The newly revealed length of 2025's Superman just shattered a previous DC record. Coming to theaters on July 11, not only is Superman James Gunn's first film in his new DC Universe, but it's also a first for the Man of Steel's cinematic franchise.
New reports suggest Superman, starring David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, will span 122 minutes. Not only does this make James Gunn's film the shortest non-sequel Superman movie in the franchise's history, but it's also the second-shortest Superman movie overall with the first being 1987's Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.
For comparison, the following is a list of previous Superman movies and their runtimes:
- Superman: The Movie - 143 minutes
- Superman II - 127 minutes
- Superman III - 125 minutes
- Superman IV: The Quest for Peace - 90 minutes
- Superman Returns - 154 minutes
- Man of Steel - 143 minutes
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - 152 minutes
In addition to being one of the shorter entries for the iconic comic book hero, 2025's Superman differs from the original Christopher Reeve's movies in that Corenswet's Last Son of Krypton will exist in a world that's already familiar with superheroes. Furthermore, writer and director James Gunn abandoned one beloved element of Henry Cavill's Superman in pursuit of a different and lighter tone.
Other changes audiences can expect in this record-breaking Superman reboot is the presence of Krypto the Superdog, the comic book robots at the Fortress of Solitude, and the fact that this film is not an origin story. In fact, Clark Kent and Lois Lane are already dating in the film with Brosnahan's heroine seemingly aware of her romantic interest's superhero identity.
Is 2025's Superman Too Short?
It's possible that Superman's biggest antagonist is its off-screen expectations. Granted, tackling such an iconic character in a way that pleases audiences is already a massive undertaking, but the stakes are even higher for the 2025 reboot.
Fan reaction to replacing Henry Cavill with the unknown David Corenswet was mixed, and the July film is James Gunn and Peter Safran's new DC Universe debut. If Superman fails to succeed with audiences, it could hurt the duo's subsequent projects and their vision. There's also the reality that the summertime film will have stiff competition with Jurassic World Rebirth arriving in theaters on July 2 and The Fantastic Four: First Steps releasing on July 25.
The fact that Superman is only 122 minutes may be concerning for some fans as, again, this film takes place in an already established world with various characters and lore. It's possible that certain figures and storylines could feel rushed or underserved.
However, this is far from James Gunn's first superhero film, and as his Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy illustrated, he knows how to juggle multiple characters while introducing audiences to a new world and style. So, whether 2025's Superman is too short is a question that only its execution can answer; and as the film hurdles towards its July release, fans won't have to wait much longer to find out.
Find out how James Gunn responded to criticism of his Superman movie here!
Superman arrives in theaters on July 11.
