‘Supergirl’ Finds a Second Life on HBO Max as the Movie Hits #1 in Several Countries

“Supergirl” may not have taken off at the box office, but the DCU movie is getting a very different kind of victory on streaming. After a disappointing run in theaters, the Milly Alcock-led superhero movie has quickly climbed the HBO Max charts, showing that its theatrical performance may not tell the whole story about how audiences feel about it.

The movie began streaming on HBO Max on September 10, just around eleven weeks after its theatrical release. According to tracking service FlixPatrol, “Supergirl” is currently the second most-watched movie on HBO Max worldwide and has reached number one in 23 countries. That is a big change from its time in theaters, where the movie struggled to attract a large audience and finished with around $126.4 million worldwide.

The weak box office was a major problem for the film, especially because “Supergirl” arrived at an important point for the new DC Universe. James Gunn and Peter Safran are still building their shared universe, and every new project is being watched closely to see if the new plan can actually work. “Superman” had given the studio a strong start, so expectations were high for the next big DCU movie. Instead, “Supergirl” opened to $37.1 million in North America and ended its domestic run with about $62.6 million.

The movie also had a mixed response from viewers and critics. “Supergirl” currently has a 53 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes from 373 reviews, while its audience score is somewhat better at 72 percent. Those numbers help explain why the movie struggled to become a major theatrical hit, but its streaming performance suggests that some people may simply have preferred waiting to watch it at home. The lower cost and easy access of streaming can give movies a second chance, especially when audiences are curious about a film they skipped in theaters.

The story also has plenty going for it for DC fans. Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, “Supergirl” takes inspiration from Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s “Woman of Tomorrow” comic. The movie follows Kara Zor-El, played by Milly Alcock, as she travels through space on a personal revenge mission. She is joined by Ruthye Marye Knoll, played by Eve Ridley, while David Corenswet returns as Superman and Jason Momoa appears as Lobo.

The streaming numbers could also be good news for Alcock. Her version of Kara is still new to the DCU, and her first major solo appearance did not get the theatrical response Warner Bros. wanted. However, the strong HBO Max numbers show that viewers are willing to give the character a chance. Alcock is already expected to return in “Man of Tomorrow” in 2027, so the movie’s second life could be important for how fans see her future in the franchise.

The timing may have helped as well. “Supergirl” arrived on HBO Max on the same day the second season of the animated series “Krypto Saves the Day!” premiered. Since that show is connected to the world of “Supergirl,” viewers who discover one project have another easy way to stay in the same corner of the DC Universe.

Peter Safran has previously defended the wider strategy behind the movie, treating its theatrical run as only one part of a bigger plan. Based on the FlixPatrol numbers, that approach may be looking smarter now. While streaming success cannot erase a disappointing box office result, it can give a movie a second chance to build a fan base.

For “Supergirl,” that second chance is already looking promising. The film went from one of the DCU’s more disappointing theatrical releases to one of HBO Max’s biggest movies across multiple countries. It may be too early to say what this means for the future of the franchise, but one thing is clear: “Supergirl” has found an audience, and this time, they are watching from home.

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