Superman 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		0.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Superman 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Resident aliens.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III September 20, 2025

Considering America's dwindling reputation on the world stage in recent months, Superman -- both this new movie as well as the iconic character as a whole -- was bound to be received quite a bit differently than in years past. An almost eternally optimistic and forward-thinking franchise whose films are typically a reflection of society at the time of their release, it's no surprise, then, that writer/director James Gunn's take on the Man of Steel would focus on the court of public opinion, overreaching corporations, misinformation, and of course the divisive concept of trusting an immigrant. It's a predictable film from several perspectives, though, and one that's unfortunately bogged down by nagging tonal issues, a pretty weak first act, and copious amounts of lore that aren't easily explained to newcomers.

As expected, Superman's plot is fairly bloated even at "just" 129 minutes, which is practically breezy by comic book movie standards. It opens with wall-of-text exposition explaining how metahumans (including Superman, portrayed by David Corenswet) are part of society and the Man of Steel just suffered his first real loss to one of them: a destructive armor-clad being claiming to be the "Hammer of Boravia", whose home country is involved in an ongoing international conflict. Nursing his wounds at the nearby Fortress of Solitude after being rescued by his faithful dog Krypto, Superman is revitalized by concentrated sunlight and eager for a rematch. Unfortunately, arch rival Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) has other plans: not only is he revealed to be secretly behind the Hammer of Boravia (who's actually the metahuman "Ultraman"), but another metahuman ally "The Engineer" has finally isolated the Fortress' coordinates.

Back in Metropolis, we're reintroduced to employees at The Daily Planet including bickering Clark Kent and Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), apparent ladies' man Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), and others, but after work at Lois' apartment, it's revealed that she and Clark have long since been an item and no secret-identity revelations lie ahead. Instead, we just get boring old domestic turbulence during her impromptu first interview with Superman after dinner. Across town, Lex makes another big move: his lackeys unleash a baby kaiju in downtown Metropolis to distract Superman from his trip to the Fortress, where Lex and company decimate the weak security, dog-nap Krypto, and steal a recorded video excerpt of Kal-El's biological parents, which may or may not have a second part that has yet to be seen. The next day, Lex's kaiju has grown to mammoth proportions so Superman intervenes, but he's aided by a metahuman trio known as "The Justice Gang" that includes Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion, playing himself), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced, snarking it up), and computer wiz Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi, who comes off like Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder).

Bear in mind this is only the first 45 minutes or so of a two-hour production which includes a revelation that turns the public against Superman, something called "pocket universes", prison time, a trip to see Ma and Pa Kent (Neva Howell and Pruitt Taylor Vince), plenty of adorable Krypto close-ups, political strife between Boravia and neighboring country Jarhanpur, a clone, and at least $100M worth of CGI, most of which arrives in the form of dizzying fights, impossibly large creatures, and an admittedly damn satisfying final showdown that laughs at the laws of physics. Some of these moments are great and others not so much, but Superman has more than a little trouble finding its footing in the early going and will keep newcomers squarely at arm's length with the way it casually drops in deep-cut characters and big chunks of franchise lore without taking any real time to explain most of them in an accessible way.

Did I still enjoy Superman in spite of its flaws, which also include several obligatory James Gunn-isms (too many jokes, as well as a few cutesy classic rock needle-drops whether they suit the scene or not) and the fact that our hero spends most of the movie either wounded or in recovery? Sure. At its heart, this still feels very much like a Superman movie (which hasn't happened in awhile) and the second half does a much more respectable job of keeping all of its balls in the air. Even so, there's obviously room for improvement here so it's good to know that the film's profitable -- though not overwhelming -- performance at the box office has already guaranteed a 2027 sequel that writer/director James Gunn is reportedly having a lot of fun fleshing out thus far. And who knows? Repeat viewings may be pretty kind to this one, and that's great because Warner Bros.' separate 4K and Blu-ray editions both make great keepsakes with great A/V presentations and a surprisingly dense array of extras. A Steelbook combo pack is also available.

Superman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

NOTE: These screenshots are sourced from the Blu-ray edition, available separately and reviewed here.

WB's 2160p/HDR10/Dolby Vision transfer belongs on the list of HDR grades that are more precise then showy, rarely displaying the kind of overcooked brightness and color levels that the format is occasionally known for. Instead, it's an overwhelmingly dialed back (and dialed-in) presentation that favors natural colors, smooth gradients, and deep black levels that leave room for plenty of shadow detail. Textures and other fine elements are crisply rendered from start to finish, with tight close-ups and wide shots alike appearing tack-sharp with the kind of robust, nearly three-dimensional clarity you'd expect from a big-budget blockbuster created for large-format viewing. And while theatrical showings are obviously the best way to experience films like Superman, it passes the "small screen" test with flying colors and, on the right setup, will truly remind viewers of a genuine night out at the movies. Authored on a triple-layered disc and running at a consistently high bit rate at critical moments, it shows no obvious encoding defects such as posterization, macro blocking, or banding, rendering this 4K presentation of Superman as a high-quality effort that easily outpaces the already-great Blu-ray. Without question, this is clearly the best way to watch it at home.

