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Superman (2025) Review – Identity Over Superpowers

 

Superman 2025

I've never been the biggest superhero movie fan, but every now and then the genre surprises me by exploring ideas that go beyond capes and explosions. Superman (2025) certainly tries to do that. While it embraces colorful comic-book spectacle and modern humor, it also raises interesting questions about identity, family expectations, media manipulation, and what truly makes someone a hero.

Unfortunately, those ideas don't always land with the emotional impact they deserve.

A Superman for the Social Media Era

This is unmistakably a modern Superman. Instead of focusing solely on physical threats, the film places public opinion and social media at the center of the conflict. Reputation becomes another battlefield, with misinformation spreading almost as fast as punches.

That feels surprisingly relevant. Today's heroes aren't only judged by what they do, but by how their actions are framed, edited, and shared online. The film understands that perception can be as powerful as reality, giving Superman (David Corenswet) a challenge previous versions rarely explored.

The terminology reflects this shift too. Characters frequently use the word "metahuman" instead of "superhero." It sounds colder, more technical, almost reducing extraordinary individuals to biological anomalies rather than symbols of hope. Whether intentional or not, it subtly dehumanizes them.

Identity Is a Choice, Not an Inheritance

Psychologically, the strongest theme is identity.

The movie repeatedly asks whether we are defined by our origins or by our choices. Superman finds himself caught between the expectations of two families and two worlds. Like many people growing into adulthood, he has to separate his own identity from what his parents envisioned for him.

That idea culminates beautifully in one of my favorite lines from Pa Kent (Pruitt Taylor Vince):

"Your choices, your actions, those are what makes you who you are."

From a psychological perspective, this reflects one of the central developmental tasks of adulthood: breaking away from parental expectations without necessarily rejecting the values our parents gave us. We all inherit stories about who we should become. Maturity comes when we decide which of those stories we keep.

This message ends up being extremely powerful in the film.

Interesting Ideas That Never Fully Bloom

The film introduces several intriguing concepts without always exploring them deeply.

Ultraman remains mysterious for much of the story, naturally encouraging speculation. His true identity is interesting, though it never reaches the shocking reveal the narrative seems to promise. It reminded me of the clone symbolism found in the original The Boys comics, where identity becomes something manufactured rather than earned. Here, the idea similarly questions whether a copy can ever replace the original—not only physically but morally.

The Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría) is another fascinating concept. She claims to have sacrificed her humanity, but her transformation seems psychological as much as physical. She has become almost entirely rational, stripping away empathy alongside flesh. In many ways, she represents what happens when efficiency replaces compassion.

These are compelling ideas, but the movie rarely slows down enough to explore them.

Action First, Emotion Second

By around the 35-minute mark, I realized the film probably wasn't going to win me over emotionally.

There's no shortage of action. Superman spends much of the movie fighting, getting rescued, or needing help himself. The scale is enormous, and visually the film rarely slows down.

Ironically, the most heroic moments aren't the fights themselves.

During one of the monster battles, while everyone else focuses almost exclusively on defeating the creature, Superman constantly interrupts the fight to save civilians. That's the version of Superman that works best: not the strongest man in the room, but the one who refuses to let innocent people become collateral damage.

Still, the emotional beats often feel underdeveloped. Instead of building genuine emotional weight, the script frequently jumps to jokes or lighthearted remarks. The humor is enjoyable enough and certainly keeps the film entertaining, but it sometimes feels like a substitute for emotional depth rather than a complement to it.

Lex Luthor Steals More Attention Than Superman

Ironically, Superman isn't the film's most interesting character.

That distinction belongs to Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult).

He's the driving force behind the conflict and arguably the most psychologically layered figure in the story. Yet even he never quite becomes truly charismatic. The film feels like it's missing one unforgettable screen presence capable of elevating every scene.

The surprise favorite, however, was Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi). Despite having less narrative weight, he consistently brings intelligence, competence, and personality whenever he appears. If I had to pick the character I enjoyed watching the most, it would easily be him.

And yes, Krypto completely steals several scenes. The superdog is effortlessly charming and provides some of the movie's most genuinely fun moments.

Final Thoughts

Superman (2025) is an entertaining superhero film with several thoughtful ideas beneath its colorful surface. Its exploration of identity, media manipulation, and personal choice gives it more substance than many recent comic-book adaptations.

At the same time, it often prioritizes spectacle over emotional connection. The action is relentless, the humor keeps things light, but the characters rarely generate the emotional investment needed for the biggest moments to resonate.

The ending delivers exactly what many viewers expect from Superman: goodness triumphs, hope survives, and the audience leaves with a smile. It's undeniably a feel-good conclusion.

For superhero fans, that's probably enough to recommend it. For viewers looking for deeper emotional storytelling, it may leave them wanting more.

As for me... apparently Supergirl is next. Judging by the early reviews, I may want to lower my expectations.

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