The new Superman movie released on 11 July 2025 has become a box office success but also sparked major controversy. Directed by James Gunn, the film earned ?33.6 crore in India and over $270 million worldwide. However, political leaders and audiences in Israel are upset, claiming the movie shows an indirect and unfair comparison to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

In the film, two fictional nations are shown: Boravia, a rich, white, US-backed military power and Jarhanpur, a poorer non-white region, separated by a fence. Boravia invades Jarhanpur, targeting civilians while Superman comes to their rescue.

Audiences across the world are now drawing parallels: Boravia appears to represent Israel, while Jarhanpur seems like Gaza. With the US backing Boravia in the film, critics say it mimics real-life geopolitics. Superman is portrayed as supporting Jarhanpur, which many feel aligns him against Israel.

Israeli citizens and supporters voiced outrage on social media. They said the film ignores the 7 October Hamas-like attacks and paints a one-sided image. Some even said it’s ironic that Superman, originally created by Jewish creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, is now shown criticizing a Jewish state.

The director defended the film, saying it was written before the current conflict began and that the story is entirely fictional. Still, doubts remain.

Interestingly, the movie’s impact isn’t just political. After the film was released, internet searches for dog adoptions skyrocketed, thanks to Superman’s pet dog, Krypto. Searches like “Adopt Dog Near Me” rose by 513%, proving that movies can strongly influence public sentiment.

But this also raises a serious question: Can fiction shape real-world views? And if a Hollywood movie ever reversed roles, showing India as a villain and Pakistan as a victim, how would we react?

As global opinions shift, one thing is clear: superhero movies aren’t just fun anymore. They’re powerful cultural tools.

Tags

• superman movie
• israel palestine
• gaza

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