The tone shift you’ve been waiting for
If you’ve spent the last decade explaining to your kid why Superman looks like he’s about to cry in every movie poster, this 2025 version is the antidote. It’s a hard pivot away from the "sad god" era. Critics are calling it a "heartfelt cinematic reset," and they aren't wrong. It captures a specific kind of sincerity that feels less like a gritty reboot and more like a modern screwball comedy with capes.
The movie focuses heavily on the "Clark" side of the equation. It treats his human upbringing and his job as a journalist with as much weight as his flight powers. This makes the character relatable in a way we haven't seen in years. If your kid is used to the self-aware, constant quips of recent Marvel movies, they might find the earnestness here a bit surprising. It doesn't wink at the camera or apologize for being a superhero movie. For a deeper look at how this fits into the broader landscape of capes and tights, check out our guide to Superman’s New Era.
Prepare for a physical Superman
While the "wholesome" score is high, don't mistake that for a lack of stakes. This isn't a sanitized cartoon. One of the most consistent notes from early reviews is how physical the action feels. Superman doesn't just effortlessly swat away drones; he gets "bruised, bloody, and battered."
There’s a visceral quality to the fights that might catch parents of younger kids off guard. When he takes a hit, you see the toll it takes on his body. It’s a 130-minute film that spends a significant chunk of time showing the hero getting "hammered and lasered." It’s not gratuitous, but it is crunchy. If your child is sensitive to seeing a hero they like in genuine pain, you might want to talk about the "unbowed" nature of the character afterward. It’s less about the violence itself and more about the resilience required to keep going.
Navigating the overstuffed plot
The biggest hurdle for younger viewers won't be the themes, but the pacing. At over two hours, the film is undeniably dense. James Gunn has packed the story with guest stars and world-building meant to kickstart a dozen other projects. Some critics have called it "bloated," noting that it can be hard to keep an emotional toehold when the movie is busy introducing new characters every twenty minutes.
If your kid isn't a DC encyclopedia, they might have questions about who all these extra heroes are and why they matter. You don't need to do homework to enjoy the core story of Clark and Lois, but knowing that this is the start of a much larger DC Movie Reboot helps set expectations.
If your kid liked Guardians of the Galaxy
The DNA of this movie is very much in line with Gunn’s previous work: high-energy, vibrant colors, and a focus on "outsider" characters finding their family. If your family enjoyed the ensemble dynamic and the bright aesthetic of Guardians, this will land well. It avoids the muddy, gray color palettes that have plagued the genre recently.
However, if your kid prefers the faster, 90-minute "monster of the week" style of storytelling, the talky bits of this journalist-heavy plot might feel like a slog. The dialogue is sharp, but it’s written for an audience that cares about the ethics of journalism and the struggle of being an immigrant from another planet. It’s a "grown-up" superhero movie that remains accessible to kids because it never loses sight of the fact that, at the end of the day, it’s about a guy who just wants to be kind.
