Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why did critics and fans object to the darker Superman films of the 2010s?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Christopher Reeve as Superman in a blue suit with red cape and yellow belt, flying with one arm forward against a dark background in a publicity still from Superman: The Movie. — Superman Christopher Reeve in *Superman* (1978), directed by Richard Donner.

Critics and fans objected to the Superman films of the 2010s, such as Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, primarily due to their "grim" tone and dark depiction of the character.1

While the films were commercially successful, they faced significant criticism for departing from the traditional portrayal of Superman as a hopeful, optimistic hero—often characterized as a "big blue Boy Scout"—that had defined the character in the public consciousness for generations. This shift toward a darker, more somber aesthetic was viewed by many as inconsistent with the core essence of the hero. In contrast, later efforts, such as the 2025 Superman directed by James Gunn, have explicitly aimed to restore the levity and humor that critics felt were missing from the 2010s iterations.1