Superman (2025) Ending Explained: What Really Happened to Ultraman, Lex Luthor, and the Justice Gang?

Spoiler Warning: Major spoilers for Superman (2025) ahead.

James Gunn’s Superman ends with a black hole threatening Metropolis, Lex Luthor’s biggest secret exposed, and a very good dog doing what dogs do best: causing absolute chaos. But beneath the superhero spectacle is a bigger question: does Superman’s Kryptonian heritage define him, or do his choices?

Here’s how the ending connects Ultraman, Lex Luthor, and the Justice Gang.

Why Does Lex Luthor Create Ultraman?

Ultraman initially appears to be the Hammer of Boravia, a powerful fighter capable of defeating Superman. During the final confrontation, Clark discovers the truth: Ultraman is a clone of Superman created by Lex Luthor.

Lex uses the clone as a weapon and a way to study Superman’s abilities. Unlike Clark, Ultraman isn’t a compassionate hero guided by human values. He’s a controlled weapon built to help Lex destroy the person he hates.

During the battle, Superman and Mister Terrific fight Lex’s forces while a dangerous dimensional rift threatens the city. With Krypto’s help, Superman defeats Ultraman and sends him into the black hole beneath the rift. The film doesn’t show Ultraman surviving, so his fate appears final.

Why Does Lex Luthor Hate Superman So Much?

Lex’s hatred isn’t simply about stopping a dangerous alien. It’s also about envy.

Superman possesses extraordinary power, yet people admire him because he chooses to help others. Lex, a wealthy and intelligent human, believes that humanity should fear Superman rather than trust him.

Lex even engineers the conflict between Boravia and Jarhanpur to manipulate public opinion and create an opportunity to eliminate Superman. His actions reveal that his campaign against the hero is driven by ideology, jealousy, and a desire for control.

When Superman confronts him, Clark argues that being human is about compassion and choices—not where someone was born. Lex refuses to accept the lesson, and Krypto gets a memorable moment of his own by overpowering the billionaire. Lex is eventually arrested after his crimes become public.

What Happens to the Justice Gang?

The Justice Gang proves that Superman doesn’t have to save everyone alone. Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, and Mister Terrific each play a crucial role in the final crisis.

• Mister Terrific helps Superman escape Lex’s pocket universe and ultimately closes the dimensional rift threatening Metropolis.

• Green Lantern and Hawkgirl help stop Boravia’s invasion of Jarhanpur.

• Metamorpho, who helps Superman escape captivity, joins the fight and earns an invitation to the Justice Gang.

Hawkgirl takes a much harsher approach than Superman when dealing with Boravia’s dictator, showing that these heroes don’t all share the same moral code. Their teamwork saves lives, but their differences make the group more interesting than a simple superhero team-up.

How Is Superman’s Name Cleared?

Lex tries to destroy Superman’s reputation by broadcasting a message from Clark’s biological parents, Jor-El and Lara. The recording appears to instruct their son to conquer Earth and continue Krypton’s bloodline.

The revelation shakes Clark because it challenges everything he believes about his origins. However, his adoptive father, Jonathan Kent, reminds him that his identity comes from the choices he makes—not a message recorded by people he never knew.

Meanwhile, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and the Daily Planet team expose Lex’s secret deal with Boravia. The truth comes out, Lex is arrested, and Superman’s reputation is restored.

What Does the Ending Mean for the DC Universe?

The ending establishes compassion as the foundation of this new Superman. He refuses to become the conqueror Lex expects, even after learning that his biological parents may have wanted something very different for him.

The film also introduces Supergirl, who arrives at the Fortress of Solitude to collect Krypto. Her appearance teases a wider DC Universe beyond Superman’s own story.

Final Thoughts

Superman (2025) ends with Ultraman defeated, Lex exposed, and the Justice Gang proving its worth. But Clark’s biggest victory isn’t defeating a clone or stopping a black hole. It’s choosing to remain kind when his own origins give him reasons to doubt himself.

That’s what makes him Superman—not his powers, but what he chooses to do with them.