Superman (2025) - Blu-ray Assessment

      Superman, 2025.

      Directed by James Gunn.

      Featuring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced.

      SYNOPSIS:

      In my view, Superman was in dire need of a reboot, and James Gunn has successfully accomplished that with a film that really excels in many areas. While I have a few minor issues with the plot, the truth is that the 2025 version of Superman is a lot of fun, which is exactly what it should be. That enthusiasm also extends to the home video release, which offers impressive bonus features. Highly recommended.

      I've never been a massive fan of Superman — Batman has always been my preferred choice in DC Comics — but I have nostalgic memories of the first two Superman films from long ago. They did an excellent job of capturing the essence of a comic book, and I remain impressed by the achievements of the filmmakers.

      Since then, however, Superman films have been quite inconsistent, to put it mildly. This changed this year with James Gunn's new Superman movie, which I hope will initiate a DC cinematic universe that can finally compete with what Marvel has developed over the last 20+ years. (It remains to be seen if their cinematic empire will also experience a decline.)

      David Corenswet is the newest actor to take on the roles of Superman and Clark Kent, and he’s undoubtedly the best since Christopher Reeve, who still ranks at the top of my list. I understand that Reeve might not appear on many viewers' lists of finest actors (mine included), but his ability to seamlessly transition from bewildered Clark to assured Superman was a masterful display of acting. He made it incredibly convincing that no one could ever suspect Clark Kent of being Superman.

      That said, this portrayal does take a different approach to the character in various ways, particularly with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) being established as his girlfriend and someone aware of his secret identity. I’m fine with this change, although I have mixed feelings about the depiction of Superman’s Kryptonian parents. I appreciate that the people who adopted Superman are his true parents, and the theme of parental responsibility is evident in this story, but I’m unsure about the portrayal of Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van.

      Naturally, this film launches what I presume will be an interconnected series of narratives across multiple superhero films, not limited to just Superman's adventures, so I'm willing to wait and see how it all unfolds. Gunn and his team have already updated the conclusion of Peacemaker's first season to align with the new continuity, and it will be interesting to observe how Batman and other characters fit into this narrative structure.

      Warner Bros. provided me with a Blu-ray copy of the film. It looks fantastic, and I can only imagine it looks even better in 4K Ultra HD. A digital copy code is included, along with an impressive array of bonus content that was a delightful surprise when I inserted the disc into my player.

      The extras begin with a 59-minute feature titled Adventures in the Making of Superman, a thorough behind-the-scenes documentary that is quite rare in major studio releases these days. Typically, you might be lucky to receive just a few short featurettes totaling 20 to 30 minutes.

      The remainder of the extras consists of featurettes that total a little over 50 minutes, meaning the overall making-of content adds up to just under two hours, which is quite substantial.

      Lastly, you receive a charming 2D animated short featuring Krypto, who I didn't mention earlier but whose appearance in the film, starting from the opening scene, I absolutely adore. Superman films should be entertaining — save the dark and gritty tone for Batman — and this new installment achieves that and more.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Brad Cook

      Originally published September 23, 2025. Updated September 24, 2025.