Is Superman VS. “Israel”? The Movie Everyone’s Talking About

DC’s new Superman movie has soared past $217 million globally, but it’s the film’s storyline, not just the box office numbers, that’s sparking worldwide debate.

The plot centers on Boravia, a technologically advanced, militarized nation invading its weaker, under-resourced neighbor Jarhanpur, which receives limited aid from a Western power. It’s a fictional setting but many viewers see a clear real-world parallel: "Israel" and Palestine.

Across social media and opinion pieces, audiences point to:

• Scenes of military occupation, drone strikes, and civilian resistance in Jarhanpur, echoing Gaza under siege.

• The portrayal of Boravia as a brutal, self-righteous occupier, with advanced weaponry and propaganda, drawing comparisons to how critics frame "Israeli" military actions.

• Jarhanpur’s underdog fight for survival, painted with emotional weight and moral clarity, which many interpret as a pro-Palestinian resistance narrative.

While director James Gunn insists the film is "a story about morality, hope, and kindness" and not a political statement, he also acknowledged to The Times (UK) that “some people will take offense,” knowing how viewers draw their own meanings.

As The Times of India reports, critics from pro-"Israel" groups have labeled the film “dangerously biased,” while many pro-Palestine advocates are celebrating it as mainstream cinema finally reflecting resistance.

Intentional or not, the movie has ignited a global conversation about art, allegory, and the politics of power, all under the cape of the world’s most iconic superhero.