An alien among humans, Superman carries the weight of the world while navigating a society that sees him as an outsider. Beneath the cape, he is more than a hero; he is a mirror for anyone who has ever struggled to belong.
The new Superman (2025) film pulls back the curtain to reveal the politics of belonging, showing that heroism is not just about strength or courage, but about being allowed to exist as you are. It sheds light on the millions of immigrants in America who have built this country and are still shunned by society and ignored by the government.
Clark Kent’s story begins with a family’s act of defiance. His adoptive parents raised him in secret, hiding his identity from the world that would destroy him if it knew the truth. They sacrifice everything for his safety, just as countless immigrant parents sacrifice their homes, their language, and their sense of familiarity for the chance to give their children a future. Their love is not reckless or naïve. It is survival.
As Pa Kent reminds Clark, “Your choices. Your actions. That’s what makes you who you are.” The same courage that drives Clark’s parents to protect him drives millions of parents to cross borders and face danger for the simple hope of a better life.
James Gunn, the director, has said, “I mean, Superman is the story of America. An immigrant who came from other places and populated the country, but for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost.” His words underline that this film is not just a superhero story; it is an immigrant story, reflecting real struggles and sacrifices.
For those born into privilege, the idea of breaking the law for a child may seem unnecessary. It is easy to believe that there is always a “right way” to come to America, but for many families, there is no safe or accessible path; they risk everything because the alternative is hopelessness.
In the film, Clark’s parents live in fear that someone will find out who he truly is. A similar fear affects immigrant households across the country. Parents teach their children how to stay quiet when someone knocks on the door, how to avoid attention, and how to live unseen. Belonging becomes a dream, not a right. Immigrants who want to give their children a better life in America are not reckless. They are parents.
It is not a crime to want to give your children a better life, even through unconventional means, as immigration can be the only option. Ayush Chaudhary, a sophomore at Danbury High School, talks about how the film changed what it means to be American for him in today’s society.
Chaudhary says, “I think the film helped me realize that you don’t have to be American to be American. You can be from anywhere, and so long as you embody the spirit of America, you’re American. It’s not just about your legal status [either].”
Millions of immigrants in the United States, some seeking asylum and others living in the shadows as undocumented workers, face constant scrutiny, hostility, and the threat of deportation.
Families are separated, communities are destabilized, and people who contribute to the economy and culture of the country are still treated as outsiders. Recent government actions make this reality even clearer.
In January 2025, the Laken Riley Act mandated detention without bond for non-citizens charged with certain crimes and gave states the power to sue the federal government over enforcement failures. The law reinforces the message that some people’s right to exist here is never assumed.
Policies like this reveal that in America, belonging is conditional and exclusion is legally enforced. Superman’s story mirrors the experiences of immigrants whose lives are regulated, monitored, and threatened despite their contributions.
Adrian Villavicencio, a junior at Danbury High School, explained that the film reflects the experiences of immigrants in the United States and how they face the same discrimination and lack of respect as Clark Kent does.
“Immigrants came to the US and built it up with their bare hands, yet they are being deported and are treated poorly. Immigrants are a major part of America, and they do the jobs we won’t do. Imagine how [stagnant or less developed] the world would be without their help,” says Villavicencio.
In one of the film’s most moving moments, Superman listens to a recording from his birth mother saying, “Hope vitalizes our love.” That hope keeps immigrant families alive, too, the hope that their children will belong in ways they never could.
Some critics have called the film “too woke” or accused it of pushing a political agenda, but Superman (2025) is not about politics. It is about the real experiences of millions of people in America who are told every day that they do not belong. Clark Kent’s story shows that heroism is not just about strength or courage; it is about being seen, being accepted, and being allowed to exist. His story is not only a superhero story. It is the story of immigrants.
“I am as human as anyone. I love, I get scared. I wake up every morning, and despite not knowing what to do, I put one foot in front of the other, and I try to make the best choices that I can. I screw up all the time, but that is being human, and that’s my greatest strength.” (Superman, 2025)
