Is the New Superman Movie Criticizing Israel?

UAE Moments

4 hours ago

James Gunn's 2025 Superman film has fueled controversy over whether its fictional conflict is a pointed commentary on the Israel–Palestine war. The movie opens with Superman stopping Boravia, an ally backed by the U.S., from invading its neighboring nation, Jarhanpur.
Boravia's technologically advanced military attacks unarmed civilians across a fortified border, while Jarhanpuris—often portrayed as non-white and vulnerable- suffer intense casualties.
Audience Interpretations
Audiences quickly drew parallels: on social media, posts claiming the film is 'very anti‑Israel' gained millions of views, arguing that the Boravia–Jarhanpur storyline serves as an allegory for Israel's actions in Gaza. One user wrote on X: 'Y'all were not kidding about how anti‑Israel and pro‑Palestine that Superman movie was… they were not slick with it AT ALL'.
Others on Reddit echoed similar sentiments about the film's depiction of imperialist aggression and the imbalance of power.
Director's Perspective
Despite the interpretations, Gunn and his team have never officially linked the film to the Israel–Palestine conflict. Gunn described Superman as 'about politics' and 'morality,' highlighting its immigrant narrative and broader themes of social justice and due process. In interviews, he said the film encourages empathy and human kindness, values he feels are eroding in today's polarized world.
Criticism and Defense
Some conservative critics dismissed symbolic readings of the film as overblown. Commentator Ben Shapiro argued that supposed political messaging is 'really weak' and that viewers may be projecting political interpretations into a blockbuster meant primarily as entertainment.
Others praised the film's willingness to explore moral complexity and global themes through superhero storytelling.
Superman does not explicitly name any real-world countries or conflicts. Yet the Boravia–Jarhanpur scenario—with Western-backed military aggression against a disenfranchised, largely non-white population—has led many to perceive thinly veiled parallels to the Israel–Palestine conflict.
While Gunn has not confirmed intentional allegory, the film invites interpretations that resonate with ongoing geopolitical tensions and broader questions of power, identity, and empathy.