Supergirl is in theaters today, and the reviews are in. The verdict is a familiar one for the DC Universe: there is a genuinely compelling performance at the center of a film that does not fully deserve it.
Milly Alcock, who introduced the character in a brief but memorable cameo in 2025's Superman, steps into the lead role here, and by most accounts she is the best thing in the movie. The film itself sits at 57% on Rotten Tomatoes as of opening day, with critics landing somewhere between "decent enough" and "frustrating missed opportunity" depending on the outlet.
What Critics Are Saying
The throughline across reviews is consistent: Alcock is excellent, the film is not. The Hollywood Reporter's chief critic David Rooney called it "an uninspired slog" while still acknowledging Alcock's "hard-edged performance making her an appealingly punky protagonist." That tension - strong lead, weak vehicle - is the defining note of Supergirl's critical reception.
Critics who responded more warmly to the film tend to focus on its Krypton sequences, which offer the kind of alien world-building that DC films do not always invest in properly, and on the chemistry Alcock brings to the character regardless of the material she is working with.
Critics who responded less warmly point to a generic villain with no memorable motivation, a plot structure that hits expected beats without subverting or elevating them, and a second act that loses momentum at exactly the moment it should be building it.
Director Craig Gillespie - who made the sharp, stylish I, Tonya and the surprisingly effective Cruella - does not seem to have had the same creative latitude here that defined his best work.
Who Is Supergirl in the DCU?
This is only the second feature in James Gunn and Peter Safran's relaunched DC Universe, following the well-received Superman earlier in 2025. Milly Alcock's Kara Zor-El is being positioned as a central figure in the new continuity - a version of Supergirl that Gunn has described as more complicated and less straightforwardly heroic than the classic portrayal.
The film's story involves Kara's arrival on Earth and the tension between her Kryptonian identity and the world she finds herself in. Whether those themes land emotionally depends largely on the viewer's patience with the execution. Alcock makes you care. The screenplay does not always give her the moments the performance is reaching for.
Box Office Projections and the Stakes
Supergirl took in $7.8 million in Thursday night previews, which puts its opening weekend trajectory at roughly $47 million to $50 million domestic. The film carries a $170 million production budget. Industry analysis puts its break-even point somewhere around $315 million worldwide, accounting for the production budget and a marketing spend that Warner Bros. has not disclosed publicly.
A $47-50 million domestic opening, assuming a reasonable global multiplier, makes that target achievable but not comfortable. Superman, for comparison, had a significantly larger opening and a more enthusiastic critical reception. Supergirl does not have the same tailwind.
The film is also opening against Toy Story 5, which is in its second weekend after a record-breaking $160 million debut. Toy Story 5 is projected to earn $80-90 million this weekend. Supergirl will be competing for the same family-adjacent audience in some markets.
Milly Alcock's DCU Future
One question the mixed reception raises is what it means for Alcock's long-term role in the DC Universe. The short answer, per most industry analysis, is: not much. Gunn and Safran have publicly committed to Alcock as Supergirl regardless of how this film performs at the box office, and that position is consistent with how they have handled other early DCU introductions.
The performance itself makes that commitment easy to understand. Whatever reservations critics have about Supergirl as a film, there is broad consensus that Alcock has the presence, the physicality, and the emotional range to carry a superhero franchise. The foundation is there. The right film just needs to be built on top of it.
What Works and What Does Not
To be fair to Supergirl, there is genuine craft on display in the film. The action sequences are well-executed, the visual approach to Krypton is distinctive, and Alcock's performance grounds scenes that the script does not earn on its own. There are moments that suggest what this film could have been with a sharper screenplay.
The villain problem is real though. A superhero film is only as compelling as its antagonist, and Supergirl's primary antagonist fails to leave an impression. They have motivation in the sense that the script explains what they want, but no menace, no specificity, no sense that this particular character could only exist in this particular story.
Conclusion
Supergirl is worth seeing for Milly Alcock's performance alone. She is doing something real in a film that does not fully meet her effort. Whether that is enough to recommend a theater ticket depends on how much you value watching a great lead performance versus how frustrated you get when the movie around it underdelivers. For DCU fans, the Alcock era is clearly going to be something - this just was not the ideal introduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Supergirl 2026 good?
Mixed reviews. Critics widely praise Milly Alcock's performance but find the film itself generic, with a bland villain and an underwritten second act. It currently holds a 57% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Who plays Supergirl in the 2026 movie?
Milly Alcock, best known for playing young Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon.
Who directed Supergirl 2026?
Craig Gillespie, director of I, Tonya and Cruella.
How much did Supergirl cost to make?
The production budget is $170 million. It needs approximately $315 million worldwide to break even.
How much did Supergirl make in previews?
$7.8 million in Thursday night previews, with opening weekend projected between $47 million and $50 million domestic.
Is Supergirl connected to the 2025 Superman movie?
Yes. Milly Alcock's Supergirl appeared in a cameo in Superman (2025) before headlining this film. Both are part of James Gunn and Peter Safran's new DC Universe continuity.
Have you seen Supergirl yet? Let us know what you thought of Milly Alcock's performance in the comments.