The DCEU was not the shared universe that Warner Bros. hoped to create to counter Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe. They got greedy, dark, edgy, and, most importantly, impatient. After a string of poor decisions, it imploded, leading to James Gunn being hired to restart it rather than continue Zack Snyder’s “Snyderverse” of stories and characters. I was sad to see Henry Cavill no longer playing Superman, but James Gunn is one of the most talented directors working today, and the early signs looked promising. And wow—this is how you start a new superhero movie franchise.

This time, the origin story is kept simple. By the time we meet Kal-El on screen, he has already been Superman for three years. Not all of those years have been perfect successes, either. This isn’t some radical reinterpretation of Superman—he still fights for “truth, justice, and the American way”—but he’s portrayed as a flawed hero. Despite being an alien, he’s human at heart and doesn’t always think through the consequences of his actions, especially when he takes matters outside of Metropolis.

There are plenty of villains in this film, but Lex Luthor is easily the main threat. As always, he has no superpowers, but his brilliance and cunning make him a dangerous adversary. Nicholas Hoult is remarkable in the role under Gunn’s direction. I’m sure Jesse Eisenberg had to cringe in shame when he saw this performance—if he even watched it—because Hoult’s take is leagues better than Eisenberg’s widely criticized version.

The film also delves into the politics of Superman’s existence. He’s viewed as a foreigner once the public learns he’s not from Earth. Much like Ned Stark from Game of Thrones, Superman’s heart is in the right place, but his political naïveté leaves him vulnerable to powerful enemies who could doom him to a miserable life—or worse.

Rachel Brosnahan delivers a fantastic performance as Lois Lane. I hadn’t seen any of her work before, but she’s a perfect fit for the role. I love Amy Adams, but her Lois, with that striking red hair, never fully felt right to me. I was also surprised by how much attention fans gave to Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant of the Daily Planet. The internet seems obsessed with her, mainly because she dresses classy and has some “jiggle.”

This is also the film where Superman takes one of his worst beatings ever—and that’s a good thing. Superman shouldn’t be untouchable except for the occasional piece of kryptonite. Often, fans argue he can defeat anyone, which can make him dull. But here, even though I knew he wouldn’t die, I genuinely feared for him in several moments—and that’s a fantastic feeling in a superhero movie.

New allies also step up to help Superman during crucial moments. These team-up scenes often feel cheap and forced in superhero films, but here they work surprisingly well. The only weak link for me was Hawkgirl, who felt underdeveloped, but she could shine more in a future film. Nathan Fillion was excellent as Guy Gardner of the Green Lantern Corps, and Edi Gathegi delivered a strong performance as Mister Terrific.

This might be my favorite Superman movie ever. James Gunn has already proven himself with superhero films, but this one rivals—and in some ways surpasses—his Guardians of the Galaxy movies. Disney made a mistake firing him, and DC smartly took advantage of the opportunity. The movie runs two hours, but I would have gladly watched another hour if it maintained the same level of quality. If you love anything related to Superman, you need to see this in theaters. It’s very close to being a masterpiece, which spells trouble for Kevin Feige’s MCU as it continues its downward spiral.