James Gunn’s take on Superman launched in cinemas this week and has sparked a variety of reactions from critics.
Pete Hammond from Deadline noted that Gunn “loaded this flick with tons of action,” drawing inspiration from past movies, TV shows, and especially Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s All Star Superman comic, which heavily influenced the script. Hammond suggests the film “might be trying to do too much” and “throws everything against the wall hoping some of it sticks.” Despite this, he finds the movie entertaining though at times suffering from an overload similar to Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy.
The Guardian offered a mostly negative review, criticizing the film’s “pointless and cluttered new backstory” conveyed through “wearisome intertitles” before the plot unfolds. They lament the repetitive nature of superhero films ending in a “spectacular faux-apocalypse” with CGI skyscrapers collapsing, stating the initial thrill is now gone.
On a more positive note, Vanity Fair praised the performances, especially Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, describing him as a “petulant bully” whose wealth masks his insecurities. The magazine applauds the film’s “smart and unexpected choices” despite the CGI-heavy finale.
NME comments that the film puts some “pep back in Clark Kent’s pants,” calling the overall movie “solid rather than spectacular.” They also highlight Gunn’s trademark humor and fun nods to the DC universe, including the fictional band The Mighty Crabjoys.
In contrast, Forbes’ Erik Kain labeled the film “painfully mediocre” and described Hoult’s Luthor as “generic and forgettable,” calling the movie a “crushing disappointment.”
Kevin Maher of The Times criticized the film as “superhero soup,” giving it two stars but noting “glimmers of intrigue” and praise for Rachel Brosnahan’s performance as Lois Lane. He also mentioned callbacks to the Reeve era and a recurring joke about Jimmy Olsen.
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At the San Francisco Chronicle, G. Allen Johnson was harsh, calling Superman “a mess,” either a bad superhero movie or an okay parody.
Conversely, Alison Willmore from New York Magazine applauded the film’s originality, noting it avoids a typical origin story and includes fresh elements like Krypto, Superman’s dog, in a quirky pocket dimension created by Luthor.
Warner Bros recently announced $22.5 million in preview box office earnings, marking the best previews of the year and setting a record for James Gunn, surpassing the previews for Barbie and The Batman.
Currently, Superman holds an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting generally favorable reviews amid its box office success.
