Review of Superman Movies
šļø Superman Across Media: Movies, TV Shows, and Comics

Audio CLip
Cosmos Movies TV Programs 2024 List
Iāve been a big Superman fan since childhood. Iāve seen all the Superman movies and TV shows, and read the comics as a kid. Iām looking forward to seeing the latest Superman film today, and Iāll update this with my reflections afterward. But first, I wanted to share my thoughts on the latest right-wing freak-out: the horror of Superman being portrayed as āwoke,ā andābrace yourselfāan illegal immigrant!
Critics are melting down over a fictional alien from another planet who, by definition, wouldāve entered Earth illegally. After all, there were no U.S. embassies on Krypton to process his visaāand even if there had been, what immigrant category could possibly fit? Thereās no superhero visa (although there is a supermodel categoryāthanks, Melania Trump). The closest might be the āextraordinary abilityā visa, which, to be fair, Superman would certainly qualify for.
š½ļø Live-Action Films (Selected Highlights):
Bold indicates I have seen it
- Superman (1978) ā Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman
- Superman II (1980) ā Reeve, Kidder, Terence Stamp
- Superman III (1983), Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
- Superman Returns (2006) ā Brandon Routh, Kevin Spacey
- Man of Steel (2013) ā Henry Cavill, Amy Adams
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017)
- Superman (2025) ā David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult
šŗ TV Shows:
- Adventures of Superman (1952ā1958) ā George Reeves
- Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993ā1997) ā Dean Cain
- Smallville (2001ā2011) ā Tom Welling
- Supergirl (2015ā2021) ā Melissa Benoist
- Superman & Lois (2021ā2024) ā Tyler Hoechlin
- My Adventures with Superman (2023āpresent) ā Jack Quaid (voice)
š Comics:
- First appearance: Action Comics #1 (1938) by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster
- Notable arcs: All-Star Superman, Superman: Red Son, Superman: Birthright, The Death of Superman, Superman: Year One
š£ļø Iconic Quotes from Superman Lore
- āItās not an S. On my world, it means hope.ā ā Man of Steel
- āIām here to fight for truth and justice.ā ā Superman (1978)
- āYou will give the people an ideal to strive towards.ā ā Jor-El, Man of Steel
- āThey can be a great people, Kal-El. They only lack the light to show the way.ā ā Jor-El, Superman (1978)
- āI feel like I live in a world made of cardboardā¦ā ā Justice League Unlimited
More quotes and analysis:
- https://www.thenarratologist.com/best-superman-movie-quotes/
- https://collider.com/superman-movies-quotes-ranked/
- https://lingopie.com/blog/superman-2025-20-iconic-quotes-that-still-hit-hard/
š Literary Reputation
Superman is widely regarded as the archetype of the American superheroāan immigrant, a moral compass, and a symbol of hope. Created by Jewish immigrants during the rise of fascism in Europe, his story has always carried political undertones. Scholars and critics have long interpreted Superman as a metaphor for assimilation, resistance, and idealism.
š„ 2025 Controversy: āSuperwokeā Superman?
The latest Superman film directed by James Gunn has sparked backlash from right-wing commentators who accuse it of being ātoo woke.ā Key points of contention:
- Gunn described Superman as āan immigrant,ā which critics like Fox News and Ben Shapiro interpreted as political messaging.
- The film features Superman intervening in a fictional war between Boravia and Jarhanpur, which some viewers saw as a metaphor for Israel and Gaza.
- Fox News labeled the film āSuperwoke,ā with Kellyanne Conway saying audiences donāt want to be ālectured.ā
- Gunn and cast members defended the filmās themes of kindness, morality, and inclusion.
Coverage and Analysis:
- https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/superman-movie-james-gunn-slammed-as-woke-rcna217653
- https://www.wgbh.org/culture/2025-07-18/despite-massive-success-new-superman-movie-derided-as-super-woke-by-right-wing-pundits
- https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-culture/superman-woke-true-origins-10130194/
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/07/08/supermans-an-immigrant-director-james-gunn-faces-right-wing-backlash-for-claim/
- https://collider.com/superman-2025-woke-criticism-expert-response/
