DC Studios' Supergirl hasn't even had its wide release yet and it's already stirring up a lot of controversy. The second cinematic installment in the ever-growing DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran's leadership, its review embargo has lifted and, well, let's just say that critics are divided. The film sites at a respectable if underwhelming 59% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a much higher audience score of 75%, but you'd think that it was actually one of the worst superhero movies ever made if you read some of the reviews - which is positively insane.
Milly Alcock takes flight as the Girl of Steel, reprising her role from Gunn's 2025 blockbuster Superman as Kara Zor-El embarks on a journey of self-discovery - along with her trusty buddy Krypto the Superdog. David Corenswet also guest stars as the Man of Steel himself, while Eve Ridley plays a young girl Kara befriends named Ruthye Marye Knoll, Matthias Schoenaerts is the villain Krem of the Yellow Hills and Jason Momoa even appears as the infamous bounty hunter Lobo.
With all of that in mind, I went into Supergirl expecting a lot. The film has to juggle plenty with a relatively straightforward plot: Retrieving the antidote to the Brigands' toxin that Krem poisoned Krypto with. Could it pull it off? That's where the divide comes in. If you ask Variety, Supergirl is "super-horrendous" (as the outlet claimed in its super controversial review of the movie), and if you ask Deadline, it "doesn't fly high enough".
It's true that the DCU film has to cater to many audiences, but for this long-time comic book fan who happens to love the Kara Zor-El character, DC Comics in general, and summer blockbusters, Supergirl is mostly a success story. It's mixed for sure, but it wears most of its hats well, and allow me to explain why.
Where Supergirl soars
First of all, let's just get one thing out of the way: Supergirl is good. The film casts out typical Earth-set city heroics for a larger-than-life space affair that has more in common with Mad Max and Guardians of the Galaxy than it does with your traditional superhero movie. This works for the Kara Zor-El character, who is struggling to find her place in a universe where she so longer has a place to call home.
Milly Alcock is a force as the Girl of Steel, grabbing your attention as soon as she struts onto screen in that brown trench coat and sunglasses. Kara is not Clark Kent, so she doesn't have time for feelings, and that is very much at the heart of the film, as she struggles with acceptance over what happened to Krypton. Her solution? Partying her life away until she can feel something.
I honestly worried that this would wear thin but Supergirl dispatches of that pretty quickly as Kara crosses paths with Ruthye and Krem - which ultimately results in Krypto's life-threatening injury. This gives the character purpose and offers up a solid character journey for her throughout the film. Granted, it's a basic one, but it works considering the relatively light-hearted nature of the movie. Supergirl isn't here to be Shakespearean, it's here to have a good time. And it mostly succeeds.
The Highs:
- Supergirl is an entertaining summer blockbuster
- Decent runtime of 1 hour and 47 minutes, so it doesn't overstay its welcome
- Milly Alcock is fantastic
- It's a lot of fun
- The story is heartfelt
- Jason Momoa is electric as Lobo
- Killer soundtrack
Where Supergirl struggles
If I'm being totally honest, Supergirl's attempts to stand out are exactly what holds it back. It desperately wants to separate itself from the typical "aw shucks" nostalgic feel of DC's Super family that it adopts a more Guardians of the Galaxy "punk rock" vibe. While this certainly serves the Kara Zor-El character well, it doesn't have the same effect on the movie itself. See, Supergirl isn't the first space sci-fi superhero movie to lean into the space sci-fi element primarily - and it's not the most effective at it either - we've seen it with Guardians, Thor: Ragnarok, and even Superman. It's very James Gunn / Taika Waititi and it has worn thin over the years. It certainly doesn't help that Supergirl isn't a James Gunn movie (although it is part of his DCU franchise) and it looks, sounds, and feels like one.
It's okay for the Super Family to be cheesy, triumphant and nostalgic. As great as last year's Superman was, it could be something of a mixed bag on occasion too - relying too heavily on special effects, over-the-top humor, or music moments. It was at its best when it leant into the heart and nostalgic nature of Superman. Supergirl unfortunately has less of those moments, but when the arrive, they hit.
Something that doesn't really hit is the movie's villain. Krem of the Yellow Hills is rather underwhelming and one-note, and the film often goes too far to show us how bad he is without ever actually making him interesting. He serves his purpose, and actor Matthias Schoenaerts does a great job with a sinister performance, but for such an unknown character, the script could have served him better.
The final act of the movie is also hampered by some really questionable CGI - something that the previous DCEU franchise was renowned for. While we're not talking 2023's The Flash territory, some shots weren't too far off that.
While Supergirl does possess a solid story, the script itself could have been stronger. I do feel like my biggest issues with the film were less about the story and more about the execution of it all. The edgy, over-the-top approach undermined some of the strongest storytelling at times, but it generally delivers on its punchlines.
The Lows:
- Krem is a forgettable villain
- The Guardians / jokey vibes are a little overdone
- Lobo serves no purpose
- Less triumph
- Poor CGI in the final battle
The verdict: Supergirl is a solid, entertaining-but-flawed blockbuster
Take it from this comic book expert: Supergirl is not a bad movie. While there are some shortcomings with the film, it delivers on its promise of being an epic, entertaining, and all around enjoyable summer blockbuster released at just the right time. Although it doesn't match the highs of Superman, it does feature enough thrills and spills to guarantee a good time. And Milly Alcock is a force as the Girl of Steel.
With all of that in mind, don't let the reviews form your opinion of the DC movie, go and see it yourself. If you want a hard-hitting, powerful movie like Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*, then Supergirl might not be for you, but if you're looking for an entertaining popcorn flick to watch in a dark room during these warm summer days, then this is one. After all, Supergirl is what summer blockbuster season is all about.
Score: 7.5 / 10
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