Superman has been interpreted musically throughout the years in lots of different ways. Being a symbol of hope, you would think that all the music representing the character would sound hopeful, but actually, that’s not the case. An outlier is the “Man of Steel” soundtrack, which, like the movie it is a part of, is much more about the heroism and power of Superman. The latest offering in Superman (2025) sticks a lot closer to hope as the central theme. So how are they different and how are they similar, and which take is more effective in my opinion?
Well, let’s start with the similarities first. For this comparison, I will use the main “Flight” theme by Hans Zimmer for Man of Steel and “Theme from Superman” by John Murphy & David Fleming. They start with two identical notes, which I think is fascinating. It’s almost like these two notes and their relationship to each other sound objectively like superman or exist as a universal truth, and then the themes diverge in their interpretations. The two notes in question here are C and G. Together, they form a very consonant and stable sound. Setting a foundation for the themes.
Hans Zimmer’s composition evolves into a huge-sounding orchestra paired with distorted slide guitars, and the goal here is to focus on the power of Superman: The ultimate savior that will persevere against all odds. The main melody starts high and comes down gradually as the intricate rhythms of the string section build up the tension. It delivers that power in a stellar way.
On the other hand, John and David’s version (after paying homage to the John Williams theme) has more of a unified sound where all the instruments are supporting one gigantic singable melody. Mirroring the hope and awe that Superman inspires in us. As if all these instruments were a huge crowd of people singing in harmony and unity for a better world.
These are two pieces of music with different themes, and even though they are about the same character, they can’t really be compared because they set out to achieve different goals artistically. That being said, though, for me personally, 2025’s “Theme from Superman” takes the cake and just hit the mark emotionally because it’s not about the power of the savior, it’s about the empowerment of the collective for the good of humanity, which is a much more potent message in my humble opinion.