner about a certain female character. Grade: I'm seesawing between B- and C+... I liked the style and bright colors, but suspect that without the novelty factor, repeat viewings would prove underwhelming, so... C+ it is. Still not as good as any of the Thors.

That said, if Hoult grew up watching Smallville, and was inspired by Michael Rosenbaum's performance, while he's certainly a known actor, he isn't as big an actor as Spacey and Eisenberg were when they played Lex, so... why not just hire Rosenbaum himself? The guy could use a break, and if J.K. Simmons can cross multiverses as J.J. Jameson, why not Rosenbaum?!

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

Saw it earlier today. Really enjoyed it.

 

[Guy Gardener]

A very odd movie. Feels like a mashup of Man of Steel and Black Adam, of all flicks, plus Gunn's signature weirdness, of course. Probably the best live-action Superman movie yet, though I haven't seen III or IV, but it's still only mid; could definitely have used at least five fewer minutes of crashy-bangy towards the end. It does feel that its heart is mostly in the right place, apart from a very weird comedic runner about a certain female character. Grade: I'm seesawing between B- and C+... I liked the style and bright colors, but suspect that without the novelty factor, repeat viewings would prove underwhelming, so... C+ it is. Still not as good as any of the Thors.

That said, if Hoult grew up watching Smallville, and was inspired by Michael Rosenbaum's performance, while he's certainly a known actor, he isn't as big an actor as Spacey and Eisenberg were when they played Lex, so... why not just hire Rosenbaum himself? The guy could use a break, and if J.K. Simmons can cross multiverses as J.J. Jameson, why not Rosenbaum?!

Because Michael would rather dance naked in Times Square than ever shave his head again?

I'm up to season 5 of Talkville, the Ultimate Smallville rewatch podcast, and shit does this Clyde like to complain about the daily buzz cut they used to force on him.

 

[Starkers]

Saw it yesterday afternoon and for me it sneaks a B+. I'll caveat this by saying I've never been the biggest Superman fan in the world but I would group this with Superman and Superman II. I actually liked Man of Steel (and I am really not a great fan of Snyder) but this is far better than that, and infinitely better than Superman Returns which is weirdly bland.

I thought Corenswet was really good, a little smug in places and nowhere near as good as Reeves in essaying the two halves of Kal-El's life on Earth (i.e. he's better as Supes than Clark). The only thing I found jarring is how much he looks like Ethan Peck!

Brosnahan was also good, but again she just kept reminding me of other people (I was getting a definite Courtney Cox vibe from her). It's good Lois got to do some actual journalism.

Really liked Gisondo as Jimmy, always liked him since Santa Clarita Diet. Did feel a tad uneasy about his 'relationship' with Eve. Glad that Eve was much smarter than she looked but it is still weird that the film put two bimbo-ish characters front and centre (I get that there's more to Cat than looks but we didn't get to see it, she's just there bouncing in her top, she doesn't do anything.)

Hoult was good, and any issues I had with Lex were down to the script rather than his performance. And boy do I have issues. I'm sorry but he was an idiot. Leaving the baby you're using as leverage against Rex Mason in clear view of Rex and close enough that obviously a restored Superman could hop across in seconds was Dr Evil levels of dumb. Gunn tried to make this not as easy a get out for Supes as it could have been but it still felt clunky.

The Justice Gang were fun, I especially liked Terrific, but early doors I assumed they were rivals of superman rather than allies. I just think that could have been clearer.

Ultraman was interesting but he looked too much like Black Noir. Terrific's ship looked a lot like Nite Owl's and whilst the Krypto/Lex scene was fun it was, let's be honest, just Hulk smushing Loki from the Avengers.

I can't even be bothered to get into the optics of the incredibly clunky/reductive Boravia/Jarhanpur conflict.

So very enjoyable if flawed, didn't really give me anything I haven't seen before but was very well put together and nicely cast and when she music swelled and Superman saved the day, well I can't say that didn't get me right in the feels.

 

[Mudd]

I know a guy who was an ardent supporter of Snyder and was part of the "release the Snyder cut movement". When he started praising non Snyder stuff such as The Flash movie and later James Gunn he was inundated with messages of hate to that point that it soured him on the whole movement he was once part of.


Too right. I don't understand how such a pure and hopeful character like Superman could have such vitriolic supporters.

The real nutcases are Snyder fans, not Superman fans. Look at enough of his movies and you can get a sense of where their heads are at.

 

[Gaith]

Because Michael would rather dance naked in Times Square than ever shave his head again?

He'd happily do it just to get a chance to be in serious consideration for the part, and we both know it.

Though I gotta say, it was good seeing you onscreen at last.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

You know what the studios could do to improve their chances of making a profit? Not spend $200 million on every movie.

Inflation is a thing with movie budgets, too. 200 million in 2025 is not the same as 200 million in 2015, or even just 2019.

 

[Aragorn]

I don't understand how such a pure and hopeful character like Superman could have such vitriolic supporters.

When the first X-Men movie was being made, there were a lot of alleged die hard X-Men fans complaining about a gay actor playing Magneto. Think about that one for a moment.

 

[DarrenTR1970]

When the first X-Men movie was being made, there were a lot of alleged die hard X-Men fans complaining about a gay actor playing Magneto. Think about that one for a moment.

In today's climate, it would be a lot worse, unfortunately.

 

[DarrenTR1970]

Inflation is a thing with movie budgets, too. 200 million in 2025 is not the same as 200 million in 2015, or even just 2019.

I just did a quick search online.
Gone with the Wind, the highest grossing movie of all time, cost $3.85 million to produce with another $3 million in post-production and marketing. Total cost $7 million.
In today's market GWTW would cost $85 to $152 million dollars to make.

 

[The Realist]

In today's market GWTW would cost $85 to $152 million dollars to make.

Still relative peanuts compared to a lot of modern blockbusters, yet the film remains as sweeping and grand in feel as any ever made.