The new Superman movie, directed by James Gunn, has sparked controversy over its supposed similarity to current political events. In reality, the film is simply anti-war and highlights the values that have always defined the classic character of Superman.
Dean Cain, who played Superman in the 1990s show “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”, slammed the movie as “woke.” Cain told The Guardian, “Why are they going to change these characters [to] exist for the times?” He also pushed back against Superman being framed as an immigrant hero, saying, “We know Superman is an immigrant–he’s a freaking alien.” It should be noted that Cain recently joined ICE under the Trump administration.
Other conservative outlets, including Fox News and the Daily Wire, echoed Cain, calling the film “super-woke” and accusing Hollywood of reshaping iconic characters to fit modern agendas. However, this criticism reveals a certain irony. Superhero stories have always been about the fight between good and evil, not specific political stances. If someone feels that their own political position is being represented as “the enemy,” it suggests that they see their cause reflected in the villains. That reaction undermines the very cause they claim to defend.
In an interview with People, Gunn explained his vision: “Superman is the story of America … an immigrant that came from other places and populated the country. But for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost.” He added, “There will be jerks out there who are just not kind and will take it as offensive just because it is about kindness. But screw them.”
Some viewers drew parallels between the fictional war in the movie and the Israel-Palestine conflict. In the film, Boravia, a U.S.-backed nation, invades Jarhanpur, a weaker country whose people are portrayed of a different ethnicity. Superman’s decision to protect Jarhanpur’s civilians from massacre led many on social media to call the film “anti-Israel” and “pro-Palestine.” Gunn has denied these claims, clarifying that Israel and Palestine were not on his mind when writing the story. He explained that Boravia and Jarhanpur were created simply to “complicate things for Superman,” not to serve as direct allegories. Again, the same irony manifests itself here as pro-Israel critics feel that they are being represented as the antagonist in the movie. Such criticism is not smart or well done and hurts the cause they seek to defend.
The controversy, however, has not slowed audiences. Superman made $125 million domestically in its opening weekend and quickly passed $426 million worldwide. Reviews have been strong, with Rotten Tomatoes scores in the low 80s and a 7.5/10 rating on IMDb.
Superman has always been an outsider who stands up for the oppressed. To dismiss him as “woke” ignores decades of stories built on those very values. Gunn’s Superman simply reaffirms what the character has always stood for: kindness, justice, and protecting those without power. Those who feel attacked by that message end up admitting far more about their own politics than about the film itself.
