Critics call it “a terrific start” for the new DC Studios era
Los Angeles, CA — Superman officially touched down in theaters this weekend, and the first wave of audience reactions is lifting off with strong praise for James Gunn’s highly anticipated reboot. The film premiered in Los Angeles on Monday, and following the end of the social media embargo, press and influencers took to X and Instagram to share their thoughts—most of them glowing.
“A terrific start for the new DC Studios,” wrote Erik Davis of Fandango, echoing the sentiment that the film could mark a pivotal turning point for the DC Universe.
“The movie is loaded with exhilarating action set pieces and well-placed humor and levity,” added Perri Nemiroff of Collider, highlighting the film’s balance of thrills and charm.
Superman: A New Era Under James Gunn
Directed by James Gunn, Superman stars David Corenswet in the title role, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as archvillain Lex Luthor. The ensemble cast includes Skyler Gisondo (Jimmy Olsen), Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner), Beck Bennett (Steve Lombard), Edi Gathegi (Mister Terrific), and Anthony Carrigan (Metamorpho).
“People are looking for heroes right now… for values of goodness, people who are good and decent human beings. And Superman is that,” Gunn told The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year.
This marks Gunn’s first DC film since assuming leadership of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran in 2022. The duo has been tasked with rebooting the faltering DC franchise into a unified universe akin to Marvel’s.
“The DC brand was being defined by different creative teams… the result was not one DCU but many,” said Safran. “This fracture proved very challenging to consumers.”
What’s Next for DC Studios
The new Superman is the first chapter in Gunn and Safran’s rebooted DC Universe. Additional titles already in development include an HBO Max series titled Lanterns and a Supergirl movie slated for a 2026 release.
With full reviews embargoed until tomorrow, early buzz already suggests that Superman could be a critical and commercial turning point for the brand.
“It’s refreshing to see DC back with a cohesive tone and heart,” wrote one early viewer on X.
