John Murphy and David Fleming’s score for James Gunn’s Superman doesn’t just rise to the occasion—it soars. This isn’t some paint-by-numbers nostalgia trip through John Williams’ legendary march, nor does it echo the brooding rumble of Zimmer’s Man of Steel. Instead, it lands in that glorious middle space between past and future: bold, reverent, emotionally forward—and absolutely bursting with light. It captures everything I adore about film scoring, especially when it’s wrapped around my favorite hero—hope woven into melody, heroism stitched into every crescendo, and a deep emotional gravity that never lets you forget who Superman is beneath the cape.

Woven throughout the score like a silver thread, Williams’ original theme, updated to be sure, but an unmistakable heartbeat Murphy and Fleming have built upon. 

Themes like ｢Home｣ and ｢Last Son｣ pulse with warmth and wonder. ｢Home｣ is tender and sunlit, a sweeping blend of strings and soft piano that feels like being wrapped in a hug—the ache of belonging, gentle and true. ｢Last Son｣, by contrast, carries the weight of legacy—melancholy, noble, and filled with that quiet, aching loneliness Clark always carries just beneath the surface.

What truly sets this score apart is its ability to balance intimacy with grandeur. The action cues don’t just explode—they dance.They’re precise and purposeful, letting the emotional moments shimmer and shine without ever feeling overstuffed or over-slick. Even in the most bombastic sequences, you can feel the score holding tight to story over spectacle. That kind of musical discipline is rare—and I admire it. 

Murphy and Fleming’s hybrid palette of classic orchestration kissed with subtle electronics adds a contemporary touch without sacrificing the soul. It’s modern, yes, but never cold. This score still has a heart—and it beats loud and proud.

Several tracks stand out as immediate playlist mainstays. ｢The Flight｣, ｢A New Hope｣, and ｢Truth and Light｣ are rich with brass heroics, shimmering strings, and the kind of swelling crescendos that make you want to stand taller, breathe deeper, and maybe even throw on a cape of your own. These moments, more than any other, that you feel what Superman stands for

Now, sure—some fans might wish the score went bigger, louder, brasher. But honestly? That’s what I love about it. This isn’t a score that shouts to be heard. It whispers. It glows. Its confidence is quiet but unshakable. Sometimes the softest themes say the most. The real magic here is in the nuance—in the gentle motifs, the unexpected flourishes, the way a single horn note can carry the weight of a world. It’s a musical reminder that Superman isn’t just a god among men. He’s a man who chooses to be good.

In the end, Murphy and Fleming have done something truly special. They’ve honored the legacy without being bound to it, and they’ve composed a love letter to the character that feels both timeless and brand-new. This score breathes. It rises. And then it flies. Heroic. Heartfelt. Radiant. Exactly the kind of music Superman—and all of us who believe in him—deserve.

You an purchase SUPERMAN on CD, LP, and through digital download.

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