“Superman” called a mess at times but still a crowd‑pleasing cleansing for DC

First Reactions Are Mostly Positive

Superman opened with its premiere in Los Angeles. After the event, early social media reactions appeared online. Press, media members, and influencers called it a good start. Erik Davis from Fandango called it “a terrific start for the new DC Studios” after watching the film.

Perri Nemiroff from Collider said the movie has action and well-placed humor. Full reviews will come out later. These early comments came as the social media embargo ended. The movie officially opened in theaters on July 11 for audiences to see and judge for themselves.

Gunn Leads the New DC Start

Director James Gunn made this Superman movie. It is his first DC Studios film since becoming co-head with Peter Safran. He became co-head of the studio in October 2022. He chose Superman as his first big project for the new movie series.

Peter Safran said DC had problems before. He said many teams made different DC stories. This made things confusing. There was not one clear DC Universe. Safran called this a challenge. He said the brand identity became weak when creative teams followed separate ideas for the same characters.

Superman Story Not a Full Origin

This Superman movie will not tell an origin story. Superman is already young and established in the movie. He is not new to being a superhero. The movie shows that Superman has experience and is already known in his world.

The character of Clark Kent is not a new hire. He works at The Daily Planet as a staff writer. He will not be shown as an intern. He already knows the newsroom. He works at the fictional paper as an important part of the reporting team.

Heroes and Villains Appear Together

The movie features more than just Superman. Many other heroes and villains will appear in the story. Characters will be shown working together. They will fight against Lex Luthor and his team. Footage has shown them teaming up in action scenes.

The cast includes Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. Nicholas Hoult plays Lex Luthor. Isabela Merced plays Hawkgirl. Edi Gathegi plays Mister Terrific. Nathan Fillion plays Guy Gardner. David Corenswet stars as Superman. These characters appeared in trailers, teasers, and TV spots released before the premiere.

Superman Has Comic Book Roots

Superman is widely seen as the first comic book superhero. He was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. His first appearance was on April 18, 1938. That comic marked the start of the golden age of comic books in the United States.

He became linked with American culture. He is one of the most recognizable superheroes ever. His story has been told on the radio, in movies, and on television. These adaptations have taken place from the 1940s to today. He is often seen as the face of DC Comics.

Inspirations from Old and New

The movie takes ideas from many comic books. These include All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Superman For All Seasons by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. It also uses Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? by Alan Moore and Kingdom Come by Mark Waid.

It also uses ideas from old cartoons. These include the Max and Dave Fleischer Superman cartoons. It also uses parts of the DC Animated Universe. This includes shows like Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League, Batman Beyond, and Justice League Unlimited.

Supergirl Film Also Announced

Other DC Studios projects are planned. A Supergirl movie has already been announced. It is scheduled to come out in 2026. That will be a future step in the new DC movie series after the release of Superman.

The studio also announced an HBO series. It will be about the Green Lanterns. The title of the show will be Lanterns. This is part of the new direction under Gunn and Safran. These projects will continue building the updated DC Universe on screen.

Metahumans Exist In This World

In the story world of this movie, metahumans have existed for 300 years. Metahumans are people with superpowers. This is different from other superhero stories. Superpowers are not new in this version of the DC Universe.

Superman must find his place in a world where many people already have powers. He is not the only one. This makes his role different from older versions of the story. The movie will explore how he becomes someone who stands out anyway.

Not Same As Marvel Format

This movie will not follow the Marvel Studios format. It is not a long origin film. It does not introduce just one character. It brings in many at once. It shows the world already full of action and heroes from the start.

DC is not using the slow build seen in Marvel. They are beginning their movie timeline with many parts shown right away. This approach is part of the new strategy by Gunn and Safran. It allows the DC Universe to begin with a full world.

Early Footage Shows Teamwork

Trailers and teaser videos show team scenes. Superman works with other heroes in the movie. They face off against villains. The main enemy will be Lex Luthor.

His team of villains is shown fighting the hero group in released clips. The movie shows this action early. It sets the tone for the kind of story this version will tell. The released video content has revealed parts of these battles.

Movie Opens with High Expectations

The movie opened on July 11. Many people see it as the start of a new DC film direction. Fans and media have said this is an important moment for Warner Bros. and DC Studios after past projects failed or were canceled. There are high expectations.

This movie could bring in a new era or repeat past problems. It will either build the DC brand stronger or become one more missed attempt. Fans, press, and the studio will all be watching how it performs.

Press Calls It Messy But Fun

Some early viewers said the movie is messy. But many still found it fun and exciting. Online reactions say it has crowd-pleasing scenes. Early reviews say action and humor are mixed in. Not everyone agrees, but most responses were positive.

The phrase “crowd-pleasing cleansing” has been used by fans. They see this movie as a new start for DC Studios. Even if it is not perfect, many call it entertaining. This matches what early clips and trailers showed before the full release.

Official Title Is Just “Superman”

The movie is officially titled “Superman” with no subtitle. James Gunn confirmed the title change on February 23, 2024. It was originally announced as “Superman: Legacy” in 2023.

Gunn said the change was made to reflect the movie’s core purpose: to reintroduce Superman to a new generation. Marketing materials, posters, and press kits now use the title “Superman” only.

Runtime Confirmed as 2 Hours 9 Minutes

Principal photography for Superman finished in July 2024. Filming began in February 2024 in Svalbard, Norway, and continued across multiple locations, including Atlanta, Georgia, and Cleveland, Ohio.

James Gunn confirmed on social media that shooting wrapped on time, with no major delays. Post-production began immediately after. VFX and editing continued through mid-2025.

Filming Completed in July 2024

Principal photography for Superman finished in July 2024. Filming began in February 2024 in Svalbard, Norway, and continued across multiple locations, including Atlanta, Georgia, and Cleveland, Ohio.

James Gunn confirmed on social media that shooting wrapped on time, with no major delays. Post-production began immediately after. VFX and editing continued through mid-2025.

The long-rumored film was officially scrapped. See DC’s ‘Sgt. Rock’ film no longer happening.

Story Set in Fictional City of Metropolis

The movie is set in the fictional city of Metropolis, the traditional home of Superman. This version of Metropolis is portrayed using real locations in Cleveland and Atlanta.

Set photos, trailers, and press kits confirm that the Daily Planet building is central to the film’s city scenes. Metropolis is depicted as modern, crowded, and urban, consistent with comic and animated portrayals.

What did you think of Superman’s big return? Drop your comments below and let’s talk DC!

Want to know which DC films got the axe early? Don’t miss 14 DC movies that were canceled too soon.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.