This summer, two of the most iconic superhero companies returned to the big screen in reimagined forms: DC’s Superman, which launches James Gunn’s new cinematic universe, and Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which reintroduces its classic characters with a retro twist. Both films, however, represent more than reboots to fans. They breathe new life into characters often weighed down by legacy and outdated expectations.
Superman (2025)
Superman finds Clark Kent (David Corenswet), caught in an international scandal whilst trying to live his double life in Metropolis. His arch-nemesis Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), tries to manipulate these global tensions to tarnish Superman’s image and to finally defeat him. With the help of Kent’s romantic interest Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), and Krypto the Superdog at his side, he learns how to be a symbol of hope in a world that fears the unknown.
This film is everything a comic book adaption of Superman should be: bright, modern, hopeful, and most importantly, human. It was a wonderful first movie of the new DC Universe with exciting new villains, side characters, and a new adorable dog to buy merch of.
Highlights include seeing Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Guy Gardener (Nathan Fillion), and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) join the big screen for the first time.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The Fantastic Four: First Steps follows Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), who are expecting a child; and Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Ben (Ebon Moss-Bacharach), who are struggling to balance their dual lives.
The movie takes place a few years after the team gained their powers in a space accident, a story that has already been done multiple times on the big screen, most recently in 2015. When villains Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) arrive to consume Earth and take Richards and Storm’s child away, the group fights not only to save the planet, but also to solidify themselves as a family.
Like Superman, Fantastic Four refreshingly skipped the origin story and was able to focus on a thorough storyline with experienced heroes facing a massive global threat. The retro style was original and stood out against the group’s past repetitive movie reboots in the last twenty years. The emphasis on family with emotional scenes weaved into the plotline was a highlight for fans.
No matter if you wanted to see hope or family on the big screen, this July was your month to visit the theatre. If you didn’t get a chance to catch either of them, they are both available for digital purchase. Superman (2025) is now streaming on HBO Max, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be released on Disney+ starting on November 5.