Superman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Running a close second is the default Dolby Atmos track, which as always folds down to a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 mix or further if your equipment doesn't support the newer format. (A separate lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track is also included, because this is WB after all.) Either way, fans can expect a consistently rousing and active presentation here, one that's almost contractually obliged to deliver ample surround activity, occasionally weighty LFE hits, logical use of the height channels, and plenty of channel panning on all fronts. Most of these highlights occur during the film's numerous action scenes, yet quieter or more intimate moments are also dialed-in with crisp dialogue, well-mixed music, and a pleasing organic atmosphere. Although sporadic volume adjustments might be needed for apartment dwellers and those with sleeping children, this Atmos mix carries with it a solidly full dynamic range and, besides for slight sonic patchiness during some of its most over-the-top moments, is about as close to perfection as fans might be expecting.

Optional subtitles, including English (SDH), are included during the main feature and all extras listed below.

Superman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a keepcase with fairly generic cover artwork; a matching lenticular slipcover (with secret identity action!) and Digital Copy redemption code are included. The bonus features are a fairly noticeable step beyond most WB blockbuster releases and collectively almost approach the DVD Special Editions of yesteryear.

NOTE: As with several other recent WB A-list titles, an audio commentary is included during the main feature, this one featuring writer/director James Gunn. There's a catch, though: it's exclusive to the Digital Copy, which remains one of the absolute worst home video trends in recent years. Thumbs down to WB for continuing to do this.

• Adventures in the Making of Superman (58:58) - A surprisingly comprehensive all-purpose behind-the-scenes mini-doc, this well-produced piece is highlighted by loads of cast and crew insight from writer/director James Gunn, actor David Coronswet, costume designer Judianna Makovsky, actor Rachel Brosnahan, production designer Beth Mickle, director of photography Henry Braham, producer Peter Safran, and many others. Spanning multiple months and covering almost every facet of the production including casting, screen tests, storyboards, costumes, shooting locations, visual effects, and of course a shared love of Superman, it's an infectiously fun piece that fans will love and far better than the usual promotional pieces we often get nowadays.

• Breaking News: The Daily Planet Returns (5:26) - Dialing back thing as bit, this comparatively bite-sized piece offers a quick tour of the Daily Planet set with several returning members of the cast and crew.

• Lex Luthor: The Mind of a Master Villain (5:22) - Continuing the short but appreciated behind-the-scenes nuggets, "Master Villain" features Nicholas Hoult and others who speak about his portrayal of Lex.

• The Justice Gang (10:31) - Everyone's favorite supporting characters -- or least favorite, depending who you ask -- are given the spotlight during this slightly more in-depth piece which features more screen tests, makeup and hair application, comments from all three featured actors, and candid footage from the set.

• Paws to Pixels: Krypto is Born (5:48) - Another short but enjoyable supporting character-themed piece, this treats fans to a look at the filming-slash-digital creation of everyone's favorite Superdog.

• The Ultimate Villain (5:08) - Yet another possibly mandated ~5 minute featurette, "The Ultimate Villain" focuses on Lex Luthor's creation Ultraman, from suit creation and logistics to visual effects.

• Icons Forever: Superman's Enduring Legacy (6:07) - Backing up to a more general subject, this similarly short piece offers another all-purpose look at the lasting appeal of Superman through the years.

• A New Era: DC Takes Off (4:43) - A slightly more light-hearted look at the new direction of the film.

• Kryptunes: The Music of Superman (6:34) - Composers David Fleming and John Murphy talk about their combined contributions to the film in short but efficient interview clips, which are flanked by bits of recording session footage and a handful of supportive scenes from the finished film.

• Krypto Short: School Bus Scuffle (5:33) - This 2-D animated short, written and directed by Ryan Kramer, follows Superman's faithful pup as he battles a pigeon who presumably just ate at Taco Bell.

Superman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

James Gunn's Superman was one of this year's most talked-about films, which is another way of saying it divided audiences for a variety of reasons. Keeping things entirely on-screen, it has trouble building first-half momentum and there were several things I didn't like about its approach to the subject matter, but Superman eventually finds its legs and lays the foundation for what I hope can be more consistently satisfying follow-ups. Warner Bros.' separate UHD and Blu-ray editions show a great deal of studio faith in the film, as both offer proportionately great A/V presentations and a solid collection of bonus features. (A preferred Steelbook combo pack is also available.) While Superman might not be the strongest blind buy in recent memory, established fans are sure to get their money's worth here.