How Superhero Movies are Inspiring People in 2025

This year, two superhero movies came out that revived interest in both of their franchises. Those being Superman (2025) and The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025). Both films had a unique take on their comic book franchise counterparts that made them exciting to watch on the big screen after fans had been wanting a more comic-book-accurate depiction in the films. Even many non-fans have gained a newfound interest in these franchises after watching the lighthearted and much less gritty films. Personally, I had a blast watching these films, and it is interesting to see the effects they had on pop culture and people’s actions. Let's dive into some of the ways these movies have inspired people.

The message of Superman (2025) has inspired people and resonated with many. Superman being about hope, being kind, and humanity struck a chord. One critic said: “It's the most human Superman I've seen. Clark is often vulnerable, emotionally and physically. How that complements the film's themes on ‘kindness is punk rock’ had me on the floor” (Source: Rotten Tomatoes). 

Similarly, the sincere and more comic style of The Fantastic Four: First Steps also left audiences with a smile. According to another critic, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps leaves you feeling good and eager to revisit this wonderful world that Shakman has crafted. It’s inspiring and idyllic and offers the kind of cynic-less sincerity that we desperately need in our own world” (Source: Rotten Tomatoes).

Superman (2025) and The Fantastic Four: First Steps have inspired many memes, such as Lex Luther’s 1A scene, where he instructed Ultra Man to pummel Superman. This scene was both humorous and intense, which makes it understandable as to why it was made into a meme. Another meme it inspired was the scene where Lex Luthor baits Superman into raging because he took Krypto the superdog, and says, “ugly dog with red cape” under his breath. For The Fantastic Four: First Steps, it inspired the resurgence in popularity with older memes, such as the “Say that again” meme, where the name of something is said in a casual, unassuming manner, then asked by someone to “say that again”. Another example is the meme of the Fantastic Four holding up four fingers from the cover of  Fantastic Four Issue 554, released in 2008. 

It also seems these movies may have inspired people to get back into buying comics. Jetpack Comics (@JetpackComics) wrote on X: “We've had billion-dollar comic movies drop and didn't see a soul in here looking for comics to go along with it. But since [James Gunn]'s Superman dropped, it's been non-stop. Single issues, collected editions, action figures. You name it. Superman is cool again”. 

In personal experience, it has inspired me to start buying comics again, too. I hadn’t bought comics in months, but after seeing Superman (2025), I wanted to go straight to the local comic store and get some! According to Google Trends, the Google search “Fantastic Four” reached its highest ever since 2004 in July 2025, and the term “Fantastic Four Comics” reached the 2nd most it's ever been searched at the same time. 

Personally, these movies have inspired me to start getting back into drawing superhero art, and months of continuous drawing have rekindled my passion for art. The messages of these films also inspire my desire to help others, and according to friends I’ve spoken to, it has done the same for them as well. 

Next year, Supergirl (2026) and Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be released in theaters. Supergirl (2026) is directed by James Gunn and is based on the comic Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow, and it will be about Supergirl dealing with the destruction of her planet. This movie sparks excitement among the DC fanbase because there hasn't been a Supergirl movie since 1984. Spider-Man: Brand New Day has a new director, Destin Daniel Cretton, instead of the last director of the Tom Holland movies, and will deal with the aftermath of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Spider-Man: Brand New Day has fans excited for the more comic-book-accurate suit, which some believe was lacking in the past Marvel movies.