‘Superman’ takes flight with mostly positive reviews; Critics call it ‘overstuffed’ and ‘all over the place’

The first reviews for Warner Bros.’ highly anticipated Superman are in, and while critics are largely applauding James Gunn’s fresh take on the iconic hero, not everyone is impressed by the film’s jam-packed narrative.

Marking the official launch of the revamped DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran, Superman introduces David Corenswet in the title role, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult portraying a chilling Lex Luthor.

Early reviews posted to Rotten Tomatoes give the film a solid 86% rating from over 130 critics. Many have praised its fun tone and strong performances, but several reviewers described it as “overstuffed” and narratively “all over the place.”

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter noted that the two-hour-plus runtime “felt lumpy,” but praised the movie’s pacing and cast. The Toronto Star’s Peter Howell went further, saying the film felt more like a preview of future DC installments than a coherent standalone story.

James Gunn, who also wrote and directed the movie, has faced backlash over recent comments describing Superman as “an immigrant,” with some critics accusing him of pushing a “woke” agenda. Nevertheless, Gunn dismissed claims that Superman must earn $700 million to succeed, calling such figures “nonsense.”

The $225 million film premiered Monday at TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles to a wave of fan excitement. Viewers were introduced not only to familiar faces like Lois and Lex, but also new DC heroes, including Mister Terrific, Metamorpho, Guy Gardner, and Hawkgirl – along with Superman’s canine companion, Krypto.

While Variety called the reboot “exuberant and poppy,” The Guardian offered a harsher take, calling the film “fatally unconvinced of the reason for its own existence.”

Despite the mixed notes, many critics – even those weary of superhero fatigue – were pleasantly surprised. The New York Times’ Alissa Wilkinson described it as “goofy, sincere, and entertaining,” while Deadline commended it for being ambitious, even if it “throws everything at the wall.”

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