Supergirl film underperforms at box office, draws mixed reviews

The 2026 DC Studios release Supergirl, starring Milly Alcock as Kara Zor‑El, opened worldwide on June 26. With a reported $170 million production budget and about $120 million spent on marketing, the film needed roughly $300 million to break even. It earned $37.1 million in North America and $62.6 million worldwide in its opening weekend, far below expectations, and analysts estimate a potential loss of $100 million‑$125 million for Warner Bros.

Critical response was mixed. Reviewers praised Alcock’s performance and the supporting cast, including Jason Momoa as Lobo and Matthias Schoenaerts as Krem, but faulted the uneven tone, under‑developed villain, and a bleak colour palette that departed from the bright aesthetics of the source comic "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow". Some commentators linked the film’s struggles to broader challenges for female‑led superhero movies and to narrative choices that moved focus away from the original material.

The studio attempted unique promotional tactics, such as QR codes giving free copies of the comic and limited‑edition steel‑book releases, but these were insufficient to sway box‑office results. Former Supergirl actress Helen Slater publicly praised Alcock, calling her "astonishing" and "fierce". Despite the flop, DC Studios confirmed that Alcock will reprise Supergirl in the upcoming sequel Man of Tomorrow (summer 2027), signalling continued confidence in the character within James Gunn’s new DC Universe.