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Ever wonder what music Superman listens to? You can now stream his playlist on Spotify
July 3, 2025
James Gunn has imagined the mixtapes of the Man of Steel and other characters. The Superman director partnered with Spotify to curate character playlists for each major figure in his upcoming DC reboot, including Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and even The Engineer.
In a short video announcing the playlists, Gunn called the project “the most fun I’ve had all year.” Known for crafting hit soundtracks, the most famous being from Guardians of the Galaxy, which became one of the best-selling soundtracks ever, Gunn has a gift for using music to shape his characters. Here, he leaned into the inner lives of Superman’s ensemble to create playlists that feel wildly distinct.
“I had to really think about who they were as people and imagine what kind of music they’d be into,” Gunn explained. “Lois and Clark have a conversation about music in the movie, so I already knew where they were. Other people I had to kinda come up with.”
The mixtapes of Metropolis
Clark Kent’s playlist feels like a warm hug from the 2000s, packed with hopeful anthems and nostalgic pop-punk energy. Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ sits alongside All Time Low’s Dear Maria, Count Me In and The New Radicals’ You Get What You Give, channeling Clark’s Smallville optimism.
Lex Luthor’s playlist is, unsurprisingly, a little more cerebral and menacing. Radiohead’s Everything in Its Right Place, Serge Gainsbourg’s Requiem pour un con, and Prince’s Controversy create a soundscape for a mind that’s always three moves ahead.
Eve Teschmacher’s playlist is pure chaotic fun. Gunn described it as “a bunch of girl pop that I find really listenable,” and it’s easy to hear why. Taylor Swift’s ME!, Olivia Rodrigo’s good 4 u, and Ariana Grande’s No Tears Left to Cry make up an irresistibly catchy high-energy mix.
And then there’s The Engineer, whose playlist might be the boldest of the bunch. It’s loaded with experimental electronic and moody textures, from Burial’s Archangel and Röyksopp’s The Fear to SOPHIE’s glitchy masterpiece Faceshopping. The result is hypnotic and otherworldly.
Gunn has hinted that more playlists are to come, with characters like Lois Lane and Green Lantern expected to be added later.
The playlists are live now on Spotify for anyone curious about the sound of Superman’s world.
