The Mixed Reactions to Superman Reveal a Lot About America

CALLERI: ‘Superman’ tinkers with the past to mixed results

Celebrated writer Hunter S. Thompson, famous for his gonzo style of new journalism, once said in an allusion to lazy creativity in the field of television that it should be known as a “shallow money trench.” In the book “Gonzo…

A Superman with a lot of heart and an existential crisis

Superman

The Mixed Reactions to Superman Reveal a lot About America

When the first trailer for James Gunn’s Superman dropped, the reaction was swift and, in some corners of the internet, startlingly divided. David Corenswet’s take on the Man of Steel—a softer, more grounded Clark Kent who visibly wrestles with moral complexity, seeks the help of others and, yes, occasionally loses—was met with enthusiastic approval from many fans. They saw in this Superman something long overdue: a version that leans into the “m…

Stuck in the Middle with Superman

A Review of Superman (2025) Don’t take it too seriously. It’s about a flying man in a red cape. It would be unwise to reduce Superman to a social allegory — stories have multi-layered meanings. But Superman 2025 begins our work for us by very laboriously outlining the geopolitical problem that Superman inherently presents: he is an invincible sovereign power who can intervene unilaterally for peace. So is he a stand-in for NATO? The atomic bomb?…

James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Political? The Director Finally Speaks Amid Middle East Debate

James Gunn breaks silence on Superman as political questions swirl during heated Middle East controversy discussions.