Movie review
July 9, 2025 · 130 min · PG-13
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Superman follows the hero stopping a nation from invading its neighbor, then facing backlash when Lex Luthor reveals a message from his Kryptonian parents and turns public opinion against him. He reconciles his alien origins with the human values from his adoptive parents while learning his choices define him. Director James Gunn described the story as an immigrant tale about basic human kindness, which drew debate over political messaging in interviews and coverage.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Superman.
Woke representation / casting
Visible diversity appears in supporting superhero roles with Black actor Edi Gathegi as tech-inventor Mister Terrific and Latina actor Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl on the Justice Gang team, plus Black actor Wendell Pierce as Daily Planet editor Perry White. Core leads Superman, Lois Lane, and Lex Luthor stay traditional and story-matched without heavy identity emphasis or quota-style prominence.
Woke political dialogue
Dialogue includes ethical questions from Lois about Superman's unilateral foreign intervention and public accountability. No activist lectures, identity-based arguments, or explicit political talking points appear. Focus stays on personal morality and kindness.
Identity-driven story themes
The main arc shows Superman reconciling his Kryptonian alien heritage and a troubling birth-parents message with his human upbringing and adoptive parents' values. Gunn highlighted immigrant experiences and lost basic human kindness in a cynical world, making these themes noticeable to audiences.
Western institutional / cultural critique
The story shows tech billionaire Lex Luthor manipulating media, social media smears, and government ties to attack Superman while pursuing power. It depicts quick public opinion shifts and detention practices. These echo modern concerns but support a classic good-versus-evil tale more than dominant activist systemic critiques.
Production
Woke character or canon changes
Perry White is played by a Black actor, following changes in some prior adaptations. The Kryptonian parents' message adds a conquest twist for dramatic effect. No major ideological or identity-driven reinterpretations of core Superman or established canon occur.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Conservative media including Fox News and commentator Dean Cain criticized Gunn's pre-release immigrant story comments and kindness emphasis amid real-world immigration debates, calling parts "Superwoke" or overly political. Right-leaning discussions treated the foreign conflict plot and public backlash elements as contemporary messaging.
Creator track record context
James Gunn has worked with diverse ensemble casts in mainstream superhero films without primary activist focus. His comments linking this film to immigrant narratives and kindness directly fueled the surrounding debate. Historical creators Siegel and Shuster added era-typical progressive anti-fascist tones to the original character.
