While Superman is one of the most well-known superheroes of all time, there are some common complaints about the Superman films that the new DC Universe may end up addressing with the upcoming reboot in 2025. Starring David Corenswet in the titular role as the Man of Steel, 2025 Superman is being directed by new DC Studios head James Gunn. As such, this new approach has the opportunity to address some long-standing issues viewers have had when it comes to Superman films.
Regardless of whether they’re right or wrong, some classic complaints about the Superman films are heard over and over with each new version. While some problems are just part of the character and how he operates in the DC Universe, others deserve to be fixed in the coming years. Superman film. To that end, here are 10 of the biggest complaints about the Superman movies that the DCU could potentially address.
11
Superman isn’t as interesting as other DC heroes
It’s been said that he’s boring…
One of the biggest complaints about Superman is that he’s boring compared to other DC heroes like Batman.and even superheroes in general (regardless of the universe). To some extent, it can be argued that someone like Batman, who has no powers, or Spider-Man, who struggles with the responsibility of his abilities, is inherently more engaging. In comparison, Superman is often portrayed as if he always knew he should use his power for good and protect the world.
Likewise, Superman in his most basic form in the comics is quite incorruptible and has unbreakable morals. Likewise, this has often been translated into films, most notably Christopher Reeve’s Superman. While this is admirable and shows how Superman truly is a beacon of hope in his universe, on-screen depictions have struggled to make this equally compelling, so much so that some filmmakers have seen fit to intentionally muddy the waters of Kal-El’s morality. in the name of making a more interesting Superman. As such, it will be interesting to see how Gunn intends to make this new Superman more engaging than previous iterations.
10
Superman is very powerful
How can there be risks when Superman is practically invincible?
Connected to the above complaint, It has been argued that Superman’s incredible powers may also generate a lack of interest. After all, Superman is one of the most powerful heroes of all time, possessing a range of impressive abilities due to Earth’s yellow sun. In the absence of few weaknesses, Kal-El is practically invincible, possessing superhuman durability, strength, speed, flight, heat vision, ice breath, and more. As such, Superman’s great power could make it difficult to create significant on-screen risks. As such, the hope is that Gunn Superman will present some engaging threats that pose a logical and significant challenge to the Man of Steel, despite his wide range of powers.
9
Superman is not interesting when he is a hero
“Evil Superman” is apparently more attractive…
It has also been argued that Superman is “too good” to be interesting on screen. As such, this feeling is a big reason why many iterations of Superman, both on screen and on the page, often end up being corrupted and/or turning evil, temporarily or otherwise, depending on circumstances and continuity. However, the “Evil Superman” trope, while popular, may have been exaggerated just enough in recent years that a healthier, back-to-form Superman could be seen as refreshing with the next DCU film due out next year. .
8
Superman’s abilities can be very convenient
Like time travel and super kisses…
In addition to his typical repertoire of more common powers like flight and super strength, It is known that Superman has rarer and more ridiculous abilities on screen for pure plot convenience. This was most common during the Christopher Reeve era of Superman movies, like when Kal-El goes back in time to Superman: The Movie by director Richard Donner. In the film, Superman flies around the world faster than time itself and “reverses the planet’s rotation” so that Lois Lane never dies.
Likewise, Reeve’s Superman also had other, stranger powers such as “super kiss” in Superman IIlike when Kal-El gave Lois selective amnesia after learning that Clark Kent and Superman were the same person. To that end, one would hope the DCU’s Superman would have more of his powers established, rather than ridiculous, made-up abilities that are barely explained (even by comic book movie standards).
7
Superman’s Secret Identity as Clark Kent
All that is needed are glasses? (It’s more than that)
A big complaint about Superman, both in the films and comics, is that Kal-El’s alter ego as Clark Kent is not a disguise.. At first glance, it seems like all the Man of Steel does is put on a pair of glasses and an entire room of journalists can’t connect the dots. While this is true of Henry Cavill’s Clark Kent in the DCEU, Christopher Reeve’s Superman deserves due credit for his altered hair, glasses, sloppiness, and much less confident personality and voice when he is Clark Kent.
