“Superman Doesn’t Steal allows us into that rarefied space of a Black child’s imagination where flight and fearlessness play. It reminds us capes are worn by mothers and fathers and that love, complicated, but abiding love is the letter-chested hero.” — Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
In a cinematic landscape brimming with superhero blockbusters, Tamika Lamison’s Superman Doesn’t Steal dares to ask a profound question: What if a superhero’s greatest act isn’t saving the world, but saving a single soul? Her direction balances the intimate and the universal, weaving an emotional tapestry that lingers long after the credits roll. Her ability to draw nuanced performances from her cast highlights her strength as a storyteller attuned to the subtleties of human experience. In this powerful short film, Lamison swaps the spectacle for substance.
Through the lens of intimate storytelling, Lamison crafts a narrative as small in scale as it is monumental in heart. With stunning visuals and deeply nuanced performances, this short film resonates far beyond its runtime, exploring the profound intersections of heroism, identity, and humanity. Tamika Lamison has crafted a film that doesn’t just tell a story — it starts a conversation. With its focus on integrity, choice, and identity, Superman Doesn’t Steal is a timely reflection of our collective struggles and aspirations.
At its core, Superman Doesn’t Steal redefines what it means to be a hero in today’s world. In a time when global narratives emphasize grandiose actions, this short film invites us to consider the quieter moments of heroism — the ones rooted in morality, connection, and integrity. It’s a film that speaks to the challenges we all face — moments when the world isn’t watching, and the choice to do the right thing becomes a test of character.
Lamison deftly incorporates themes of trust, sacrifice, and the weight of expectations through a lens that feels both universal and deeply personal. The film challenges viewers to rethink how they define good and evil, offering a commentary as timely as it is timeless.
By focusing on grounded, real-world struggles, Superman Doesn’t Steal connects deeply with audiences across cultures, particularly within underserved communities. It offers representation that feels authentic and necessary in a genre often dominated by familiar archetypes.
Based on true events and set during the 1970’s Atlanta Child Murders, Superman Doesn’t Steal is a coming-of-age story, seen through the eyes of young comic book-loving siblings who experience a troubling series of events that cause them to grow up fast and redefine their definitions of heroes, villains, Superman, and themselves.
The short is written, directed and produced by Tamika Lamison, produced by Chris Beal, Carol Ann Shine, and Dominique DeLeon, and stars Ellis Hobbs IV, Jordyn McIntosh, Tamika Lamison, and Mustafa Shakir. The movie has a running time of 19 minutes.
In an increasingly polarized world, Superman Doesn’t Steal reminds us of the power of individual choices and moral clarity. It’s a film that transcends the boundaries of genre, offering not just entertainment but a meditation on what truly makes us human. Superman Doesn’t Steal is currently competing for Live-Action Short Film for the 97th Oscars.
