The spectacle of Superman has soared into theaters with a solid Midwestern backdrop, as James Gunn's latest superhero blockbuster prominently features the state of Ohio, sourcing cinematic inspiration from across Cleveland and Cincinnati. According to ABC 6 On Your Side, the Cincinnati Museum Center stood in for the Hall of Justice, while the Lytle Tunnel added to the urban landscape of the film. Union Terminal's distinctive facade, a beloved Cincinnati landmark, was easily spotted by local viewers, with one Jackson Vetter commenting on the thrill of recognizing their city in the big production, "It's so good."
Ohio's commitment to the arts and entertainment sector showed its clout with an $11 million tax credit that helped draw the production to its cities, a nudge that did not go unnoticed by local economies and moviegoers alike, the storytelling was infused with real-world locations Progressive Field became the Metropolis Meteors' baseball stadium and Cleveland's public spaces found new life as the city center of Metropolis. As WLWT reports, Director of the Ohio Department of Development Lydia Mihalik spoke on the film's homage to Ohio's creativity, "This film brings our past and future together on the big screen and invites the whole world to be part of something iconic."
In joining the local celebration, Clevelanders flocked to theaters such as the Cinemark in Valley View, where 35 showings were available on opening Friday alone. Cleveland's architecture wasn't just a backdrop; it played a starring role, and fans took notice. Film critic Matt Thomas told Cleveland 19, "It’s awesome to see Cleveland in the light that we’ve seen it in -- it’s all over the film," rewarding the film with a high score of 8 out of 10. Local fans, like Phil and Niki Tilicki, even traveled from Arizona to Ohio just to watch the film in the city it celebrates.
The superhero film has hit a sweet spot for Ohioans, intertwining regional pride with blockbuster entertainment, bringing locals an immersive cinematic experience unique to their home state while simultaneously cementing Ohio's place on the motion picture map, and while critics like Matt Thomas are singing its praises other fans like Bruce from Solon and his wife were captivated by the film’s connection to Cleveland seeing it as topping the list of Superman films. As Parker explained in her interview with ABC 6 on Your Side, the movie encapsulates more than just the typical summer blockbuster hype: "It was fantastic. I got chills, the music, the cinematography, all of it."
