Superman First Review Calls James Gunn Film "Terrible" In Now-Deleted Post
James Gunn's new Superman movie, the first film in the DC Universe and a second reboot in the Superman film series, will hit the screens this weekend. However, the film, led by David Corenswet as Superman, was not received with warmth when it was screened for a select group of journalists in the West.
Despite the reviews being on embargo, a publication named Daily Beast slammed the film as they released their review. They called it 'the final nail in the superhero coffin'.
Snippets From The Viral Review
The review was put up on Monday but taken down by Tuesday. The damage was done by then, as internet users took screenshots and shared them on social media.
Commenting on the CGI treatment in the James Gunn film and questioning David Corenswet's performance, a part of the review read, " Superman doesn't skimp on the high-flying action, to a fault; the film is so awash in over-the-top CGI insanity that its slam-bang mayhem loses its punch. Not helping matters, the charming Corenswet looks the part but, in the shadow of Christopher Reeve (whose son Will cameos) and Henry Cavill, he comes across as relatively slight-a situation exacerbated by the all-over-the-place nature of his saga."
The Daily Beast accidentally breaks 'Superman' review embargo before quickly deleting article/review
by u/Colton826 in DCULeaks
The now-deleted review also criticised the unnecessary introduction of characters and confusing plotlines, as it stated, "Biting off more than it can chew, Gunn's wannabe-blockbuster eventually resorts to setting up future franchise installments via quick-hit appearances from Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn) and Supergirl (Milly Alcock). That's not to mention by highlighting second-banana figures like Mister Terrific at the expense of fully establishing the altruistic heart of its protagonist, whose path toward self-actualisation is mostly an afterthought."
One section of the internet agreed, as they commented, "Always knew this would be a hot pile of garbage. Letting Snyder go was DC's biggest mistake."
Another group came to the rescue of the Superman series as they called out the harsh review.
How The Fandom Defended Superman
The review was taken down, but the internet reacted strongly as they defended one of the most loved franchises of all time.
One person wrote, "This seems like an effort to pull the film down."
A Reddit remark read, "I still don't understand this. Everyone is a visual effects expert now. Literally every shot I've seen in the trailer has phenomenal visuals, apart from the one shot that Gunn removed. The Kaiju scene in particular was improved; that sequence looks gorgeous."
Other than David Corenswet, the film also stars Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult in key roles. The film releases worldwide on July 11, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Superman theme reimagined with Indian classical instruments earns global praise: ‘Wasn't ready for this'
Set to hit theatres on July 11, Superman is already riding high on early buzz, with James Gunn's reboot taking the Man of Steel and his loyal dog on a world-saving mission. Ahead of the release starring David Corenswet, Warner Bros dropped a surprise: the iconic Superman theme, reimagined with Indian classical instruments. Within hours, the track went viral. While Indian fans were stunned by the unexpected crossover, global Superman lovers were left mesmerised, flooding the comment sections with praise for how hauntingly beautiful the rendition sounds. Also read: Superman first reactions: The James Gunn film is 'bold yet faithful' as DC studios embarks on a new journey The two-minute track features Indian artists on harmonium (Tushar Lall), sarangi (Sandeep Mishra), sitar (Prasad Rahane), flute (Hrishikesh Majumdar), and dhol (Pratik Kawale), and it sets the tone for the film on a strikingly emotional note. Superman's theme colours light up the background, and David Corenswet's character flashes across the screen mid-track. The rendition is arranged by Tushar Lall, and the band behind the project is The Indian Jam Project. Warner brought it to life with mix, master, and orchestration by Abin Thomas. In just 10 hours, the video has already pulled in nearly 50K views. The music plays softly in your ears and sets the mood for James Gunn's Superman in a way you haven't quite heard before. Reacting to the song, a fan from the Philippines wrote, 'The flute created a different kind of gathering.' Charlie Victor from the US praised the theme, 'Wow!! I have very few Indian friends here in the US!! But respect is the only thing I have for these people, rich in culture, traditions, and above all, humility! Super excited for the movie.' Another fan named James commented, 'Okay, I was really not ready for this. This is just so calming. Like Superman himself, India is ready for Superman.' Someone else shared, 'There's something so magical in the composition of this theme—it always gives you a message of hope and humanity.' Another fan added, 'Love Superman from India. This makes me emotional. Now India is giving him the tribute he always deserved. Seeing this version of the Superman theme done with Indian instruments, absolutely top-notch, pleasing, and energetic. Can't wait to see the symbol of HOPE on the big screen.' Also read: David Corenswet never wanted to be Superman: 'I thought they were calling me for Top Gun 3, agent told me not f*** it up' Superman 2025 marks the first big Warner Bros production after its new partnership with DC Studios under the leadership of writer-director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran. The trailer has already drawn positive reactions from fans. But this isn't another origin rehash. Gunn's not exploring where Superman came from or what he's been up to, instead, he's giving the whole thing a fresh spin. He knows the world's burnt out on the same old comic-book film formula, and with this new Superman, he's not just rebooting a studio's future, he's out to rewire the way we look at superhero movies altogether. The film will follow Clark Kent, played by David Corenswet, as he wrestles with his Kryptonian roots while trying to live a normal life in Smallville with his adoptive family. Rachel Brosnahan steps in as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult will take on the role of Lex Luthor.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Superman review roundup; James Gunn's film is rated 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, hailed as a 'living, breathing comic book'
