Superman (2025) (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)
When James Gunn was announced as the creative force behind the new Superman film, fans were curious: could he bring his signature blend of humor, heart, and spectacle to the iconic Kryptonian? The answer is a resounding yes. Superman (2025) is a fresh take on the classic hero, balancing action, emotion, and wit in a way that feels both modern and timeless.
Film
A Modern Reimagining
The film introduces a younger Clark Kent (David Corenswet) navigating his dual identity as a reporter and a superhero in Metropolis. Unlike previous iterations, this Superman is more grounded, grappling with the moral complexities of his powers and the responsibilities they entail. The story blends epic superhero set pieces with intimate character moments, including his evolving relationship with Lois Lane, the challenges of stepping into the role of a public figure, and his confrontation with a nuanced villain who pushes him to question what being Superman truly means.
A Stellar Ensemble
David Corenswet delivers a compelling performance as Superman, capturing both the character’s inherent goodness and inner conflict. Rachel Brosnahan shines as Lois Lane, balancing intelligence, humor, and vulnerability with ease. Nicholas Hoult’s portrayal of Lex Luthor adds complexity to the classic villain, presenting a more human and calculated antagonist. The supporting cast—ranging from younger heroes to allies—adds depth to the universe, giving the film a sense of scale and building excitement for potential future stories.
James Gunn’s Signature Style
Gunn infuses the film with his trademark humor and irreverence, making Superman a character who is both heroic and relatable. The dialogue sparkles with wit, and the action sequences are dynamic without overshadowing the emotional beats. Gunn’s direction ensures that the film honors the legacy of Superman while introducing new elements and modern sensibilities, resulting in a film that feels like a true reinvention without losing the heart of the hero.
Comparing to Previous Superman Films
Compared to earlier Superman films, Gunn’s take stands out for its character-driven storytelling and contemporary tone. While past films leaned heavily on grandeur or nostalgia, this version focuses on the balance between Clark Kent’s humanity and Superman’s heroism. It doesn’t try to replicate earlier successes but instead redefines what a Superman film can feel like in the modern era, blending humor, drama, and spectacle in a way that feels fresh while remaining respectful of the character’s history.
Humor & Style: Balancing the Tone
The film strikes a delicate balance between humor and seriousness. Gunn’s comedic sensibilities are evident, but they never undermine the stakes or emotional impact of the story. The humor humanizes the characters, making their experiences more relatable and giving audiences moments of levity amid epic battles and personal struggles. The tone feels balanced, managing to honor the classic qualities of Superman while allowing Gunn’s unique style to shine.
The Future of Superman Under Gunn’s Vision
With this film setting the tone for the new DC Universe, there is ample room for more stories to unfold. Gunn’s approach lays the groundwork for a cohesive and expansive superhero universe, with potential sequels and crossovers that could explore different aspects of Clark Kent and his world. The film’s mix of humor, heart, and heroism makes it clear that there is plenty of room for additional adventures under Gunn’s guidance.
Video 
Encoding: HEVC/H.265
Resolution: 4K
Aspect Ratio: 1.90:1
HDR: Dolby Vision
Layers: BD-100
Clarity/Detail: James Gunn’s Superman makes a stellar leap to UHD with an exceptionally crisp transfer. Costume textures — from the fine stitching on Clark’s suit to the subtle detailing on villain armor — are razor-sharp. Metropolis’ skyline, the Daily Planet newsroom, and Smallville’s rural landscapes all exhibit pristine fine detail, making this the cleanest and most refined Superman release to date.
Depth: The sense of dimensionality is striking. Wide establishing shots of Metropolis and sprawling Kansas farmland have a layered, almost tangible quality. Action set pieces — particularly mid-air battles — carry a weighty, three-dimensional realism enhanced by Dolby Vision’s contrast handling.
