The First Reactions to James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Are Mostly Super

Fans are mere days away from seeing what James Gunn and the DC Universe have in store, and early word is super. Superman comes to theaters July 11, with early fan screenings happening July 8. In preparation, the social media embargo on press and influencers who’ve seen the film has now lifted, and the response is incredibly positive.

Many praise the film for its unique take on the character and world. Others love new actors such as David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. But not everyone thinks it’s an across-the-board home run. Here are just a few of the first reactions pouring in for James Gunn’s Superman.

#Superman soars. It’s a non-stop joyride, packed with humor, action, and emotion.

There’s spectacle to spare, unbridled optimism, and a goofy unpredictability that ties everything together, even when there are a few minor issues. We’ve never seen DC like this, and it’s great. pic.twitter.com/KM2EC0cddd

— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) July 8, 2025

#Superman made me so damn happy. The movie is loaded with exhilarating action set pieces and well-placed humor and levity, but the beating heart of the film is Superman’s humanity, and his insistence on doing good and making the world a better place. David Corenswet brings such… pic.twitter.com/cPAcPdxmQl

— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) July 8, 2025

#Superman is a triumph for the new DC Universe.

It’s a comic book brought to beautiful live-action life, brimming with hope & fulfillment. It actually elicited tears of joy from me.

It’s a Superman for everyone. David Corenswet was born for Superman & Clark Kent. Loved it. pic.twitter.com/ng2CrD2gh0

— Brandon Davis (@BrandonDavisBD) July 8, 2025

#Superman is a winner. I have complaints with the Marvel levels of CGI. But James Gunn has crafted a splashy colorful superhero film with tremendous characters. Mr. Terrific stole the movie for me. Corenswet and Brosnahan shine: I can watch an entire film on their chemistry alone pic.twitter.com/yKpAqwuXCV

— 𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣 𝘿𝙤𝙩𝙨𝙤𝙣 (@JohnMovieWatch) July 8, 2025

#Superman absolutely soars! An awesome achievement & hopeful balm, honoring past iterations (cinema & comics) while cutting its own path. Corenswet has that heroic shimmer. Hoult is delightfully diabolical. Brosnahan brims w/ vim & vigor. Krypto’s adorbs. @Superman @warnerbros pic.twitter.com/8sS3FNFf8i

— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) July 8, 2025

James Gunn’s #Superman is the perfect superhero movie and a terrific start for the new DC Studios. It’s big, bright, exciting, full of hope & it never loses its sense of wonder. Watching it felt like ripping open a comic book & feasting on its wild, chaotic imagination. Loved it!… pic.twitter.com/SfvZOAT1Mg

— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) July 8, 2025

I loved Superman! James Gunn embraces the earnest, sometimes lovably corny side of comics and their super (ahem) fun concepts in a way that evokes Raimi’s Spider-Man. Corenswet & Brosnahan have great chemistry and perfectly embody Clark & Lois. And Krypto’s the best, obviously. pic.twitter.com/VtnluVFkGp

— Eric Goldman (@TheEricGoldman) July 8, 2025

I wish I could watch #superman on repeat for a week.

They *finally* gave me the Lois Lane I’ve been begging for.

The world needs this movie & we can all learn so much from Superman.

I laughed. I cried. The DCU has arrived. @JamesGunn knocked it out of the park. pic.twitter.com/kUmEIF8IzX

— Roxy Striar (@roxystriar) July 8, 2025

I absolutely loved James Gunn’s SUPERMAN. Big themes, but still pure joy. It put me in a great mood (which isn’t often these days); it’s the happiest I’ve walked out of a theater since Top Gun: Maverick #Superman

— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) July 8, 2025

SUPERMAN: The closest thing we’ll get to a live-action Saturday morning cartoon. The cast (esp David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan) is literally perfect. It’s a shame it looks like that. Full review coming soon!

— Hoai-Tran Bui (@htranbui) July 8, 2025

We saw #Superman and it was a mixed bag for our critic. Not a disaster at all (has some great moments) but not as good as hoped for. Oddly the movie short-changed a vital character – Lois Lane and, surprisingly, Clark Kent. Lots of Supes, not much Clark.

— JoBlo.com (@joblocom) July 8, 2025

SUPERMAN reminds us that Clark Kent has always been a beacon of hope and the goodness that can exist in this world. James Gunn’s vision is a comic book brought to life and it bought a lightness and a happiness to one of the most beloved heroes around. pic.twitter.com/Prxsgfrfdk

— Rachel Leishman (@RachelLeishman) July 8, 2025

James Gunn and the cast really bottled that classic #Superman magic in this film. As someone who grew up buried in DC Comics, this felt like watching my childhood leap off the page in real-time.
 
It’s for families, comic book nerds, & anyone who has ever loved a good dog story pic.twitter.com/fFGXTALJHs

— Joseph Deckelmeier (@joedeckelmeier) July 8, 2025

I’ve seen @JamesGunn’s #SUPERMAN!

It feels like Action Comics come to life. It’s thrilling, fun & most importantly, hopeful. @corenswet as @Superman is warm & relatable and he looks like he’s having the time of his life. He’s the perfect hero to lead the #DCU. @DCOfficial pic.twitter.com/8i1XLqvLlN

— POC Culture (@POCculture) July 8, 2025

The full review embargo lifts Tuesday afternoon, and io9 will be posting ours at that time. That’ll give an even better reaction of what fans can expect when they see the film this week, leading into the opening weekend that DC has been aiming at for years.

Let’s not forget that it was just over three years ago that Henry Cavill returned as the Man of Steel in Black Adam. The end credits scene was thought to usher in the next wave of DC films. However, soon after, the balance of power did indeed shift at DC with James Gunn and Peter Safran taking charge. They parted ways with Cavill, and one of their first orders of business was to announce a Superman movie for 2025. This Superman movie. And now it’s here.

Do you tend to believe these social media reactions? They can, admittedly, be overwhelming one way or the other, which could sour some audiences. Let us know below and check back soon for much, much more from the world of Superman.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.