"The Superhero Genre's Last Nail in the Coffin for the Man of Steel"

Michael R. Grigsby, Editor, July 8, 2025, 9:00 AM EST

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Somerset, Kentucky---Despite high expectations and a talented creative team, Superman: Legacy fails to soar, offering a disjointed and emotionally hollow entry into the DC cinematic reboot. James Gunn’s direction, typically praised for its tonal balance and character nuance, struggles here to find a cohesive identity, veering uneasily between somber introspection and awkwardly timed levity.

David Corenswet’s portrayal of Clark Kent lacks the gravitas or vulnerability necessary to carry the film’s moral weight, resulting in a Superman who feels more like a cipher than a symbol. The script, although ambitious in its themes, often feels weighed down by exposition and undermines its philosophical aims with clunky dialogue and rushed character development.

Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane offers sparks of promise, but even her strong performance can’t salvage a romance that feels underwritten and emotionally unearned. Visually, the film is serviceable but uninspired, with a muted color palette and forgettable action sequences that pale in comparison to previous entries in the franchise.

There are just too many underdeveloped heroes and antagonists in the movie. There is little substance to the introduction of supporting characters like Mister Terrific, Supergirl, and Maxwell Lord.

Gunn’s attempt to refresh the DC Universe falls flat, suffering from genre fatigue and failing to lay a strong narrative foundation. While Superman: Legacy aspires to reboot the mythology with sincerity and depth, it ultimately lands as an uneven and uninvolving chapter, one that confuses reverence for the character with dramatic inertia.