James Gunn's Superman, which also serves as the launchpad for the acclaimed director's rebooted DC Universe, had a limited theatrical premiere on July 7, with a wide release scheduled for this weekend, on July 11. In the wake of the film's premiere, early reviews have started to come in, and many of them hail Gunn's effort as a strong start to the DC Universe project, with Rolling Stone's David Fear calling it 'a living, breathing comic book'. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 86%, the film is rated higher than Zack Snyder's prior attempt to reboot Superman with Man of Steel, which sits at a 57% score, as well as 2006's Superman Returns, which has a 72% score. Superman is praised as an excellent start to the DC Universe REVIEW: James Gunn has given us a Superman movie that actually feels like a living, breathing comic Much of the praise directed towards Superman was also directed towards the direction of James Gunn, with IGN noting that it was no surprise that Gunn, who's already worked on the acclaimed Guardians of the Galaxy films for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, would find a way to 'make Superman soar again'. The Jam Report's Doug Jamieson considered the movie 'a sensational return to comic book magic' and praised the film for humanizing the superhero and portraying him as a man trying to do the right thing even when the world doesn't make it easy. Amy Nicholson of The Los Angeles Times appreciated the idealism of the character, and admitting to being fond of a scene where he tells Lois Lane that having a big heart is 'the real punk rock'. She did have mixed feelings about aspects of James Gunn's direction, as she believed that he struggled with sincerity, saying 'It's as though 'Superman' isn't sure how to be earnest without whacking us over the head with it.' She was nonetheless positive overall and was interested in how a sequel might pan out. Some critics weren't as enamored with James Gunn's style Among the more negative reviewers of the film was YouTuber Jeremy Jahns, who believed that James Gunn's style of comedy often muddied up the tone of the film, with one of his commentors agreeing and accusing the film of being irony-poisoned. The website LarsenOnFilm also considered James Gunn's Metropolis too bleak for Superman to thrive in, saying, 'By the movie's merciful end, you wonder what a nice guy like Superman is doing in a mean place like this.' While the box office reception to James Gunn's Superman remains an open question, the overall critical reception looks to be a promising start for the director's DC Universe.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Superman review roundup; James Gunn's film is rated 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, hailed as a 'living, breathing comic book'
James Gunn's Superman, which also serves as the launchpad for the acclaimed director's rebooted DC Universe, had a limited theatrical premiere on July 7, with a wide release scheduled for this weekend, on July 11. In the wake of the film's premiere, early reviews have started to come in, and many of them hail Gunn's effort as a strong start to the DC Universe project, with Rolling Stone's David Fear calling it 'a living, breathing comic book'. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 84%, the film is rated higher than Zack Snyder's prior attempt to reboot Superman with Man of Steel, which sits at a 57% score, as well as 2006's Superman Returns, which has a 72% score. Superman is praised as an excellent start to the DC Universe REVIEW: James Gunn has given us a Superman movie that actually feels like a living, breathing comic Much of the praise directed towards Superman was also directed towards the direction of James Gunn, with IGN noting that it was no surprise that Gunn, who's already worked on the acclaimed Guardians of the Galaxy films for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, would find a way to 'make Superman soar again'. The Jam Report's Doug Jamieson considered the movie 'a sensational return to comic book magic' and praised the film for humanizing the superhero and portraying him as a man trying to do the right thing even when the world doesn't make it easy. Amy Nicholson of The Los Angeles Times appreciated the idealism of the character, and admitting to being fond of a scene where he tells Lois Lane that having a big heart is 'the real punk rock'. She did have mixed feelings about aspects of James Gunn's direction, as she believed that he struggled with sincerity, saying 'It's as though 'Superman' isn't sure how to be earnest without whacking us over the head with it.' She was nonetheless positive overall and was interested in how a sequel might pan out. Some critics weren't as enamored with James Gunn's style Among the more negative reviewers of the film was YouTuber Jeremy Jahns, who believed that James Gunn's style of comedy often muddied up the tone of the film, with one of his commentors agreeing and accusing the film of being irony-poisoned. The website LarsenOnFilm also considered James Gunn's Metropolis too bleak for Superman to thrive in, saying, 'By the movie's merciful end, you wonder what a nice guy like Superman is doing in a mean place like this.' While the box office reception to James Gunn's Superman remains an open question, the overall critical reception looks to be a promising start for the director's DC Universe.
