The new DC Studios feature film Supergirl has suffered a major box office failure, prompting the rebooted comic book franchise entry to arrive rapidly on digital streaming platforms.
Starring Australian actress Milly Alcock as the title character Kara Zor-El, the production failed to draw mainstream cinema audiences, leading Russian news outlet Rossiyskaya Gazeta to give the movie a rating of two out of five in a detailed review published on August 11, 2026.
The release marks the second feature film in the revamped DC Universe spearheaded by filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran. However, the film struggled to maintain theatrical momentum, prompting an early home release for viewers online.
Origin Story and Narrative Structure
The review noted that Supergirl opens directly in the middle of the action without providing prior narrative exposition or formally introducing Kara Zor-El to the audience. The story assumes viewers already know that Kara is the cousin of Clark Kent, better known as Superman, and that she derives her superpowers from Earth's yellow sun.
While skipping a repetitive hero origin story might initially seem like an effective creative choice, the review highlighted that the filmmakers quickly undermined that approach. Flashback sequences inserted throughout the film systematically detail Kara's backstory prior to her arrival on Earth, effectively smearing the exposition across the entire running time.
According to the review, these scattered backstory scenes serve to explain the extensive psychological trauma and emotional baggage that the main character carries with her across the galaxy.
Plot Catalyst and Space Quest
The central plot of the movie begins with a revenge quest after bandits kill the family of a blacksmith's daughter. In the process, the attackers also injure Krypto, the superpowered dog belonging to the lead heroine.
The review pointed out that the inciting incident relies heavily on a familiar narrative trope of seeking vengeance for a harmed pet, drawing explicit comparisons to revenge driven action stories. Following the attack, the powerful alien heroine boards a space transport alongside a sword wielding young girl to track down those responsible.
The review observed that the lead character's visual appearance and demeanor closely resemble Cirilla, the high fantasy heroine from The Witcher franchise, as Kara embarks on her intergalactic journey.
Galactic Setting and Visual Direction
Moving the story into outer space fundamentally changes the tone of the picture compared to previous entries. Unlike the relative realism attempted in Superman, Supergirl adopts a space fantasy aesthetic that Rossiyskaya Gazeta described as heavily echoing Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.
The narrative features a diverse array of alien planets, a mandatory space cantina, futuristic starships, and creatures of various shapes and sizes, detaching the story almost entirely from Earth.
Visually, the review gave credit to the film for establishing its own distinct look through color grading reminiscent of a traffic light. The color palette shifts dramatically depending on the setting and the nearest star, preventing the cosmic locations from blending into a single monotonous set, in a style resembling the Mass Effect video game series.
Lead Performance and Character Writing
Milly Alcock, known for her breakout role as young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO's House of the Dragon, earned praise for her charming screen presence. The review described her portrayal of a young, angry, and occasionally intoxicated superhero as convincing, noting that her character's drinking habits at times approach the levels of the animated character Rick Sanchez from Rick and Morty.
Despite Alcock's strong performance, the review concluded that her character arc is poorly written and filled with logical inconsistencies. The climax of the film reportedly fails to resolve her internal conflict, with her final moral choice raising more questions than answers.
Antagonist and Supporting Characters
The primary villain Krem, portrayed by Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts, received severe criticism in the review. Rossiyskaya Gazeta suggested the performance could contend for a Golden Raspberry award as one of the worst screen antagonists of the twenty first century.
Described as a collection of grimaces and uninspired lines with a visual design resembling a home version of Pinhead from the Hellraiser horror series, the villain lacks menace, charisma, or comic appeal to elevate a simplistic script.
Jason Momoa's appearance as the intergalactic mercenary Lobo also fell short of expectations, according to the review. Directed by Craig Gillespie, Momoa was seemingly tasked with bringing his lively talk show persona to the role, but the performance failed to generate the chaotic energy needed to invigorate the film.
The review noted that Momoa previously starred as Aquaman in the earlier iteration of the DC Extended Universe, where he delivered one of the franchise's standout performances. However, his portrayal of Lobo in Supergirl appears briefly without leaving a lasting impact.
Soundtrack, Action Scenes, and Box Office Outlook
The film's technical elements also failed to impress the reviewer. Despite DC Studios co-head James Gunn being known for soundtrack curation in projects like Guardians of the Galaxy, the original score and licensed tracks in Supergirl failed to create meaningful synergy with the onscreen action.
The action sequences were described as poor and unmemorable, lacking any notable fight scenes or chases. Additionally, the movie omits a traditional post-credits scene, leaving little material to engage dedicated comic book fans.
While the commercial disappointment represents a setback for the second major installment in James Gunn's rebooted DC Universe, the review noted that it does not completely sink the franchise. Alcock's portrayal of Kara Zor-El remains viable for future projects if supported by a stronger script and ensemble cast.
Rossiyskaya Gazeta concluded by advising audiences against watching Supergirl in theaters or on streaming platforms, suggesting that fans of Milly Alcock would be better served rewatching the first season of House of the Dragon instead.
