Supergirl underperformance puts early pressure on DC Studios reboot
Reports of weak box office and poor reviews have turned Supergirl into an early test of Warner Bros. Discovery’s new DC film strategy.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Warner Bros. Discovery’s new DC movie universe has hit an early setback after Supergirl opened to weak box office results and poor critical notices. The response matters because the film is one of the first major tests of James Gunn’s plan to rebuild DC Studios around connected film and television stories.
Variety reported that Supergirl is on pace to lose Warner Bros. Discovery between $100 million and $120 million. Deadline described the film’s box office performance as lackluster, while The Hollywood Reporter said critics had been cool toward the project.
The film follows Kara Zor-El, played by Milly Alcock, after the character appeared at the end of Gunn’s Superman. The Verge reported that Warner Bros. Discovery moved quickly toward a standalone Supergirl feature as part of its effort to expand the new DCU after Superman.
Supergirl is loosely based on the comic miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely, according to The Verge. The movie was directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, with David Corenswet’s Superman existing in the same franchise continuity.
The story centers on Kara’s journey through space after her dog is poisoned by a group of pirates, according to The Verge. Eve Ridley appears as an orphaned girl who joins Kara, while Jason Momoa plays the bounty hunter Lobo.
Strategy questions for the DCU
The Verge’s Charles Pulliam-Moore argued that Supergirl’s reception raises questions about whether DC Studios can build a broader movie universe around characters beyond its most familiar names. He wrote that the movie has difficulty separating Kara from Superman beyond her harsher attitude and willingness to use lethal force.
Gunn has previously urged fans to trust his broader DC plan, according to The Verge, and Yahoo Entertainment cited him saying DC Studios would not put an unfinished or weak script into production just because a title had already been announced. The Verge said Supergirl’s performance now puts that claim under closer scrutiny because it is the studio’s second major feature in the rebooted franchise.
The DCU slate also includes an HBO series about the Green Lanterns and a Clayface movie, according to The Verge. The site said that ordering those projects before introducing new DCU versions of Batman and Wonder Woman has drawn added attention after Supergirl’s opening.
Warner Bros. Discovery still plans to release a sequel to Matt Reeves’ The Batman, though The Verge noted that film is not considered part of the main DCU. TheWrap reported that the studio is prioritizing a Bane and Deathstroke project following Supergirl’s weaker-than-expected performance.
The franchise is also being shaped by broader corporate changes. The Verge has reported that Warner Bros. Discovery agreed to a $110 billion merger with Paramount, a deal that could affect long-term plans for DC Studios.
The next Superman-related DCU film on the calendar is Man of Tomorrow, which The Verge said is due next year. After Supergirl’s underperformance, that release is positioned as another major test of whether Gunn’s reboot can regain momentum.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.