Superman Movie

(This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com.)

Fan anticipation for the new Superman movie has been high. Filmmaker James Gunn reported after the first trailer release, "With over 250 million views and a million social posts, Superman is officially the most viewed and the most talked about trailer in the history of both DC and Warner Bros." Gunn explains that as a child he "loved the purity of Superman" and emphasized this Superman is "noble … beautiful … good."

Evidence of Superman's kindness, compassion, and love is plentiful in this 2025 film. He remains a symbol of hope for hurting people. He shields a young girl from an explosion. He stops a war. A young boy in a war zone carries a flag bearing Superman's red "S". But in some cases, the people of Earth reject him. 

Gunn says, "It's a movie about kindness. It's a movie about being good. …I knew that I wanted to have a Superman that stayed true to his origins of being the ultimate good guy." "Look up" is a poster tagline. The film blends adventure, humor, and heart. At times, I found myself applauding. Plus, superpooch Krypto is a hoot.

The ultimate good guy

Superman 2025 is the latest in a long line of media depictions of the dashing visitor from another planet who fights bad guys (Earthlings and aliens), rescues people in distress, inspires hope, and seeks justice.

The late Christopher Reeve portrayed the superhero in four films from 1978 to 1987. Subsequent actors played in Superman Returns (2006), Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman (2016), and Justice League (2017).

Superman-themed television series since the 1950s are numerous. This ubiquitous media presence reflects the story's enduring public appeal.

As a child, I regularly donned my Superman costume to watch George Reeves play the hero on television. Seeing someone good and strong standing for "truth, justice, and the American way" inspired me. Adulthood and extensive global travel have broadened my appreciation of other cultures. The truth and justice themes – plus hope – still resonate deeply. The saga's roots are instructive regarding these themes.

Superman story's roots

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two Jewish teenagers in Cleveland, Ohio, created the Superman story during the Great Depression in the 1930s, eventually for DC's Action Comics. DC paid them $130 for character rights. In 2024, an Action Comics #1 (featuring Superman's first appearance) sold for $6 million. 

Both Siegel and Shuster were from families that had fled Eastern European persecution. Pop culture historian Roy Schwartz – himself originally from Tel Aviv, Israel – notes that the boys grew up in "a predominantly Jewish neighborhood" and "attended Hebrew school."

Schwartz describes biblical themes in the Superman saga. Jor-El  on the dying planet Krypton, named his son Kal-El. El is a Hebrew name for God. Jor-El launched his only son in a capsule toward earth. Similarly, Moses' mother placed her baby in a basket by the Nile to shield him from a murderous edict. The adult Moses became his people's deliverer.

Biblical parallels?

Schwartz's "How Superman Became a Christ-Like Figure in American Culture" explains parallels to Jesus. A father sends his only son to Earth, to be a savior. Both sons had surrogate Earthly fathers. Their youth helped them "experience, understand and cherish humanity." Superman 2025 displays Clark Kent's efforts to balance his human and alien experiences.

In both film and comics, Superman has died and reappeared alive. Jesus, of course, claimed to be the "resurrection and the life." Filmmakers have seen dollars in these themes. The Hollywood Reporter says Warner Bros. tapped Superman/Jesus parallels seeking faith-based audiences for Man of Steel.

A skeptic's journey

At first, years ago, I doubted that biblical Superman parallels existed. Were overzealous Christians seeking social relevance by forcing a connection? But, with study, the parallels became clear.

Similarly, as a faith skeptic, I doubted the biblical story of Jesus' sacrificial death and physical resurrection. Then, historical evidence convinced me it was factual, that he could provide genuine goodness, protection, and hope to anyone who asked.

Humans desire goodness, protection, and hope. Which is probably why the Superman story still connects so widely today. Where do you find goodness, protection, and hope?

Rated PG-13 (USA) "for violence, action and language."

https://www.supermanmovie.net/

Opens July 11 (USA) and on 6 continents

Copyright © 2025 Rusty Wright