What makes Superman a good character? Why does Superman care so much about humans? After all, he’ll live longer than every person he knows. Why do we care about Superman if we know he will always save the person or take down the bad guy?

The newest movie in the James Gunn DC universe is an addition to the plethora of Superman movies. The release of Superman marks his first solo film since 2013. Man of Steel, Superman’s last solo film, received a metascore of 55 from Metacritic, whereas James Gunn’s Superman received a 68 Metacritic score.

So why did these movies see a variance of ratings from critics? Man of Steel follows the dark tonal elements of standard superhero movies from the 2010s. Superman 2025 contrasts this by using James Gunn’s color grading choices, allowing for more colorful scenes with a focus on brighter tones.

Man of Steel took on the role of a Superman origin story, while Superman 2025 takes the perspective of an established Superman and focuses on building him as a symbol of hope for humanity. Superman 2025 shows a Superman who tackles emotion, human relationships, and struggles just the same as anybody else. James Gunn establishes that Superman isn’t “Superman” because he is strong and all mighty, but that he’s Superman because he stands for the entirety of humanity and not a singular nation.

Superman, at his core, is a humanist from outer space raised in Kansas and grown with human values, and James Gunn nails that perfectly.

It could be argued that Superman 2025 is the most “Superman” adaptation seen on screen. He fights with himself and what it means to be a person in a world that could make it so easy to turn against. Superman serves not only as a fictional protector but as a very real symbol of what we can strive to be as people.