Brandon Dawson

Review: The New Superman Movie is Everything But a Superman Movie As someone who has followed the legacy of Superman—through comics, animation, and the silver screen—this new film is not only a massive disappointment but a complete misrepresentation of the core of who Superman is supposed to be. It’s as if the filmmakers made a Superman film in name only, stripping it of everything that gives the character identity, substance, and emotional resonance. 1. No Character Development The movie introduces a brand-new actor and a completely new direction under a new director, yet absolutely no time is spent developing this version of Superman. There’s no emotional tether, no meaningful origin arc, no internal struggle or moral weight that defines this version of Clark Kent. We’re simply thrust into a narrative with a Superman-shaped figure who feels like a cardboard cutout. If you’re going to reboot or reinvent such an iconic character, you have to earn the audience’s emotional investment—and this film doesn’t even try. 2. A Weak, Shallow Plot That’s All in the Trailer If you’ve seen the trailers or teaser clips, congratulations—you’ve seen the movie. There’s no deeper layer, no twist, no compelling arc that adds anything new beyond what was already marketed. The entire story hinges on a singular decision the film demands the audience take seriously, but it gives no context, no backstory, and no groundwork to help us understand or care about that decision. It’s lazy storytelling disguised as spectacle, relying 100% on hype and nostalgia instead of depth or creativity. 3. The Essence of Superman Is Completely Absent This film throws out everything that made Superman Superman. There is no sense of identity, no clear moral compass, no bold stand for “truth, justice, and the American way.” That motto isn’t even hinted at—let alone embodied. Instead, the movie leans hard into the tired and worn-out narrative of “Is Superman a threat?” while pretending he’s done so much good… but fails to show any of it. We’re expected to mourn a symbol that was never established and honor sacrifices we’ve never seen. There’s no heroism here—just hollow gestures. 4. No Real Superman. No Real Clark Kent. The dynamic contrast between Clark and Superman—so vital to the mythos—is barely touched on. You don’t see Clark being Clark. You don’t see Superman being Superman. What you get instead is a confused, tone-deaf mash-up of someone in a cape with no charm, no humor, no personality, and no real heart. The few lines that attempt levity come off as cheesy and disconnected. There’s no wit, no wisdom, and nothing that showcases the humanity behind the power. ⸻ Final Verdict: A Hollow, Tone-Deaf Mess This film fails on almost every level. It doesn’t develop its characters. It has no plot worth caring about. It misrepresents the most essential qualities of the character it’s supposed to honor. And it delivers nothing but superficial noise, mistaking aesthetic and action for meaning. For longtime fans of Superman, it’s a gut punch. For newcomers, it gives them nothing to grasp. If this was meant to be the bold new future of Superman, we’d be better off going back to the past.