Superman – Superman and Lois Lane kissing

In James Gunn’s Superman (2025), one of the most breathtaking and romantic moments comes when Superman and Lois Lane kiss while floating in the air, locked in an embrace. The sequence takes place in the heart of Cleveland, inside the Cleveland Arcade (also known as the Arcade Cleveland).

This isn’t just a random location. The Arcade, with its soaring iron framework and vast glass skylight, creates an atmosphere of elegance and timeless beauty. The Victorian-era building, inaugurated in May 1890, is historically significant as the first indoor shopping mall in the United States. The Arcade’s grand interior makes the kiss scene visually unforgettable: sunlight streaming through the glass ceiling bathes the couple in a warm glow, emphasizing the theme of love and hope that runs throughout the film.

The choice of this location reflects the filmmakers’ desire to ground Superman’s story not only in spectacle but also in history and heritage. By placing such an intimate scene in one of Cleveland’s most recognizable landmarks, the film connects its characters’ emotions to a real-world place that audiences can actually visit.

Cleveland as Metropolis

Cleveland is more than just a filming backdrop – it has a deep connection to Superman’s origins. The Man of Steel was created here in the 1930s by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two local teenagers who dreamed up the world’s first superhero while living in the Glenville neighborhood. Bringing Superman back to his birthplace for the 2025 movie gives the city a chance to shine in a way it never has before.

The city’s architectural richness was one of the major reasons Cleveland was chosen to represent Metropolis. Its historic downtown buildings, including the Cleveland Arcade, the Leader Building, and Public Square, provide the kind of grand, timeless backdrop that a story about Superman demands. Instead of relying entirely on CGI, the filmmakers embraced the authenticity of real structures, grounding the fantasy in places with history and character.

Another factor was Ohio’s 30% tax incentive for filmmakers, which has turned Cleveland into a hot spot for major productions. But unlike previous superhero films—such as Marvel movies that often depicted Cleveland as a stand-in for New York during destructive battle sequences—Superman takes a different approach. Here, Cleveland isn’t a city under attack but a city celebrated, framed as a place of hope, progress, and beauty.

By using Cleveland as Metropolis, James Gunn pays tribute both to Superman’s roots and to the resilience of the city itself, making the Arcade kiss scene not just a romantic highlight but also a proud moment for Cleveland.

Behind the Scenes & Architectural Trivia

The Cleveland Arcade is a marvel of 19th-century engineering. Built in 1890 with the support of wealthy Cleveland investors including John D. Rockefeller, it was designed by architects George H. Smith and Charles F. Schweinfurth.

• The structure consists of two nine-story buildings connected by a five-story glass atrium.
• Its arched skylight of glass and steel stretches 300 feet, flooding the space with natural light.
• When it opened, the Arcade was nicknamed “Cleveland’s Crystal Palace.”

After more than a century of use, the building underwent a major renovation in 2001, which restored its historic ironwork, glass roof, and ornate details, while also incorporating modern facilities. Today, it remains a vibrant site with shops, restaurants, and the Hyatt Regency Cleveland hotel.

In the film, the decision to stage Superman and Lois’s kiss here highlights the Arcade’s romantic aura. The couple floats gracefully beneath the skylight, echoing the sense of elevation and lightness that the architecture itself embodies.

How to Visit

For fans eager to see this cinematic landmark in person, visiting the Cleveland Arcade is both easy and rewarding:

• Address: 401 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44115.
• Accessibility: Located right in downtown Cleveland, just steps from Public Square. The site is easily accessible via the Greater Cleveland RTA public transit system.
• Nearby Attractions: Combine your visit with other Superman filming locations, such as the Leader Building (used as the Daily Planet exterior), Public Square, or even catch a baseball game at Progressive Field.
• Today’s Atmosphere: Beyond its film connection, the Arcade is still a lively public space where you can shop, dine, or simply enjoy the architecture. Its sweeping balconies, ornate ironwork, and the famous glass ceiling make it a photographer’s dream.

Walking through the Arcade, it’s easy to see why it was chosen for such a pivotal scene—it’s one of those rare places where history, beauty, and storytelling all come together.

Symbolism of the Scene

Superhero films often climax in massive battles that leave cities in ruins. But in James Gunn’s Superman, one of the most powerful moments is not about destruction, but about love, intimacy, and hope.

The choice of the Cleveland Arcade is symbolic:

• Its glass roof lets in light, turning the kiss into a moment literally bathed in brightness.
• The building itself represents resilience and renewal, having survived for more than a century and undergone a major restoration in 2001.
• By placing Superman and Lois in this setting, the film suggests that hope and beauty are not found in tearing down cities, but in lifting them up.

In many ways, the kiss at the Arcade is a statement of intent: Superman isn’t just a warrior or a savior; he is a symbol of compassion, humanity, and love. And Cleveland—his birthplace—becomes part of that symbol.

This moment transforms an architectural landmark into a cinematic icon, ensuring that the Arcade will forever be remembered as the place where Superman and Lois shared their most unforgettable embrace.