One of the year’s biggest blockbusters has landed. Superman, James Gunn’s relaunch of DC’s flagship hero with David Corenswet in the cape, has finally hit cinemas, promising a hopeful new chapter for superhero movies and for DC Studios itself.
At first glance, things look triumphant: the film is sitting at an impressive 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, a figure that suggests near-universal critical approval and a film worth racing to see on the biggest screen possible.
But here’s where it gets strange, because if you actually look at what critics are saying, that sky-high score doesn’t quite match the mood.
A 3/5 rating – which many outlets class as “fresh” – carries the same weight on the Tomatometer as a five-star rave. It’s a system that can blur nuance, but with Superman, that blur has never felt more apparent.
Across multiple publications, the phrase “3/5” keeps popping up. Metro, in its own review, describes having a “mixed” reaction, while the BBC likens the film to an “eccentric sci-fi B-movie” even as it acknowledges the fun in Gunn’s irreverence.
The Financial Times calls it “scanty and overstuffed” while praising the central cast. None of this sounds like a film that’s widely adored.
Instead, what’s emerging is a picture of a film that many critics, including The Standard’s own Martin Robinson, think is mediocre at best. Most agree it’s messy, cluttered and not quite the triumphant return some fans may be expecting. It’s the definition of a 3/5 movie: enjoyable in places, but with clear issues.
However, on Rotten Tomatoes, all those 3/5 reviews get swept up into the “fresh” category, helping boost that 85% into something that looks, at a glance, like a critical consensus of near-excellence.
Meanwhile, some negative reviews haven’t even made it onto the platform yet, while duplicate uploads of positive reviews can artificially inflate a film’s score. It’s not a conspiracy – just the imperfect reality of how the aggregator’s system works.
But in a case like Superman, it can create a disconnect between perception and reality. That reality is that Superman may not be the flawless saviour of the superhero genre.
While Corenswet is winning praise for his hopeful, kind-hearted portrayal, and Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane is described as sharp and engaging, there’s criticism of the film’s overstuffed plot and heavy reliance on cameos, with some suggesting that it struggles to let Superman breathe in his own film.
The introduction of the Justice Gang adds colour and energy but also leaves the film feeling busy rather than bold. In many ways, this is the trade-off of the current superhero movie landscape.
There’s a hunger for lighter, more optimistic stories after years of increasingly dark comic book fare, but there’s also a pressure to set up universes, crossovers and spin-offs that can weigh down what might otherwise be a cleaner narrative.
Superman appears to be caught in the middle of these competing demands.This doesn’t mean the film isn’t worth seeing, especially for fans who have been longing for a Superman who embodies hope and positivity.
There’s clear enjoyment to be had, and some critics have praised its charm and pace. But if you walk in expecting an instant classic based on that high Rotten Tomatoes score, you may walk out feeling puzzled about the disconnect.
The lesson? Aggregators like Rotten Tomatoes are helpful, but they’re not the whole truth.
Superman’s big number doesn’t mean the film is being hailed as a masterpiece, just that most critics found enough to like to tip their verdict over the “fresh” line – even if they still left the cinema with reservations.
Superman is in UK cinemas now, and it’s likely to spark plenty of debate among fans and critics alike. Just don’t be surprised if what you see on the screen doesn’t quite match the score you saw online.
