Superman (2025) Christian Review: Are Hope and Justice Enough for Your Kids?
- Layne McDonald
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
You're sitting in the theater lobby, tickets in hand, wondering: "Is this actually okay for my kids?" I get it. Movie nights should build your family up, not leave you scrambling to explain away content that doesn't align with your values. The good news? The 2025 Superman reboot gives Christian families a lot to work with: but it also leaves some important gaps you'll want to fill in during the car ride home.
Let's break down what you need to know before you press play.
Christian Safety Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 Stars)
Content Breakdown:
Language: 3 mild profanities (no F-bombs or taking God's name in vain)
Violence: Moderate superhero action (punching, city destruction, no blood/gore)
Sexual Content: None
Frightening Scenes: Intense battle sequences may scare kids under 8
Spiritual Elements: Superhero mythology without explicit Christian parallels
Bottom Line: Safe for ages 10+ with minimal parental guidance. Younger kids (7-9) can watch with a parent ready to reassure during loud action scenes.

What Makes This Superman Different
Director James Gunn did something unexpected: he stripped away the Christ-figure symbolism that's defined Superman for decades. No crucifixion poses. No resurrection imagery. No divine mission from the heavens.
Instead, we get a Superman who grows into his goodness through choice: not because he's destined to save humanity, but because he decides, moment by moment, to do the right thing even when it's hard.
And honestly? That's a conversation starter Christian parents shouldn't skip.
The Good: Hope and Justice You Can Build On
This film nails something crucial for kids: virtue isn't automatic, even when you have superpowers. Superman doesn't swoop in with all the answers. He stumbles. He questions whether saving people will even matter. He has to choose compassion over cynicism: over and over again.
One scene captures this perfectly: mid-battle, while buildings crumble and enemies close in, Superman stops to gently move a puppy out of harm's way. It's a small moment, but it teaches kids that kindness isn't just for when it's convenient. It's for the chaos, too.
The film's tagline shifted from "Truth, Justice, and the American Way" to "Truth, Justice, and the Human Way": emphasizing universal values like mercy, self-sacrifice, and hope. Those are Biblical concepts, even if the movie doesn't name God as their source.

What's Missing: The Foundation That Holds It All Together
Here's where Christian parents need to step in: this Superman grounds his morality in human virtue, not divine purpose. He's good because he chooses to be, not because he reflects the character of a good God.
That's the gap.
The film presents hope and justice as admirable human achievements: which they are: but without connecting them to the God who defines what hope and justice even mean. It's like handing your kid a compass without teaching them true north. The tool works, but only if you know what it's pointing toward.
As one reviewer put it, this Superman feels like "a good moral teacher" without the deeper question: Why is goodness worth fighting for when the world keeps breaking?
The Bible answers that. This movie doesn't.
Four Discussion Starters for the Ride Home
Use this film to build your kids up with real-world application. Here's how:
1. "Why do you think Superman keeps choosing to help people, even when it's hard?"
Listen to their answers, then connect it to Philippians 2:3-4: choosing others' interests above our own because that's how Jesus loved us first.
2. "Superman saved that puppy in the middle of a battle. When have you seen someone show kindness when it wasn't easy?"
Help them recognize everyday heroes (teachers, siblings, friends) who reflect God's love in small, faithful ways.
3. "The movie says Superman fights for 'the human way.' What do you think that means? How is it different from God's way?"
This is your chance to gently point them toward the truth: human effort is beautiful, but it's incomplete without God's grace and purpose behind it.
4. "If you had Superman's powers, what's one thing you'd do to help people?"
Then flip it: "You don't need superpowers to make a difference. What's one way you can show Jesus' love this week?"

The Bigger Picture: Meeting Your Kids Where They Are
Here's what I love about this version of Superman: it doesn't demand perfection. It shows a hero learning, course-correcting, and growing: one choice at a time. That's a message kids (and parents) desperately need.
Because let's be honest: most of us don't feel like superheroes. We feel like we're fumbling through, trying to do the right thing and hoping we don't mess up our kids in the process.
This film says, "Start where you are. Choose good today. Then wake up and choose it again tomorrow."
That's discipleship in disguise.
The beauty of viewing every person: including your kids, including yourself: as a priceless child of God is that it removes the pressure to be perfect. Jesus didn't wait for us to get it all right before He loved us. He met us in the mess and said, "I'll walk with you from here."
Superman (2025) won't preach that truth, but it gives you a wide-open door to teach it.
Practical Takeaways for Christian Families
Use this film as a springboard, not the destination.
It celebrates hope, justice, and compassion: all Biblical values. But those values only make sense when rooted in a God who IS hope, who defines justice, and who showed us what sacrificial love looks like on a cross.
Don't skip the post-movie conversation.
Ask questions. Listen more than you talk. Let your kids wrestle with the gaps the film leaves open, then point them gently toward the truth that fills those gaps.
Celebrate the good without baptizing the incomplete.
This Superman isn't Christ. He's not supposed to be. But he can remind your kids that choosing goodness matters: and that the ultimate source of that goodness is the God who made them.

Final Verdict: Worth Watching with Context
Superman (2025) is a solid family film. It's visually stunning, emotionally engaging, and morally sound: even if it stops short of the full Christian worldview. It won't replace your family devotions, but it can enhance them.
The real question isn't, "Is this movie Christian enough?" It's, "Will I use this as an opportunity to build my kids up and point them toward Jesus?"
That's where the real heroism happens: not in a movie theater, but in the quiet moments afterward when you help your kids see that hope and justice aren't just nice ideas. They're gifts from a God who loves them beyond measure and calls them to reflect that love in a broken world.
One movie night at a time. One conversation at a time. One choice at a time.
Stay Updated: Follow this blog for more Christian movie reviews, parenting insights, and faith-driven content. New posts drop every week to help you navigate media with confidence and grace.
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You've got this, parents. Let's build up the next generation: one thoughtful movie night at a time.

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