Exploring Superman (2025): What the Film Teaches Viewers About Being "Super"

James Gunn’s production of Superman hit the box office on July 11, 2025, debuting with around $122 million in its opening weekend and surpassing the performance of all previous Superman films to date. In the weeks following its release, the film has been granted phenomenal reviews by critics, as well as returning fans of DC Comics and has gained a large fanbase of new fans who have never before had interest in the Man of Steel: so what makes this superhero movie in particular a stand-out piece? 

In the most recent decades, Superman has been a symbol of unceasing strength, power, and spectacle; an alien whose only focal point is his superhuman, all powerful nature. Superman (2025) offers us a different scope- one that aligns closely with the original comic storylines- wherein we find that a hero is much more than being super. It is not the ability to fly at supersonic speed or possess heat vision; rather, it is the courage to make mistakes, to represent oneself, to inspire hope in others, and above all else, to have empathy, despite every reason not to.

Within the rising action of the movie, there is an exchange between Lois and Clark (or Superman), where Lois argues that Clark believes that “everything and everyone is beautiful” and in return, Clark only asserts: “maybe that’s the real punk rock.” This scene, aside from being beautifully shot, on its own serves as a letter-perfect representation of what this Superman is supposed to be depicted as: kindness and empathy being his greatest form of rebellion in the pursuit of justice. 

Shot of Clark Kent and Lois Lane in Superman (2025).

This overarching theme follows the rest of the movie: between Superman’s sacrifices for even those who have not believed in him, his intense grieving of those who he has lost- no matter how close the connection, and his assurance that the world is safe for all, regardless of if you're human, animal, or robot, it is proven time and time again that being super is being kind, emotional, and caring for those around us. Despite Clark’s alien qualities, he is always human first, and compassion is an active choice that he decides to make in his life- in spite of how ridiculous it may seem or how pressured he is to act otherwise. 

Superman confirms this himself later in the movie, claiming that despite his superhuman traits, he is just as human as anyone- and what determines his humanity is that he is emotional, he is uncertain, and he makes mistakes, but he tries his best, just as anyone does to make the right decisions. That is what makes him more “man” than he is “super.” Being a hero is not grounded in ability or strength. It is driven in a desire to do what is right.   

By displaying a hero that is guided not by his strength but by his compassion, Superman (2025) teaches us that we do not need superhuman powers to have an impact on others. Unlike some previous adaptations of the meta-human, James Gunn proves that even someone as powerful as superman can be relatable to a wide audience while simultaneously inspiring people to do good. Superman demonstrates that our greatest power, the one that can change most anything, is the decision to care. And in a time where we are quick to callousness, this trait may be the most heroic of all.