With its Los Angeles premiere complete and the social media embargo lifted, James Gunn’s Superman is earning widespread early praise for its action, tone, and promise as the first chapter of the revamped DC Studios era.
Los Angeles, July 8 — The Man of Steel is officially back, and if the early buzz is any indication, James Gunn’s Superman is off to a soaring start. Following its Los Angeles premiere on Monday night, the first audience reactions have hit social media — and they’re glowing. Though full reviews are still under wraps until Wednesday, influencers, media outlets, and early viewers are calling the film “a terrific start” to the new DC Universe, applauding its blend of heart, action, and levity.
As anticipation builds ahead of its worldwide release on July 11, Superman has received its first wave of public reaction, and the sentiment is clear: James Gunn may have successfully rebooted DC’s most iconic superhero for a new generation. The film, which introduces David Corenswet as the titular hero, is being hailed as both a return to form and a fresh chapter in superhero storytelling.
“A terrific start for the new DC Studios,” tweeted Fandango’s Erik Davis.
“The movie is loaded with exhilarating action set pieces and well-placed humor and levity,” echoed Collider’s Perri Nemiroff.
The buzz began after the Superman premiere in Los Angeles on Monday night, with influencers, entertainment journalists, and fans in attendance taking to social media to share their initial impressions. While official reviews are expected on July 10, these early social media reactions set a promising tone for DC Studios, now under the leadership of James Gunn and producer Peter Safran.
Directed and written by James Gunn, Superman stars David Corenswet in his first major role as Clark Kent, aka Superman. He is joined by Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as a reimagined, more grounded Lex Luthor. The supporting cast includes:
- Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen
- Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl
- Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard
- Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner
- Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho
- Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year, Gunn explained the thematic importance of Superman in today’s world:
“People are looking for heroes right now. They are looking for values of goodness, looking for people who are good and decent human beings. And Superman is that.”
Superman is the first official film under the newly restructured DC Studios, a joint effort by Gunn and Safran to unify the formerly fractured DC cinematic universe. Their leadership comes after years of mixed reception and inconsistent tone across DC’s previous films. Safran noted earlier this year:
“The DC brand was being defined by different creative teams at the company… The result was not one DCU but many. This fracture proved very challenging to consumers and it chipped away at the identity of the brand.”
Upcoming DC projects under Gunn and Safran’s slate include HBO’s Green Lantern series Lanterns and the 2026 release of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Superman marks the first step in their ambitious 10-year storytelling plan for DC on both film and television.
Though early reactions are not a guarantee of box office or critical success, the positive buzz surrounding Superman suggests that audiences and critics may finally be ready to embrace a new era of hope, optimism, and heroic storytelling — just as Superman has always symbolized.