Black Levels: Black levels are inky and consistent, giving the film’s nighttime sequences — like Superman’s rooftop confrontations — a striking visual punch. Shadow detail remains intact, ensuring that darker moments don’t collapse into flatness. Even the Fortress of Solitude glimmers with gradations of black and blue that feel deep and cinematic.
Color Reproduction: The Dolby Vision grading breathes new life into Superman’s iconic palette. The red cape and bright blue suit pop without bleeding, while Kryptonian technology and cityscapes shine with futuristic neon hues. Natural environments, like the Kansas cornfields, are rich and earthy, balancing out the comic-book vibrancy with grounded realism.
Skin Tones: Human characters look natural under a variety of lighting conditions. Clark’s warm, sunlit glow contrasts nicely with the cooler, harsher tones of Metropolis interiors. Subtle complexion differences between characters are preserved with lifelike accuracy, avoiding waxiness or over-saturation.
Noise/Artifacts: The BD-100 disc provides ample breathing room, and it shows. There are no signs of compression artifacts, banding, or unwanted noise. Grain is light and cinematic, consistent throughout, and never distracts from the polished digital source. This is a reference-level encode.
Audio
Audio Format(s): Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core), English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Dynamics: The Atmos track is bold and immersive, with wide dynamic swings that highlight both the quietest character beats and the explosive action. Gunn’s balance between heartfelt dialogue and thunderous set pieces is handled with finesse, allowing crescendos to soar without distortion.
Height: Overhead channels are put to thrilling use, especially during flight sequences. Superman’s aerial battles sweep naturally across the vertical soundstage, while ambient effects like rain, wind, and debris convincingly fill the upper space. This creates an enveloping dome of sound that enhances the scale of the action.
Low Frequency Extension: The LFE digs deep, lending real weight to Kryptonian technology, collapsing buildings, and Zod’s earth-shaking landings. Subwoofers rumble with authority but never overpower, maintaining clarity even during the heaviest action beats.
Surround Sound Presentation: Surround channels remain constantly active, creating a 360-degree environment. Cityscapes bustle with distant traffic and chatter, while large-scale battle scenes swirl with energy, placing the viewer right in the chaos. Subtle environmental cues in Smallville — rustling leaves, passing trucks — round out the immersion during quieter moments.
Dialogue: Dialogue reproduction is clear and precise, always anchored in the center channel regardless of the chaos around it. Even during effects-heavy scenes, voices cut through naturally without being buried by the mix. Clark’s softer, intimate moments with Lois are just as intelligible as the booming Kryptonian confrontations.
Extras
Superman (2025) comes to disc with a rich array of bonuses, but I will present you with one bummer. A commentary with James Gunn is available but unfortunately, only on digital. Unfortunate, but if you redeem your code, there’s not much to gripe about! There is a standard 4K edition as well as a (currently sold out) steelbook edition.
Superman 4K UHD, and Blu-ray contain the following special features:
- Krypto Saves the Day!: School Bus Scuffle – (5:32)
- Adventures in Making Superman Featurette (60:00)
- Icons Forever: Superman’s Enduring Legacy – Featurette (6:05)
- Lex Luthor: The Mind of a Master Villain – Featurette (5:18)
- Kryptunes: The Music of Superman – Featurette (6:31)
- Paws to Pixels: Krypto is Born – Featurette (5:54)
- Breaking News: The Daily Planet Returns – Featurette (5:23)
- The Ultimate Villain – Featurette (5:30)
- The Justice Gang – Featurette (10:37)
- A New Era: DC Takes Off – Featurette (4:53)
Summary
James Gunn’s Superman (2025) is a revitalizing entry into the superhero genre, offering a fresh perspective on a beloved character. With strong performances, a compelling story, and Gunn’s unique directorial touch, the film sets a high bar for future DC Universe installments. Whether you’re a die-hard Superman fan or a newcomer, this film is a must-watch that successfully redefines what the Man of Steel can be in the modern era.
Buy Superman (2025) HERE
