James Gunn’s 2025 Superman reboot has caused a lot of discussion, embraced by many as a modern, humanistic take on Superman, while also being deemed “anti-Israel” by some.
The film is about Superman stopping a war between Boravia, which is a heavily armed, military state, and Jarhanpur, which is a poorer, besieged country. The image of soldiers in a line against unarmed civilians behind fences bears very close resemblance to conflicts over the years (in Israel/Palestine as one of many) and led multiple viewers to interpret Boravia as Israel and Jarhanpur as Palestine.
In one pivotal moment, Lois Lane claims Boravia’s statement, stating they are eliminating a threat, while Superman comments that saying you are not someone else’s oppressor does not mean you are not an oppressor yourself. The above dialogue has contributed to audiences believing the film has a clear moral stance on state violence and occupation, with Superman showing solidarity with oppressed communities.
Viewers on social media, who commented on this film appeared to take it a step further of what they saw as the films “bold” message- what they saw as “explicit” condemnation of military aggression.
Others argue, the film’s story is universal and is not meant to mirror any specific political reality. Show-runner James Gunn has claimed that the film simply references Superman’s origins as an immigrant, and desire to protect innocent lives, no matter the politics. According to Gunn, the story is meant to evoke empathy and moral clarity, not to make targeted criticism.
Whether that is a political statement or a universal call for justice, the new Superman film is facilitating conversations about how superhero films engage with global conflict- and asking audiences to consider where their heroes should stand.