To that end, it looks like something similar will happen in the DCU, with Corenswet’s Clark Kent sporting glasses and a different hairstyle in set photos compared to his Superman counterpart. It seems like the DCU will take the necessary steps to make a strong enough distinction between Kent and Superman while still adhering to what is ultimately a key element of the character (even if it’s not the greatest disguise in the world). .
6
Superman Collateral Damage
A Complaint Caused by 2013’s Man of Steel
Although it has been incorporated into the DCEU’s ongoing narrative in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, 2013 Man of Steel opened up a lot of criticism about the immense collateral damage and destruction that Superman can cause with his powers. As seen during their fight with General Zod, the two Kryptonians damaged a large amount of Metropolis, which cost countless lives. These were the same lives that Superman was trying to save by stopping Zod, though it was difficult to ignore the tragic cost even after Zod was defeated (having controversially forced Superman to kill him).
One would expect the DCU’s Superman to be more restrained with his powers as he works to protect the world. To that end, this is arguably one way in which Superman’s powers could actually be compelling, with the Man of Steel having to constantly regulate these abilities. After all, there must be an inherent difficulty in living in a world that wasn’t built for someone with Kal-El’s immense strength and power.
5
The inconsistency of the use of kryptonite
A Primary Weakness of Superman
Not only is Kryptonite overused in the films as a fundamental weakness of Superman (there are others), but its overall effect can also be quite inconsistent.. One of the most glaring examples can be found in Bryan Singer’s book The Return of Superman when Kal-El raises an entire island made of kryptonite… after being stabbed with a chunk of kryptonite. Although he spent time in a hospital afterwards, Superman apparently managed to shake it off.
Although the same is arguably true for the DCEU’s Superman in 2017 Justice LeagueResurrecting Superman from the dead after a deadly kryptonite-infused wound in Doomsday at least required an intentional effort on the part of the other heroes. To that end, one would hope that other weaknesses could be used against Superman besides kryptonite, at least in James Gunn’s first film. Superman film. Additionally, it would be nice if the damage it can cause remained logically consistent.
4
Comparing Superman to Jesus
Makes it difficult for Superman to feel human
Superman The movies also like to turn Kal-El into a Christ-like figure, and it’s not hard to see why. A father who gives up his son for the good of the world sounds a lot like Jesus, and the resulting biblical parallels are easy to identify. This is especially true in the DCEU with Cavill’s Superman who, like Jesus, was 33 years old when he made his public debut in Man of Steel. Cavill’s Superman then generates a continuous discourse, particularly in Batman v Supermanand the comparisons with Christ don’t stop, especially considering his resurrection in Justice League.
While it’s certainly a compelling idea to look at a being with so much power as a sort of messianic figure, much of this detracts from Superman’s potential reliability on screen. After all, Superman still has his humanity and guilt, having been raised as a human by the Kents in Kansas despite his great power and alien physiology. To that end, James Gunn has already teased much of 2025 Superman will feature Kal-El reconciling his human and Kryptonian lineages (which sounds promising).
3
Insufficient variety of villains
It’s often Lex Luthor or General Zod on screen
Majority Superman the films featured Superman fighting Lex Luthor, General Zod, Luthor and Zod, or even Luthor using Zod’s corpse to create a horrific Kryptonian mutant monster (Doomsday). To that end, the time has certainly come for Superman to fight someone entirely new, at least in his first appearance in the DCU.. An archenemy like Lex Luthor should never be completely disregarded (and won’t be in 2025). Superman), the teases that Superman will face foes like Ultraman, The Engineer, and potentially even Brainiac are very promising.
2
Aside from Lois Lane, Superman’s friends and family are underused
Jimmy Olsen shouldn’t be marginalized
Also known as Superman’s best friend, It would be really exciting to see Daily Planet’s Jimmy Olsen getting a bigger role in 2025 Superman where he will be played by Skyler Gisondo. Previous on-screen versions hardly featured Jimmy Olsen, to the point where they could only be considered glorified cameos. Likewise, the same goes for people like Perry White and more of Clark Kent’s co-workers and friends at the Daily Planet, as well as Superman’s love interest, Lois Lane. As such, it would be very refreshing to see Superman’s friends given bigger roles in the new film (at least Jimmy Olsen).
james gunn Superman will be released in theaters on July 11, 2025.