How tall is Superman, really?

Quick Overview

David Corenswet's true height is calculated to be 6 ft 3.2 inches to 6 ft 3.4 inches, contradicting his claimed height of 6'4", based on analysis utilizing the circadian variation in human stature, known reference objects like street barricades, and photographic metadata.

Key Points: David Corenswet claimed a height of 6'4" (193 cm) in a Vanity Fair lie detector test segment. Internet detective Shane Fan initially calculated Corenswet's height to be 6'2" and 4/5ths (approx. 6'2.8") using a street barricade of a verified 43.75 inches as a reference object. The video creator re-analyzed a second photo from Corenswet's appearance on the Today Show (taken around 9:15 AM - 9:15:15 AM GMT) which had better posture and reliable reference objects. Accounting for circadian height variation (losing about 1.1% of total height after waking up), the creator calculated Corenswet's height at 2:00 PM to be 6 ft 3.2 inches. Extrapolating the height curve backwards to the moment he wakes up (his tallest point), the expected height is near 6 ft 3.5 inches. The final conclusion places Corenswet's height in a range of 6 ft 3.2 inches to 6 ft 3.4 inches, confirming he is shorter than his claimed 6'4".

Context: This video investigates the true height of actor David Corenswet, who was recently cast as Superman. The investigation begins by referencing Corenswet's claim of being 6'4" made during a Vanity Fair lie detector test segment, which is then scrutinized using physical measurement techniques and analysis of photographic evidence, specifically accounting for natural variations in human height throughout the day (circadian rhythm).

Detailed Analysis

The investigation into David Corenswet's height starts by referencing his claim of being 6'4" during a Vanity Fair lie detector test, which was immediately flagged as a lie by the test itself (0:08). The video then shifts to analytical work by 'Internet detective Shane Fan,' who used a street photo where Corenswet stood next to steel barricades, which Fan identified as a specific model measuring 43.75 inches high (0:17-0:28). Shane calculated Corenswet's height based on this reference to be 6'2" and 4/5ths (0:22). The video creator then critiques this measurement, noting the barricades might not be the exact model and that Corenswet's posture in that photo was not fully upright (1:07-1:12). The creator then uses a second photo, taken on the same day after Corenswet's appearance on the Today Show (around 9:15 AM), which featured better posture and confirmed camera metadata (Canon R5, 50mm lens) (1:30-1:38). By applying scientific data on circadian variation in human stature—which shows people gain height while sleeping and lose up to 1.1% while awake (1:56-2:06)—and correcting for lens distortion, the creator calculates a height of 6 ft 3.2 inches at 2:00 PM (1:48). Extrapolating back to his tallest point upon waking, the expected height is about 6 ft 3.5 inches. This places Corenswet in a final confidence range of 6 ft 3.2 in to 6 ft 3.4 in, contradicting his 6'4" claim.