James Gunn’s new Superman launches a fresh DC cinematic universe — and the 4K Ultra HD release delivers the colorful action, IMAX visuals and home theater spectacle fans expect.
The Man of Steel returns once again, resurrected for a new DC cinematic universe overseen by director James Gunn and now aiming to excite home theater fans with the 4K disc release of “Superman” (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, rated PG-13, 1.90:1 aspect ratio, 129 minutes, $34.98).
As audiences witnessed in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy, Mr. Gunn has a flair for blending humor, drama and explosive action in any comic book property he tackles.
Key Insights
- James Gunn's Superman film offers a lighter, more hopeful take on the hero, diverging from Zack Snyder's darker interpretation.
- The movie introduces a diverse ensemble of characters, including beloved figures from DC Comics like Krypto the Superdog and Metamorpho.
- Superman faces off against his arch-nemesis Lex Luthor and a metahuman created from his own DNA in a fast-paced, action-packed adventure.
He continues that tradition here with a lighter, more hopeful interpretation of Superman — the hero even says “golly” within minutes of the opening scene, much to my delight — allowing viewers to quickly forget Zack Snyder’s darker and far more oppressive version of the character.
The film wastes no time throwing audiences into the middle of a perilous adventure.
Superman (played with the perfect mix of naivete and heroic dynamism by David Corenswet) has recently prevented the nation of Boravia from invading its neighboring country, Jarhanpur.
The decision earns him a brutal beating in Metropolis from a mysterious metahuman known as the Hammer of Boravia, and matters grow even worse when a private message from Superman’s Kryptonian parents leaks online in full, turning public opinion against him.
Anyone familiar with the early Superman comics knows that an archvillain must be orchestrating the chaos, and sure enough, the mastermind is his longtime nemesis Lex Luthor. Nicholas Hoult proves perfectly cast as the calculating and deeply jealous billionaire determined to destroy the Kryptonian hero.
Mr. Gunn also continues his tradition of populating the story with a large ensemble of characters.
In this version of Earth, metahumans have existed for roughly 300 years. Among them is the Hammer of Boravia — revealed to be Ultraman, a Luthor creation engineered from Superman’s own DNA.
One of my personal favorites from DC Comics, the element-manipulating Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan), also plays an important role when Superman needs rescuing at a critical moment.
Audiences are additionally introduced to the Justice Gang, headquartered in the Hall of Justice — the future home of the Justice League. Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Green Lantern Corps member Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) participate in several thunderous battle sequences.
Yet the true breakout star of the movie is Krypto the Superdog, who repeatedly helps Superman survive and ultimately save the day. The digitally rendered canine is an absolute joy to watch onscreen.
Notably, Mr. Gunn skips the traditional origin story. Clark Kent already works alongside Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) at the Daily Planet, and the pair are in a romantic relationship. Clark is also fully aware of the complicated role he occupies as a global peacekeeper navigating international politics while trying simply to protect human lives.
Some viewers may take issue with the film’s messaging that Superman is an immigrant.
Well, he is — a fact clearly established in the character’s comics dating back to 1938. His creators, both sons of immigrants themselves, understood the symbolism from the start. Letting today’s partisan politics overshadow a film faithfully honoring that origin would be missing the point.
Mr. Gunn ultimately delivers a joyous and action-packed interpretation of Superman’s world built around the surprisingly radical theme of kindness. The tone evokes Christopher Reeve’s reverent portrayal of the character and should give fans confidence in the future of Gunn’s expanding DC cinematic universe.
4K Video and Audio Review
Mr. Gunn, working alongside production designer Beth Mickle, visual effects supervisor Stéphane Ceretti and cinematographer Henry Braham, delivers a visually striking experience sourced from a 4K digital intermediate and enhanced with high dynamic range grading.
Presented in a nearly IMAX-sized aspect ratio that fills home theater screens, the film bursts with vibrant colors and bold lighting choices — a hallmark of Gunn’s filmmaking style.
The director’s love of comic book visuals shines through with an expansive palette of both traditional superhero tones and glowing neon accents.
Superman’s costume immediately draws attention. The textured cloth suit features a retro 1940s aesthetic inspired by the comic series All-Star Superman. Fine stitching connects the blue, red and gold elements of the design, while his red felt cape looks as though it could have been lifted from the classic 1950s television series.
Even background moments become visual highlights. During a serious conversation between Clark and Lois in an office, a neon-tinted battle between the Justice Gang and a tentacled dimensional creature unfolds outside the window.
The film’s massive Kaiju battle also benefits greatly from the 4K presentation. Details such as the creature’s enormous serrated toenails and Superman accidentally cracking a window while pushing the monster away from a skyscraper stand out clearly, while fiery attacks burst across the screen in blazing color.
Metamorpho’s transformation sequences showcase remarkable detail as well. The various mineral textures composing his body become especially impressive when his hand morphs into glowing green kryptonite.
Perhaps the most dazzling moment of the entire presentation occurs when Superman escapes a pocket universe. The scene immerses viewers in a blazing neon anti-proton river while the hero and his rescuers struggle to avoid being pulled into pitch-black singularities.
The Dolby Atmos sound mix complements the visuals nicely, particularly during moments that echo John Williams’ iconic Superman themes and opening title sequences that pay tribute to Richard Donner’s 1978 Superman film.
Bonus Features
Writer, director and producer James Gunn provides an optional solo commentary track — though physical media collectors may find its availability frustrating.
To access the commentary, viewers must redeem the included digital code and stream the film through platforms such as iTunes, Fandango or Amazon Prime.
It’s an unfortunate trend for disc buyers who spend extra money on physical media only to discover that some premium extras require a stable broadband connection.
Still, Mr. Gunn delivers an informative commentary.
He discusses his lifelong love of DC Comics, compares his film to earlier Superman adaptations, explains the connections to HBO’s Peacemaker series and breaks down the movie’s themes. He also reflects on the evolving Lois and Clark relationship, editorial decisions and some of the story’s more emotional moments.
The track occasionally veers into detailed explanations of plot points and character motivations — something fans of the film will likely appreciate.
The disc also includes an hourlong production documentary that functions almost like a filmmaking diary, covering various stages of production from the first cast read-through to the final day of shooting.
The feature explores topics including casting, constructing Superman’s iconic costume, filming locations in Antarctica and Cleveland, the chemistry between the actors playing Clark and Lois, Lex Luthor’s motivations and the creation of the Fortress of Solitude set.
One especially charming revelation is that Mr. Gunn’s own dog, Ozu, played a major role in inspiring the inclusion of Krypto and shaping the storyline around Superman’s bond with the superpowered canine.
Eight additional featurettes — totaling nearly an hour — further explore the production. These segments examine John Murphy’s musical score, the design and development of Krypto, and character-focused features on Lex Luthor, the Justice Gang, Ultraman and the newsroom staff of the Daily Planet.
Warner Bros. even includes a short animated cartoon starring Krypto, featuring the superdog dealing with a gastrointestinally distressed pigeon.
Should You Buy the Superman 4K Disc?
For home theater fans, “Superman” delivers a colorful and visually immersive 4K experience with strong Dolby Atmos sound and a generous collection of extras. James Gunn’s brighter interpretation of the Man of Steel also makes this one of the most enjoyable Superman films in years.
Collectors and DC fans should have little hesitation adding this release to their shelves.
