Since 2008, we’ve seen the slow but deliberate rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which brought a new level of interconnectivity to superheroes on the big screen. Characters from different films were able to cross paths and team up in major crossover events. For example, in The Avengers (2012), Tony Stark (Iron Man) flies into an open portal in a desperate attempt to stop the rest of Loki’s army. This moment is later revisited in Iron Man 3 (2013), when Tony experiences PTSD from the Battle of New York. This not only shows that, outside of the armor, Tony is still a vulnerable human being, but also highlights Marvel's commitment to weaving emotional continuity and lasting consequences into its shared universe. It’s these small but meaningful connections that made both comic book fans and general audiences fall in love with Marvel’s interconnected world. After the success of the MCU, Warner Bros. and DC Comics attempted to build a similar interconnected universe, although with far more mixed results.
In this film, Superman (David Corenswet) embodies a hopeful, inspiring figure and a true voice of the people, while still showing human-like limitations, much like his portrayal in Superman: The Animated Series (1996). Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) is depicted as strong-willed and deeply committed to her work as a reporter. Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) is portrayed as a charming photojournalist who secretly gathers critical information from Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio), Lex Luthor’s disillusioned girlfriend. The story explores both domestic and international conflicts, with Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) manufacturing a foreign crisis to discredit Superman, profit from war, and ultimately position himself to establish his own nation in its aftermath. This plot carried clear political commentary, echoing themes and tensions from current world affairs.
Set three years after Clark first became Superman, the film avoids retelling the familiar origin story. However, it delivers a pivotal twist: Luthor uncovers the full message from Superman’s birth parents. Until now, Clark had only heard the opening, which appeared to urge him to bring hope and fight for Earth, the world his parents had sent him to protect. The complete message reveals a darker intent: they had actually sent him to conquer Earth as a means of restoring the Kryptonian race. This revelation causes the public to question whether Superman is truly a hero or is actually a villain. While the premise is compelling, one key moment falters; the conversation between Superman and Lois about the message begins with serious emotional weight, but then abruptly shifts into light humor. This tonal change undercuts the gravity of the scene and lessens its potential impact. On the other hand, there’s a powerful scene at Superman’s childhood home, where his Earth father senses that something is troubling his son. Clark admits that he’s not the person he thought he was. His father reassures him, saying that it’s his choices and not his origins that define him, and those choices are what have made him grow into the hero he is today. This heartfelt exchange helps redeem my earlier frustration with the conversation between Superman and Lois, restoring the emotional weight I felt was missing in that moment.
Warner Bros.’ answer to the MCU became known as the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), beginning with Man of Steel (2013). Anticipation was high; Warner Bros. and DC had just come off the success of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005, 2008, 2012), and the prospect of not only getting new DC films but having them set in a shared, MCU-style universe felt both exciting and promising. However, Man of Steel received only a 57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which was disappointing for many, especially since Henry Cavill was seen as a perfect casting for the character. The film’s issues stemmed largely from the interpretation Zack Snyder brought to the character. Rather than embracing the light-hearted, hopeful tone often associated with Superman, Snyder opted for a darker, more brooding approach. Viewers also noted that the relationship between Clark and Lois (Amy Adams) felt underdeveloped and emotionally flat. Still, some viewers appreciated the film’s grand scale, striking visuals, and bold reimagining of the iconic hero.
The next movie in the DCEU was Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. This was the beginning of Ben Affleck as Batman. In the film, Lex Luther (Jesse Eisenberg) pits Batman against Superman, culminating in a very underwhelming climax. During the fight between Batman and Superman, Batman, in a bulky suit of armor, is holding his boot against Superman's neck with a Kryptonite spear aimed at his face. Superman then says, "You're letting them kill Martha." Batman is confused as to why Superman is speaking the name of his deceased mother as if multiple people can't have the same first name. This scene became the mocking point for this film, as it only received a 28% on Rotten Tomatoes. Zack Snyder would go on to direct the Justice League (2017), but had to step down during post-production due to the death of his daughter. Zack Snyder would later come back and direct a new version of Justice League from 2017 titled Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) that was released on HBO Max. This version felt more complete and gave Snyder the ability to create the Justice League film that he originally wanted to before he had to step away. This took Justice League (2017) from a 39% on Rotten Tomatoes to a 71% (2021) on Rotten Tomatoes. Warner Bros. and DC continued to release a mixed bag of DCEU films, and the DCEU was never able to reach the heights of the MCU at its peak.
On October 25, 2022, James Gunn and Peter Safran were named co-heads of DC Studios. This was exciting news for the superhero fandom because of the fact that James Gunn had directed all three of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies that took place in the MCU. James Gunn's new DC cinematic universe became known as the DC Universe (DCU), and the first movie that he directed and released was Superman (2025). Superman was released on July 8, 2025, and during its box office release, it grossed over $578 million worldwide.
Set three years after Clark first became Superman, the film avoids retelling the familiar origin story. However, it delivers a pivotal twist: Luthor uncovers the full message from Superman’s birth parents. Until now, Clark had only heard the opening, which appeared to urge him to bring hope and fight for Earth, the world his parents had sent him to protect. The complete message reveals a darker intent: they had actually sent him to conquer Earth as a means of restoring the Kryptonian race. This revelation causes the public to question whether Superman is truly a hero or is actually a villain. While the premise is compelling, one key moment falters; the conversation between Superman and Lois about the message begins with serious emotional weight, but then abruptly shifts into light humor. This tonal change undercuts the gravity of the scene and lessens its potential impact. On the other hand, there’s a powerful scene at Superman’s childhood home, where his Earth father senses that something is troubling his son. Clark admits that he’s not the person he thought he was. His father reassures him, saying that it’s his choices and not his origins that define him, and those choices are what have made him grow into the hero he is today. This heartfelt exchange helps redeem my earlier frustration with the conversation between Superman and Lois, restoring the emotional weight I felt was missing in that moment.
Overall, the film succeeds in establishing James Gunn’s vision of Superman and building excitement for the future of the DCU. It introduces a vibrant supporting cast, including Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), who operate together as a loosely formed "Justice Gang". The post-credits scene teases what’s next, revealing Milly Alcock as Supergirl and setting the stage for the DCU’s next movie.
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