Warner Bros. and DC Studios were hoping Supergirl would continue the momentum generated by last year’s Superman. Instead, the comic-book adventure has opened well below expectations, debuting with just $38 million domestically and roughly $68 million worldwide, a disappointing start for a film carrying a reported $170 million production budget. Industry analysts now expect the movie to finish its theatrical run at a significant loss unless it shows remarkable staying power in the weeks ahead.
Directed by Craig Gillespie from a screenplay by Ana Nogueira, Supergirl stars Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin, alongside Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Corenswet and Jason Momoa. Inspired by Tom King’s acclaimed Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic, the film follows Kara as she embarks on a galaxy-spanning quest for vengeance after befriending a young girl whose father is murdered by a ruthless warlord.
Reviews have done little to boost word of mouth. The film currently sits in the mid-50s on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising Alcock’s committed performance while finding fault with the screenplay and uneven execution. Variety’s Owen Gleiberman described the film as “a cosmic slog,” while other reviewers argued that the emotional core never fully comes together despite its ambitious scope. Even favorable reviews have singled out Alcock as the movie’s strongest asset.
The road ahead only becomes more difficult. Pixar’s Toy Story 5 continues to dominate theaters after another strong weekend, while Universal’s Minions & Monsters arrives this week with family audiences squarely in its sights. Warner Bros.’ superhero film will also have to compete for premium-format screens and consumer attention as the crowded summer release calendar continues.
For DC Studios, the disappointing debut represents an early setback in its long-term franchise plans. Unless Supergirl can generate stronger word of mouth over the coming weeks, its theatrical run is likely to be remembered less for launching a new hero than for the difficult battle it faced in one of the year’s most competitive box-office corridors.