Truth, Justice, and...

Hero Image

Title

Truth, Justice, and...

Subhead

By Ben Elliott

Body Block 1

“Truth, justice, and the American way.”

It’s one of the catchphrases most associated with Superman, though, for most of his nearly 90-year history, there has been a lingering unease with that last part — just what, exactly, is “the American way”?

The phrase — which was an invention of the radio serials of the 1940s and fully entered the zeitgeist as part of the George Reeves-starring television series of the 1950s — evolved over the years, with different adaptations swapping out “the American Way” for “freedom,” “peace for all mankind,” and “stuff.” In 2021, DC Comics officially changed the motto to “Truth, justice, and a better tomorrow," aligning it with their global storytelling lens.

Superman: The Movie, 1978

These changes hint at a widening gulf between Superman and the American identity. As the American mood has steadily darkened, Superman — invented by sons of Jewish immigrants who wrote him as a superpowered activist taking on corrupt businessmen and other Depression-era criminals — has held onto his hopeful outlook.

Superman, 2025

Director James Gunn taps into that inherent optimism in Superman, the latest cinematic adaptation of the character, opening at The Triplex this Friday. By earnestly embracing the weirdness of the comics (this movie has robots, spaceships, and superpowered dogs), Gunn brings a brightness back to the character that reminds you why he exists in the first place.

It’s a Superman fueled by kindness and compassion that shows us what “the American way” once was — and could be again.

Showtimes

Showtimes Freakier Friday | 1:00PM, 3:30PM, 6:00PM, 8:30PM The Life of Chuck | 1:15PM, 4:15PM Highest 2 Lowest | 1:45PM, 4:45PM, 8:00PM The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg | 7:00PM

Marketing Signup

Footer