On the distant planet Krypton, scientist Jor-El discovers that his world is doomed to destruction. In a bid to save his infant son, Kal-El, Jor-El sends him to Earth in a small spacecraft. Kal-El's ship crash-lands in a rural American field, where he is discovered by Jonathan and Martha Kent. The Kents adopt the boy, naming him Clark, and soon realize he has extraordinary powers including super strength and invulnerability. As Clark grows, he learns of his alien heritage and develops a strong moral compass. After the death of his adoptive father, Clark embarks on a journey to discover his true purpose. He travels north, where he finds a crystal from his spacecraft that leads him to the Fortress of Solitude. There, he communes with the recorded consciousness of Jor-El and learns about his abilities and responsibilities.

Clark moves to Metropolis, a bustling city, where he takes on the guise of a mild-mannered reporter for The Daily Planet newspaper. He works alongside the intrepid reporter Lois Lane, to whom he is immediately attracted, and photographer Jimmy Olsen. However, he must maintain his secret identity while feeling a growing desire to use his powers for the greater good. Meanwhile, the criminal mastermind Lex Luthor is devising a catastrophic plan that threatens millions of lives, and the emerging hero must confront the challenge. As the peril escalates, he must balance his dual identity, grappling with his human emotions and the weighty expectations of his Kryptonian legacy.