67 Things That Delighted Me In The Superman (2025) Movie
A comprehensive list
Long-time readers of this site will know that I was sceptical, but hopeful, for the new Superman movie that came out a month or so ago.
But, turns out, I enjoyed it very much. I loved the Silver Age comic book vibe of it that hit on so many cool things from the history of Superman, and I thought the general world-building was excellent. Plus the entire movie raced along faster than a tall building in a single bound.
Sure, I could pick nits with portions of the plot, and, yes, some of the James Gunn humour was typically eye-roll-worthy. But I’m going to ignore my quibbles. Because this is a movie that’s focused on the power of being positive. And, by my tally, there were precisely sixty-seven (67) things that delighted me in this movie. That’s like… better than one every couple of minutes or so. I’ll take that ratio.
Here, in chronological order, is the full list of the 67 Things That Delighted Me In The Superman (2025) Movie. (Spoilers, obviously.)
The ‘3 (time periods) AGO’ opening crawl. Counting down from centuries to years to months to days to hours to minutes. Did they miss months? Well, they did. But they picked it back up later in the movie when it’s revealed that Clark and Lois had their first date three months ago. Cute.
Krypto - we saw him in the trailer, obviously, but him bounding through the snow to make his first live action appearance was still a delight.
“We love you more than land.” That’s an actual quote from Jor-El. Probably our first clue to the idea that Supes’ dad might have some strange ideas.
“Golly”, “What the hey, dude.” - in fact, any time Superman specifically chooses a non-swear tickled me.
Lex giving his programmer a shoulder massage as he deploys his attack against Superman.
Removing the Hammer of Boravia disguise to reveal the Ultraman disguise. Double disguise!
Steve Lombard chastising Clark for his lack of adverbs: “In sports writing, they teach you the sentence is the modifier.”
Clark tolerating Steve’s teasing until he makes fun of Ma. “Shut up, Steve.”
The women in the office fangirling over Jimmy Olsen.
Lois’s retort to Jimmy’s claim that the Hammer of Boravia had to be from Boravia because of his name: “I doubt his parents named him that, Jimmy.”
Lex wrapping up his Planetwatch presentation, then signalling for Ultraman - who he’s just pitched as the most powerful being on the planet - to turn on the lights for him.
Clark justifying to Lois his confidence that nobody would work out he’s Superman with a simple ‘but the glasses…’
The entire interview scene between Lois and Clark (including ‘yes, but you know that’s very silly’, Clark not knowing where the on/off button is on Lois’s recorder, and Lois finding it amusing that Clark knows how long his imaginary interviews with himself are).
Lex going bareheaded in Antarctica. Isn’t your bald head cold, Lex?
A miniature kaiju.
The people of Metropolis’s general reaction to danger - more curious about how it’s going to turn out than fearful for their lives. This includes the dog barking at the kaiju about to squash him.
This slo-mo rescue.
Supes’ general exasperation with The Justice Gang. “Good gosh, there's gotta be a better way to do this.”
The squirrel rescue. (Is this a nod to Super-Squirrel? Probably not. But it still tickled me.)
The ‘METAHUMANS KILL THING’ chyron.
Talk of intergalactic zoos.
Supes bursting through the doors into Luthorcorp when he realises Krypto’s missing, and Lex’s cool reaction.
Casual imp fight in the background of Lois and Supes’ conversation.
Lois - the intrepid, cynical reporter - completely taking Superman at his word that he’s not here to conquer the world.
“It's a dog.” “Yeah, and he's not even a very good one. But he’s out there alone, and he’s probably scared.”
The Greendale Human Being inexplicably driving the raft to the pocket universe prison.
Miss Teschmacher’s use of emojis (‘wanna meetup 🤪?’)
Monkey-driven social media.
Virtual squirrels for Krypto to chase while he’s being held captive.
Jimmy’s horrified reaction to Miss Teschmacher’s revelation that ‘Lex tortured a dog the other day.’
The ongoing prominence of newspapers in this world.
Acknowledgement of hypno-glasses lore.
Mr Terrific’s casual revelation that he puts nanobot GPS trackers into the bloodstreams of everybody he knows.
Mr Terrific having zero (0) interest in discussing Lois’s romantic problems.
Lex threatening to kill ‘that reporter you always do interviews with’ (Clark Kent) next.
Mr Terrific chastising Lois over the differences between circles and spheres.
Superman’s response to Metamorpho revealing that he ‘can't make a sun’ to repower him. “I know.”
Superman blowing himself free of a black hole! Of course that’s a John Williams score-worthy moment.
“The controls are easy... and intuitive.” Terrific’s justification for how Lois can fly his T-Craft is maybe my favourite ADR reading of all time. God bless whoever questioned this in earlier cuts.
Petty, enraged Lex deliberately knocking items off his desk for henchmen to pick up.
Miss Teschmacher’s secret provision of incriminating Lex evidence via the background of selfies.
Luthoria! Doesn’t matter which version of Lex we get, he’s always obsessed with land. Maybe he and Jor-El aren’t so different after all.
Krypto playing with cows.
Pa Kent’s speech.
Guy drinking milk.
The Jarhanpur kids raising the flag for Superman and chanting his name, as John Williams’ score kicks back in.
A mandatory evacuation for Metropolis residents - something you feel happens at least a few times a year.
Otis namedrop.
The central portion of the Luthorcorp building having flying capabilities.
Supes catching a falling building that, in accordance with known comic book physics, holds together long enough for the woman in the car to escape.
Luthor having a code (‘2X’) for ‘kick Superman in the nuts’.
Guy giving the power ring finger to tanks as he knocks them aside
Lex’s self-awareness: “I’m aware envy consumes my every waking moment.”
“1A! 1A! 1A!” And the sheer delight of this little fucker as he enters that command.
Krypto eating all of Luthor's cameras. (“Bravo down!”, “Bravo down!” “I just said that, Larry!”)
Lex’s doomed sprint for the portal.
Mr Terrific’s somehow cool, Krypto-riding tumbling entrance into Luthorcorp HQ
Terrific’s ensuing control of the crisis. “I don’t need your help. I’m the goddamn Mr Terrific.”
Daily Planet staff cheesy slo-mo hugs!
Instant flip-flopping from the media on Supes and Luthor.
Krypto playing with freed social media monkeys.
“How long have they been hooking up?” “About three months, I think.”
Clark’s front page story on ‘Metropolis’s True Hero’.
Supergirl questioning why Supes moved the door to the Fortress.
“Thanks for watching him, bitch.”
Superman smiling at his soothing, updated parent footage.
Closing credits in classic zooming Superman (1978) font.
