The Enduring Quest to Define Superman on Screen
Since his first appearance in 1938's "Action Comics #1," Superman has been a cultural icon representing truth, justice, and the American way. Yet filmmakers and television producers have continuously wrestled with how to portray the Man of Steel, balancing his inherent goodness with audience expectations for complexity and edge.
Early Portrayals: The Noble Crime Solver
In his initial screen adaptations, Superman embodied straightforward heroism. The Fleischer Studios cartoons of the 1940s presented him with clean lines and broad shoulders, performing incredible feats of strength without delving into psychological depth. This tradition continued with George Reeves's "Adventures of Superman" television series beginning in 1952, where the character stood hands on hips as a symbol of unwavering virtue.
Even in a 1957 "I Love Lucy" episode, writers attempted to inject humor into the character when Superman quipped about Lucy's husband enduring fifteen years of marriage: "And they call me Superman!" This early gag signaled the beginning of efforts to humanize the seemingly perfect hero.
The Humanistic Turn: Christopher Reeve's Legacy
The 1978 Richard Donner film marked a significant shift in Superman's portrayal. Christopher Reeve, a Juilliard-trained actor, approached the role with Shakespearean seriousness while making Clark Kent deliberately nerdy and relatable. Reeve hunched his shoulders and created a stuttering, nervous persona for Kent, telling the New York Times that "there's some of him in all of us."
This humanistic interpretation flourished during the 1970s era of character-driven filmmaking. Reeve located Superman's humanity not just through Clark Kent's awkwardness but through the genuine romantic tension with Lois Lane, played by Margot Kidder. This approach made Superman more accessible to audiences who wanted more than a cardboard cutout hero.
The Cynical Era: Superman as Threat or Joke
As national innocence waned in subsequent decades, Superman's portrayal grew darker and more complex. Television shows like "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" and "Smallville" explored his romantic relationships and teenage years, blending superhero tradition with teen drama sensibilities reminiscent of "Dawson's Creek."
More recently, Superman has vacillated between two extremes: nearly terrifying in his power or laughably naive. Henry Cavill's portrayal in Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel" (2013) presented a violent, potentially dangerous figure whose unlimited power could be frightening. Meanwhile, animated series like "Harley Quinn" (2019) turned Superman into an overly confident dope, highlighting how the character had become ripe for parody.
The Snyder films, part of the DC Extended Universe's attempt to compete with Marvel, emphasized spectacle and destruction over traditional storytelling. This version of Superman reflected an America that no longer seemed to need a straightforward hero, removing warm and cuddly aspects in favor of brooding intensity.
The Hopepunk Revolution: James Gunn's 2025 Interpretation
James Gunn's 2025 blockbuster "Superman" starring David Corenswet represents the latest evolution in this ongoing character exploration. Rather than trying to make Superman edgy or dark, the film embraces what some might consider his lamest qualities as his greatest strengths.
Corenswet's Superman isn't just dorky as Clark Kent; his entire personality radiates corniness, as evidenced when Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) teases him about his musical taste. He's physically powerful but wins battles through genuine love for others rather than brute force, even featuring a cute dog sidekick.
The film falls into the "hopepunk" genre—a science fiction and fantasy subgenre celebrating optimism in the face of oppression that gained popularity during the first Trump administration. Gunn literally underscores this theme by ending the movie with Superman's smiling face as Iggy Pop's "Punkrocker" plays, with lyrics declaring "I'm a punkrocker, yes I am."
This interpretation argues that Superman's golly-gee spirit represents radical defiance in a world full of villains, making optimism itself a revolutionary act. The film suggests that being intensely hopeful might be the most subversive move of all.
The Enduring Question: Who Should Superman Be?
Throughout Superman's screen history, creators have grappled with fundamental questions about the character's nature. Should he be relatable or exist on a higher plane representing humanity's best qualities? Should his power comfort or frighten us? Is he inherently cool or fundamentally dorky?
Unlike Batman with his tragic backstory or Spider-Man with youthful verve, Superman has always been something of a square—a challenge for writers seeking contemporary relevance. From George Reeves's noble crime solver to Christopher Reeve's humanistic hero, from Henry Cavill's threatening figure to David Corenswet's hopepunk revolutionary, each interpretation reflects the era that produced it.
The character's evolution demonstrates how popular culture continually reimagines iconic figures to address contemporary concerns and anxieties. As entertainment continues to evolve, so too will our understanding of what Superman represents—whether as boy scout, moody teen, Christ-figure, violent threat, cuddly protector, or punk optimist.
