Superman not only had the difficult task of telling an amazing stand-alone story starring one of the world's most recognizable heroes, but also of launching an entire interconnected universe of projects across movies, animated series, live-action shows, and even video games. Fortunately, the film managed to succeed in both aspects, as it has a stellar story that makes its protagonist soar high, while also delivering many easter eggs and secrets that give us a small hint of what's to come in the DCU.
There are many references for superhero fans to spot in Superman. Some of them are innocent comic book nods, while others act as unexpected character appearances that took audiences by surprise. So we've gathered every single one we could find, and now is the perfect time to break them down. Here are the best Superman easter eggs and cameos:
*** Warning: There will be mild spoilers ahead for Superman ***
Every easter egg hidden in Superman
Gods and Monsters: The very first reference comes within seconds after Superman begins (pun intended). The opening text lets audiences know that the first metahumans and superpowered beings appeared on Earth three centuries ago, unleashing an era of Gods and Monsters. Well, wouldn't you know it, but James Gunn and Peter Safran also named the first chapter in the new DCU "Gods and Monsters".
Dupree Chemical: Lex Luthor reunites with key figures of the US Government and tries to persuade them to let him deal with the "Superman problem". In order to do that, Lex reveals that he created an all-powerful metahuman called Ultraman that could fight any threat. Meanwhile, footage of this devilish new creation plays in the background, and audiences watch it lift a container truck with its bare hands. Well, the container has a Dupree Chemical logo on its side, which is a fictional DC company that first appeared in Justice League Quarterly No. 1, 1990.
Big Belly Burger: Would it really be a DC project without a Big Belly Burger easter egg? The restaurant chain has appeared in comic book pages, the CW DC series, in the video game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and now in the new iteration of the DCU. When a big kaiju is destroying Metropolis and Superman shows up to fight it, you can spot a Big Belly Burger billboard ad at the top of a background building.
Zesti Cola: Just like we can spot a Big Belly Burger billboard when Superman and the Justice Gang fight against the giant kaiju, we can also see a Zesti Cola ad. This soda drink has appeared multiple times in comic book pages, and characters such as Dick Grayson really seem to enjoy it.
LordTech Corporation: When the Justice Gang first shows up to battle the kaiju, a TV news commentator reveals that the supergroup is funded by the LordTech Corporation. You can even spot the company's headquarters multiple times in the city's background. So why is this important? Because the LordTech Corporation is run by famous DC villain Maxwell Lord (who was one of the main antagonists in Wonder Woman 1984). And let me tell you that this won't be the only time we'll hear about him in the movie.
Stagg Industries: After Superman discovers the truth of why his parents sent him to Earth, he enters a building and takes a moment to process everything before the Justice Gang goes to talk to him. Well, this wasn't any random building, as it's really the headquarters of Stagg Industries — a corporation run by the antagonistic figure Simon Stagg. And wouldn't you know it, but Simon's daughter, Sapphire, actually appears in the movie, acting as Metamorpho's romantic interest, much like in comic book pages.
The Superman crew: When Jimmy Olsen checks all the contacts saved in his phone, we see multiple names that reference the crew and staff who worked on Superman. For instance, one of the names is Nadia Paine, who acted as the unit production manager for the movie. Another example is that of Mary Shriner, who worked in the art department.
Hall of Justice: I never expected the first DCU movie to feature the Hall of Justice, but here we are. As previously mentioned, the Justice Gang is funded by Maxwell Lord, which means they have access to a technologically advanced (and very comic-book-accurate) headquarters that will surely come in handy in the future. The Justice League is definitely coming, and it's just a matter of figuring out when.
A fourth Justice Gang member? I wasn't sure whether to include this entry in the list or not, as I spotted the easter egg too late and couldn't make out who it was referencing. But it's worth pointing out that inside the Hall of Justice, there's a portrait of the three Justice Gang members: Mister Terrific, Guy Gardner, and Hawkgirl. However, there was another person with them, but I wasn't fast enough to figure out who it was. Could it be a hint towards a fourth Justice Gang member?
Gotham: During Superman's third act, there's a mass evacuation from Metropolis, as the city is literally being split in half. There's a blink-and-you-miss-it shot of multiple cars speeding through the highway, and in it, you'll see a sign that points towards the direction of Gotham City. You know, the same place that's protected by the Caped Crusader himself. Thanks to Creature Commandos, we know there's a version of Batman already patrolling the streets, so it's just a matter of time before we figure out more about him.
Green Lantern Corps: Guy Gardner had an important role to play in Superman. As such, it isn't a surprise that he explicitly mentions the Green Lantern Corps multiple times and references the oath he took to become a Lantern. Fortunately, this won't be the last we ever see or hear about this group, as the Lanterns TV show was officially announced by DC.
Belle Reve: After the dust settled and Lex Luthor's plans were foiled, it's mentioned that the villain will be taken to Belle Reve, which is a maximum-security prison in comic book pages. Interestingly enough, this place has also acted as Task Force X's headquarters and even appeared in both theatrical Suicide Squad movies.
Every cameo in Superman
Kara Zor-El / Supergirl: After everything's set and done, Lex Luthor is incarcerated, and Superman goes back to the Fortress of Solitude, audiences finally discover who Krypto's true owner is. Turns out, Clark was merely taking care of his cousin's dog while she was busy partying on other planets. That's right: Supergirl herself makes a brief cameo in Superman before starring in her own stand-alone movie next year.
Jennifer Holland: When Krypto first takes Superman to the Fortress of Solitude, we discover he has multiple robot assistants. Well, director James Gunn confirmed that one of them is voiced by his wife, Jennifer Holland, who also portrays the role of Emilia Harcourt in DC's Peacemaker.
Peacemaker: We all loved to hear Peacemaker make fun of Batman, and now it seems like he has found another perfect target. After the truth behind Superman's parents is revealed, audiences will be treated to a rather funny cameo. Peacemaker himself appears on the news and talks about how he personally dislikes the red and blue Boy Scout.
Sapphire Stagg: After Metamorpho managed to escape Lex Luthor's pocket dimension, he went back home to his girlfriend. While her name is never explicitly mentioned, we can assume she's Sapphire Stagg — the superhero's romantic interest in comic book pages. Sapphire appears in a single scene, but if Metamorpho truly joined the Justice Gang, then we could expect to see more of the pair in future DCU installments.
Maxwell Lord: After Lex Luthor's true plan was exposed on television, a news channel cuts to Maxwell Lord saying how everybody hates Lex. Max is played by Sean Gunn, who is the brother of director James Gunn. His character is set to make a comeback in the second season of Peacemaker, which isn't surprising considering he helped found the Justice Gang, who are also making an appearance in the upcoming TV series.
Angela Sarafyan and Bradley Cooper: Last, but certainly not least, Kal-El's parents are portrayed by none other than Angela Sarafyan and Bradley Cooper. These versions of Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van are a bit more cynical than we're used to, but this twist allowed for Superman's character to find a purpose beyond that which he was told as a kid.
Those are all the easter eggs, references, and cameos we were able to find in Superman! Did we miss some? Let us know on our social media pages on Bluesky, Instagram, and Twitter. And stick around with Bam! Smack! Pow! for everything superhero-related.