Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for James Gunn's Superman

While James Gunn's avoids many of 's flaws and explores other aspects of the hero, Zack Snyder's first DCEU installment still has plenty of strengths that remain unmatched. James Gunn's Superman stays closer to its titular hero's traditional tone than Man of Steel, with a much more down-to-earth personality and more colorful world around Kal El. David Corenswet portrays Superman as a more approachable hero who isn't afraid to come across as naive for the greater good.

Zack Snyder's Man of Steel kicked off the DCEU on a much more controversial note than James Gunn's Superman launched the DCU. Man of Steel's dark tone, serious Superman, and dire depiction of metahumans divided audiences. That said, Zack Snyder's Man of Steel offered a unique take on Superman on the big screen, and many of its qualities are worth appreciating years later.

Some iterations of Superman's parents care little about Earth and see it as a last resort for their species' survival, and others genuinely want Earth to be the inheritor of Krypton's legacy. Superman's most controversial plot point might be the Els' apparent wish to send Kal El to Earth as a conqueror instead of a savior.

Zack Snyder's Man of Steel makes it clear that Kal El's Kryptonian parents truly believed their son could be Krypton's last hope and Earth's salvation. They fought to ensure Kal had free will, and Jor-El left Kal a codex that would later serve as his mentor.

"You will give the people of Earth an ideal to strive towards. They will race behind you, they will stumble, they will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun, Kal. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders."

Man of Steel and Superman's reinvention of both sets of Superman's parents go against the traditional image of Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van; and Jonathan and Martha Kent, respectively. However, while controversial, they're both valid reinterpretations. The former presents a more distant kind of love from Pa Kent, and the latter underlines Superman's values in his decision to be more human than Kryptonian.

James Gunn's Superman summarizes the titular hero's backstory in written form during its opening scene. This resource suits Superman's first DCU appearance perfectly, as Superman's origin has been adapted so many times that it would be redundant to reinterpret it yet again. However,

Meanwhile, Zack Snyder's Man of Steel emphasizes the chaotic nature of Krypton's final moments and their importance in Superman's origins. Jor-El's desperate attempts to salvage Krypton's legacy and General Zod's turn to evil are essential to Superman's first challenge as a superhero on Earth. Man of Steel's Krypton is also visually breathtaking. The hectic in-fighting during Krypton's last hour, combined with the planet's natural catastrophe, make Man of Steel's opening sequence feel like a top-tier, self-contained disaster movie.

Krypton's destruction is always referred to as a tragedy, but few iterations of the event manage to capture its intensity. In Man of Steel's opening sequence, not a single Kryptonian wins. The Kryptonian Council meet their end after ignoring Jor-El's pleas, Jor-El and Lara realize that Krypton will die and they'll soon lose their son, and Dru-Zod can barely bear his frustration over being captured and sentenced, yet he acknowledges that Jor-El was right about the Council.

James Gunn's Superman highlights the titular hero's concern about minimizing collateral damage, with David Corenswet's Superman even taking the time to save an individual squirrel while battling a fire-breathing kaiju. Twelve years before, Man of Steel's destructive final battle divided audiences, as Henry Cavill's Superman seemed to be oblivious of the damage done to Metropolis during his battle with Zod.

On the flip side, Superman's near-cataclysmic fight with Zod from Man of Steel shows what a superhero battle would actually look like in real life. Thousands of people would die a tragic death trapped in the rubble, and Superman would have to prioritize ending the threat before saving individual people.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice only improves what Man of Steel established in regard to Metropolis' Black Zero event. Apart from the on-screen victims of the catastrophe, off-screen onlookers witness their offices and homes crumble with loved ones still inside. The DCEU's attention to detail is key in its accurate depiction of a history-defining event that could have been brushed off as a simple action sequence otherwise. Superman's first DCEU battle completely upends the world's perspective..

While it's quite action-packed, Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel dedicates most of its screentime to exploring Superman’s fears and doubts. Henry Cavill's Superman hesitates to reveal himself to the world, burdened by Jonathan Kent's warnings about humanity’s potential reaction.

As a result, Snyder's Man of Steel can stand alone as an origin story with a complete emotional arc while also logically explaining why Cavill’s Superman, in later appearances, would carry a heavier, more solemn demeanor compared to traditional depictions. Meanwhile, James Gunn's Superman is accessible to all audiences, but it's better enjoyed if viewers have a firm grasp on DC mythology and understand the comic book origins of its many moving gears.

Hans Zimmer deliberately avoided referencing John Williams' legendary Superman theme for Man of Steel, opting instead for a new identity that reflected Clark Kent’s gradual rise to heroism. Tracks like “Flight” capture the awe of Superman’s early days, while “Krypton Destroyed” and “Arcade” emphasize the film’s epic scope. . Listening to each track evokes every scene without needing to see a frame of the movie.

James Gunn’s Superman intentionally reuses and remixes parts of the classic John Williams theme. This decision honors Superman's movie origins, but it also limits the 2025 movie's originality. While the score adds new leitmotifs to flesh out every character and sequence, Superman's central musical identity is still anchored to an earlier cinematic era.

Zimmer’s Man of Steel score feels like an emotional companion to the film, rather than an accessory. It captures Clark’s journey from uncertainty to acceptance with a swelling, percussive force that aligns perfectly with every other audiovisual element in the movie. That level of narrative musicality allows Man of Steel’s score to stand on its own as a unique piece of art.

. Every takeoff triggers a sonic boom, the camera shakes, and Superman's cape and body react dramatically to his sudden stops and changes in direction in the middle of battle. Even after Superman masters this power, Man of Steel continues to emphasize the physical intensity of his movements. And of course, Hans Zimmer’s soaring score complements these moments perfectly.

Superman's flight moments in James Gunn’s Superman are also spectacular, but they take a narrative backseat. Gunn's Superman spends more time showcasing Superman’s creative fight moves and his interactions with other heroes. While Superman's flight is still powerful, it’s treated as a familiar ability rather than an in-universe wonder. After all, Superman's exploration of his Kryptonian powers must have happened within the three years between his first public appearance and the events of the movie, or even before that.

Man of Steel's General Zod could have easily come across as a standard evil antagonist, but Michael Shannon infuses the villain with visible anguish and desperation. Zod is not a conqueror by personal ambition, but a product of Kryptonian genetic engineering, which he couldn't change even if he wanted to.

Despite his rigid sense of duty, General Zod genuinely embraces his role as Earth's destroyer. Zod's hatred for Jor-El and Kal-El is a personal grudge he holds on top of his life’s singular purpose. And when he realizes that there's no possibility of winning, Zod's realization that he no longer has a reason to exist is visibly painful. Like Heath Ledger's Joker and Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin, Zod is undeniably malevolent, yet Shannon also conveys moments of deep personal torment.

Michael Shannon's nuanced performance also reframes Superman’s controversial decision to kill Zod. In 's climax, Superman recognizes that Zod is following the only purpose he knows, meaning that there’s no peaceful resolution. Zod’s cruelty is hardwired into his very being, which justifies ’s heartbreaking choice to end his life. To play a monster of a villain with no possibility of redemption and still convey complexities in a high-octane superhero movie is a feat few actors can boast.