Story

Three weeks before the story begins, Superman (David Corenswet) intervenes to stop the U.S.-backed nation of Boravia from launching an attack on its neighbour, Jarhanpur. This bold act sparks international controversy and concerns about whether a single, unchecked individual should be allowed to impose their personal sense of justice on the world. Only three hours before the story, Superman is attacked by a mysterious figure known as the Hammer of Boravia. And just three minutes before, Superman loses his first battle.

It appears that Boravia has launched its attack in retaliation, but the truth is more complex. The Hammer of Boravia is actually Ultraman in disguise, a powerful metahuman secretly controlled by Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). As part of his plan, Luthor broadcasts a message supposedly from Superman’s Kryptonian parents, encouraging him to rule Earth. The revelation stirs global panic and turns public opinion against Superman. Voluntarily, Superman surrenders to the U.S. Government, only to be handed over to Luthor, who traps him in a pocket dimension.

With Superman imprisoned and the world on edge, Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and the Justice Gang must uncover the truth. Together, they must save Metropolis from an expanding dimensional rift and expose Luthor’s secret deal with Boravia, an arrangement that would grant him control over half of Jarhanpur.

Themes

War; crime; media manipulation; corruption

Violence

Superman has some violence. For example:

• Superman lies on the ground, injured and bloody, following his loss to the Hammer of Boravia.
• The Hammer of Boravia fires lasers into a building with people inside it.
• The Hammer of Boravia fights Superman, punching him before throwing him into the ground, where Superman shatters the concrete. Luthor controls the Hammer of Boravia using programmed attack moves.
• People shout angrily at Superman, and one throws an object at him, hitting the back of his head.
• Lois picks up a baseball bat after hearing a noise inside her apartment. It turns out to be Superman cooking her dinner for their 3-month anniversary.
• Ultraman flies and crashes into a robot, causing severe damage. Superman’s dog attacks another metahuman, which retaliates by sending a sphere of nanobots into the dog’s head.
• A metahuman creates spinning blades and uses them to slice through several robots.
• A small alien monster is sent into Metropolis and quickly grows to the size of a large building. Superman tries to contain it humanely, but the Justice Gang kills it by sending explosives into its stomach. Many reckless citizens are almost hurt, but Superman holds up the monster until they can run to safety.
• Superman sees one of his robots lose power and die following an attack on his secret hideout.
• The Justice Gang fights a large spherical monster, which looks like an eyeball with tentacles.
• Ultraman arrests Superman, shoving him to the ground before handcuffing him.
• The Green Lantern jokingly threatens to make a giant fist and beat his team to death with it.
• Luthor imprisons people in the pocket dimension, including political prisoners and ex-girlfriends.
• Luthor holds a gun to a civilian’s head while interrogating Superman. He plays Russian roulette until a bullet fires into the civilian’s brain, killing them instantly.
• Mr Terrific fights some of Luthor’s henchmen. He uses robotic weapons to take them down while they shoot at him with guns. No henchmen are killed, but they’re injured and incapacitated.
• Superman punches a henchman who’s holding a baby as a hostage.
• Superman is shot at while trying to escape the pocket dimension with the baby. They’re almost sucked into a black hole.
• Luthor shouts, smashes a cup on the floor, and throws a pencil at his girlfriend.
• Ultraman shoots lasers directly into Superman’s eyes. He then punches him repeatedly in the face.
• Superman grabs Ultraman by the leg and slams him into the ground before throwing him against a wall.
• Superman knocks the teeth out of one of Luthor’s henchmen. He shoots many more with lasers, which makes them fall from the sky and hit the ground.
• Luthor commands his employee to keep the rift open despite the risk it poses to the citizens of Metropolis.
• Superman is attacked by Luthor’s metahumans. Nanobots are sent into Superman’s body, invading his brain and his lungs, and stopping him from breathing. He survives, later vomiting up the nanobots and gasping for air.
• The Boravian military invades Jarhanpur with guns and tanks. A soldier aims a gun at a child.
• Hawkgirl drops the President of Boravia from the sky, causing his death.

Sexual references

There are no sexual references in Superman.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

Superman shows some use of substances. For example:

• A journalist smokes a cigar.
• A woman stumbles around. She seems to be drunk.

Nudity and sexual activity

Superman has some nudity and sexual activity. For example:

• Lois and Superman kiss and hug each other several times.
• Luthor and the President of Boravia spread rumours that Superman has a secret harem.
• A journalist gets a flirtatious text asking if he wants to meet up. He and a woman later embrace on the street, and the woman blows him air kisses as she leaves.
• Some women on the street ask a man if he’d like to come over.

Product placement

The following products are displayed or used in Superman: Toyota.

Coarse language

Superman has some coarse language and crude behaviour.

Ideas to discuss with your children

Superman is a superhero action movie and the first movie in the new DC Universe from James Gunn and Peter Safran. The movie features many classic DC characters and caters to an established fanbase, with limited explanations of character backstories. But you can still enjoy the movie even if you don’t know much about the DC Universe.

Because of its themes, scary scenes and violence, Superman isn’t suitable for children under 13 years. We also recommend parental guidance for children aged 13-14 years.

The main messages from Superman are that your identity is chosen, not inherited. Superman struggles to reconcile the person he strives to be – a hero of the people – with the role his parents intended – the ruler of Earth. He ultimately rejects his parents’ plans and follows his moral compass instead. Superman also emphasises the importance of helping people in need. For example, Superman does whatever he can to help, from saving animals on the street to stopping the invasion of Jarhanpur to prevent the deaths of innocent civilians.

Values in Superman that you could reinforce with your children include integrity, teamwork, justice, courage, selflessness and critical thinking.

Superman could also give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life issues like the following:

• The movie features a geopolitical conflict with parallels to the Israel-Palestine situation.
• The movie highlights the danger of accepting media narratives at face value, with Luthor’s behaviour revealing the vested interests that often shape the news.