James Gunn Wants Us to Watch Superman in 3D

James Gunn has seen the final 3D cut of Superman, and according to him, it looks "just incredible." He even posted on Bluesky, encouraging fans with a "taste for 3D" to check it out that way. Which raises the question… are we really doing this again?

Because let's be honest: 3D movies in 2025 feel like finding a DVD in a bargain bin labeled "premium format." It's a leftover from that short-lived era after Avatar when everyone thought plastic glasses and eye strain were the future of cinema. Spoiler: they weren't.

Yes, Avatar made a compelling case for 3D, and a handful of movies since then genuinely benefited from the format—Gravity, Life of Pi, Hugo, The Walk, maybe Tron: Legacy if you saw it in IMAX. But most studios took the lazy route, slapping on post-converted 3D for extra ticket revenue, with all the visual charm of looking through a dirty windshield.

Now Gunn's all-in on it. But here's the catch: Superman wasn't shot in native 3D. Like most modern releases, it's been converted after the fact. And that's where the problems creep in—dimmer images, flatter colors, and that weird depth effect that turns crowd scenes into a stack of cardboard cutouts.

There's also the not-so-small matter of the glasses. They dull brightness, kill contrast, and mute the cinematography—none of which helps when you're trying to showcase the visuals of a massive, tentpole superhero reboot.

For many viewers, 2D still offers the clearest, most faithful version of a film—especially one that wasn't built with 3D in mind. You get the lighting, color, and sharpness the filmmakers actually intended. You also don't leave the theater with a mild headache.

That said, some folks are thrilled Gunn's promoting 3D at all.

As one fan put it, "This is the first and only decision of his on Superman I've agreed with."

They even pointed to the Aquaman films as examples of great 3D—though not everyone shares that nostalgia.