‘Supergirl’ Lands One of the Lowest CinemaScores in DC Film History
The DCU’s second major theatrical release has arrived in cinemas, and for a franchise that desperately needed to build on last year’s momentum, the audience verdict is raising some uncomfortable questions. ‘Supergirl,’ directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, is the second film in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s rebooted DC Universe, following a character introduced via cameo at the end of last year’s ‘Superman.’ With high expectations placed on Milly Alcock’s debut as the Kryptonian hero, the film hit theaters carrying both the weight of a beloved source comic and the pressure of sustaining a fledgling franchise.
The film is an adaptation of the acclaimed 2021 to 2022 comic book miniseries ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ by Tom King and Bilquis Evely, which Gunn described as a “big science fiction epic” exploring a more “hardcore” version of Kara Zor-El than had ever been seen on screen before. That ambition carried real promise, especially after Alcock made such a sharp impression in her brief appearance in ‘Superman.’ The film’s cast also includes Matthias Schoenaerts as villain Krem of the Yellow Hills, Eve Ridley as Ruthye Mary Knoll, and Jason Momoa making his DCU debut as intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo.
As reported by @DiscussingFilm on X, ‘Supergirl’ debuted with a B minus on CinemaScore, which the outlet flagged as one of the lowest CinemaScores ever recorded for a DC film. CinemaScore polls opening-night audiences, making it one of the purest direct measures of whether a general crowd walked out satisfied, and a B minus is a notably soft signal for a major superhero tentpole. The critical climate heading into opening weekend was already tense, with the film holding a rotten 57 percent on Rotten Tomatoes based on 148 reviews, making it the lowest-rated project in the DC Universe by a significant margin and sitting well below ‘Superman’s’ 83 percent.
The near-universal bright spot across reviews has been Alcock’s performance, with critics noting she manages to turn the familiar themes of grief and belonging into something affecting and endearing. The film itself has drawn sharper criticism, with some reviewers pointing to an uneasy tonal split between a quirky space adventure and a grim character study about orphans and trauma, with the two halves failing to mesh in a satisfying way. Many critics consider the film a middle-of-the-road comic book adaptation let down by a disappointing villain and a main narrative that falls somewhat flat, despite Alcock crafting a standout version of the titular hero.
The box office picture adds further pressure. ‘Supergirl’ earned $7.8 million in Thursday previews domestically and $13 million globally, well behind the $22 million ‘Superman’ pulled in previews during its own debut last summer. The film carries a production budget of $170 million, not including worldwide marketing expenses, and is projected to open around $47 to $50 million domestically from 3,600 venues. The film’s break-even point has been estimated at $315 million worldwide, after accounting for its net budget and excluding marketing costs.
DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran appear to be playing a longer game with Alcock, positioning her as one of the pillars of the DCU alongside David Corenswet, with the actress set to reprise her role in the 2027 Superman follow-up ‘Man of Tomorrow.’ In that sense, the B minus CinemaScore may sting, but it does not necessarily close the door on Kara Zor-El’s future in this universe. The character is in, whether this particular film wins over crowds or not. Still, for a franchise that just two summers ago appeared to have cracked the superhero formula, ‘Supergirl’ arriving with this kind of audience reception is a conversation worth having, and we want to know where you stand: did ‘Supergirl’ earn a better grade than a B minus in your eyes, or did the film leave you equally cold?
