Superhero movies are at peak right now and yet, despite all that noise – and too-many reboots – the new Superman movie is one of the best yet. And it's finally arrived on streaming today.
James Gunn's Superman hasn't long been out at the cinema – where it killed it, grossing $615 million worldwide and hitting 90% on Rotten Tomatoes – and now it's streaming in US homes with access to HBO Max.
James Gunn – of Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and Peacemaker fame – is credited with creating a DC universe that's truly worth seeing. That's something DC has been trying, and arguably failing, to do for some time – as Marvel steamed ahead.
Superman trailer
Super, man!
I went to see the latest Superman movie at the IMAX and left pleasantly surprised at just how perfect this movie experience had been. Sure, the IMAX immersion played a part, but it was clear this flick has a lot more heart, character and thought than perhaps any other DC movie before it.
This Superman is flawed, he's human-like and struggling, rather than Zach Snyder's more god-like Superman, who was aloof. You feel for him, and all those he's connected to. It's emotionally invested stuff.
If you're not signed up to HBO Max then now's the time to do it – if you're in the USA, of course, as elsewhere in the world Superman is only available on video-on-demand (VOD) pay-for services at the moment.
Max also features other top-drawer DC-related treats. Peacemaker is high up on that list, on its second season now after a massively successful first delivered from Gunn and his team, hitting 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Ideally, I'll want to have the best OLED TV to pair with this setup so I can get the most out of the movie. It's never going to be like being back at the IMAX, but we can get pretty close these days. In classic Gunn style, Superman is crammed full of colourful, electric and eclectic creatures and light-shows, which make watching a genuine pleasure.
What's next for Superman?
Excitingly, there's already been a Superman 2 confirmed for a 2027 release. Early word suggests this is going to forces Supes and Lex Luthor to put aside their differences and team up – and take on the potential world-destroying force.
When you look at how Lex and Superman were in this last movie – no spoilers here! – imagining them on the same side is an exciting thought. Whether it'll happen? Who knows – the follow-up movie is ages away. But you'll want to see it after streaming this Superman.
Then there's the Supergirl movie. Gunn spoke about a sequel he's writing that isn't Superman, which was presumably Supergirl. Interestingly this, he said, features Supes in it heavily. So here's hoping – it's unconfirmed at present.
For now, those lucky enough to have HBO Max can now, finally, enjoy Superman. For those who don't want to rent on Prime Video and Apple TV+ elsewhere in the world, I'm sure other streaming services will pick up a deal soon enough – but you'll have to wait on that, as it stands.
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