This summer there was a surge of great movies, highlighted by the brand new “Superman” on July 11, 2025. Last Friday, the film premiered on HBO Max for the streaming audience.
This movie introduced us to a new DC cinematic universe after the Snyderverse’s disaster.
The plot of the movie is sweet and straightforward. Billionaire industrialist and Superman’s arch nemesis, Lex Luthor, is trying everything in his power to take down Superman, due to Superman ruining his plan to take over the country of Jahranpur so he can use half of it to make his own state in the Middle East.
The introduction of Superman in the movie is an upgrade compared to the others. Instead of the always-heard intro of Superman falling from the sky as a baby and landing in the farm of those who would become his adoptive parents, we receive a new opening. That opening is the movie telling us that Superman had been doing heroics for three years, and has only now lost his first battle.
People have had controversial feelings about this movie, especially because of its pro-immigrant themes due to James Gunn’s political biases. Still, I think the movie finds a way to incorporate its pro-immigrant themes with the Superman storyline; how Lex discriminates against Superman and how he’s an alien is perfect, especially with times we are in now and how people are being called “aliens” by government agencies.
Superman’s speech with Lex Luthor was so good due to it showing us how even though Superman has god-like powers he’s still as human as the rest of us as said by Superman, “I screw up all the time. But that is being human, and that’s my greatest strength.”
Another controversial subject they discussed was the Israel-Palestine war, in which they presented their version of Benjamin Netanyahu as the President of Boravia. It showed how Lex would support Boravia even though they are clearly villains, just to have his own land so he could make his own utopia.
Overall, the movie was such a perfect way in portraying Superman as a symbol of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow. The reason why this is a must watch is because it shows even in these rough times there is still hope and the new Superman movie shows that there is hope.
