‘Superman’ Has Already Fallen Short of the MCU’s 94% Rotten Tomatoes Revolutionary Franchise-Starter in One Important Way

Reviews for Superman are finally out now, and fans have already begun comparisons to superhero films from various eras. James Gunn’s debut DCU film has soared out of the gate with a strong “certified fresh” 87% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but it still falls short of the MCU in one major way. This 87% — which is subject to change, but still comes from 105 reviews at the time of writing — falls below the 94% earned by the original Iron Man on Rotten Tomatoes. Gunn, Peter Safran, and other DCU studio heads are certainly hoping that Superman can launch a franchise with the same success that Iron Man did, and although it falls slightly short of the 2008 MCU film, this likely won’t hinder its ability to do exactly that.

There are also a few caveats to consider when comparing Superman’s score to the original Iron Man. The bar for superhero movies at the time Iron Man was released was much lower than it is now. Fans have since been treated to the entire MCU, which culminated in major event films like Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. It’s impossible for reviewers not to factor this curve into reviews nowadays — if Iron Man were released in 2025, it might receive a lower score, and if Superman premiered in 2008, it might earn a higher score. Still, there’s no definitive way to tell. For now, comic book movie fans can rejoice knowing that the reception to James Gunn’s first movie under the DCU banner is broadly well-liked by critics, enough to earn the fabled “certified fresh” label that all films strive for.

Who Stars in the New ‘Superman’ Movie?

David Corenswet takes over the role of Clark Kent/The Man of Steel from Henry Cavill in Superman, and Lois Lane will now be portrayed by Rachel Brosnahan instead of Amy Adams. Wendell Pierce has taken over as Perry White in favor of Laurence Fishburne, with Nicholas Hoult also assuming the villainous mantle of Lex Luthor, previously played by Jesse Eisenberg. Alan Tudyk, Michael Rooker, Pom Klemtieff, Skyler Gisondo, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Frank Grillo, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, and Will Reeve will also star in Superman. James Gunn wrote and directed the film, with the late Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster receiving credit for their work creating Superman.