Despite what the reviews and backlash may lead you to believe, the second film in the DC Universe is an enjoyable adventure. Supergirl is a decent standalone movie — so why is everyone acting like it’s awful? Despite what the reviews and backlash may lead you to believe, the second film in the DC Universe is an enjoyable adventure. By Tiffany Kelly Tiffany Kelly Tiffany Kelly is a staff editor at . She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Wired, GQ, and Ars Technica. EW's editorial guidelines June 30, 2026 12:57 p.m.

Despite what the reviews and backlash may lead you to believe, the second film in the DC Universe is an enjoyable adventure.

Supergirl is a decent standalone movie — so why is everyone acting like it’s awful?

Despite what the reviews and backlash may lead you to believe, the second film in the DC Universe is an enjoyable adventure.

By Tiffany Kelly

Tiffany Kelly

Tiffany Kelly is a staff editor at **. She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Wired, GQ, and Ars Technica.

EW's editorial guidelines

June 30, 2026 12:57 p.m. ET

Milly Alcock in 'Supergirl'. Credit:

Here we go again. A woman-led superhero movie is out in theaters, and people can’t stop gleefully bashing it, as well as prematurely analyzing its performance based solely on its opening weekend earnings.

And okay, I'll admit it — before I watched *Supergirl* in a movie theater this past weekend, my expectations were medium to low.

Part of the reason was the reviews; the second film in the reboot of the DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran received a “rotten” score of 55% on Rotten Tomatoes (the audience score is much more positive). Another reason is superhero blockbuster fatigue. I’ve seen nearly every live-action superhero movie in theaters during its opening weekend for the last 20 years. I’m a fan of the genre, but studios are pushing them out quicker and quicker. Audiences barely get to breathe between sequels and spinoffs.

Milly Alcock as Supergirl, with her dog Krypto, in 'Supergirl'.

Yet I loved Gunn’s *Superman*, which opened last summer to positive reviews all around and earned $618 million at the global box office.* *Gunn did not direct *Supergirl*, but I trusted his vision after last year’s hit. Plus, *House of the Dragon*’s Milly Alcock was leading the film, so how bad could it be?

As it turns out, *Supergirl *isn’t bad at all. Directed by Craig Gillespie (*I, Tonya*) and written by Ana Nogueira, the film is a fun detour that gives a backstory to Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El. Based on the critically acclaimed comic book series *Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow*, it follows Kara as a reluctant (and often drunk) superhero who teams up with Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley), a teenage girl seeking revenge after her family is murdered.

Although the plot is darker than *Superman*’s, the film still feels like it's in the same universe as last year’s hit. The visuals, dialogue, and world-building are all in line with the new DCU. I was entertained for the duration of the film, which, in case we forgot, is the goal of every moviegoing experience! I can’t say the same for every other superhero film released in the last few years, yet many of those films weren’t judged as harshly.

So why are people acting like *Supergirl *is the worst movie ever made? (One critic even said it had the “worst script I can remember.”) There’s a simple answer: misogyny. While it doesn’t apply to every negative review and reaction to the movie, the growing hatred and resentment of women across the world have definitely impacted women-led superhero films.

'Supergirl' writer digs into major comic-to-screen changes and that dark ending

How this A-lister ended up in 'Supergirl'

In the weeks leading up to the June 26 release of the film, men mocked 26-year-old Alcock’s appearance across social media. The narrative was clear: Alcock, who spends most of *Supergirl* wearing loose T-shirts and minimal makeup, wasn’t styled to fit the male gaze. It’s quite the opposite: with a human trafficking plot tied to the villain, Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts), the story calls out those who sexualize young girls and women.

Additionally, Kara doesn’t have a love interest, and the film isn’t interested in giving her one. *Supergirl *is a story about a depressed, super-powered woman who is pulled out of her bar-hopping to help other people and find her purpose.

To be clear: The story isn’t for everyone, and, despite everything I wrote above, I don’t think you’re a bad person if you don’t like it.

But we need to talk about how the public responds to women-led stories in a genre that historically has been consumed by male-majority audiences. *Supergirl* was set up to fail with the backlash that started as soon as the first trailer hit the internet. Now, after an opening weekend that earned the film $38 million domestically against a budget of over $170 million, everyone is quick to call it a failure…when the film hasn’t even been in theaters for a week. DC Studios doesn’t appear to be confidently promoting its film, either.

Director Craig Gillespie (left) with Milly Alcock and Eve Ridley on the set of 'Supergirl'.

Safran, co-chairman and co-chief executive of DC Studios with Gunn, told the *New York Times* on Monday, “While *Supergirl* didn’t meet our box office expectations, it’s just one component of a broader, long-term strategy at DC Studios that we remain confident in.”

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

The statement doesn’t exactly inspire audiences to jump to see it during the upcoming holiday weekend.

*Supergirl* is not the awful film the public is being led to believe it is. It’s a decent standalone movie that gives Supergirl a backstory before she next appears with David Corenswet in 2027’s *Man of Tomorrow*. There’s humor, an emotional core, and engaging performances. It deserves more attention.

*Supergirl* is now playing in theaters.

- Superhero Movies

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Superhero"

Read More

---

Source: Superhero

Published: July 1, 2026 at 01:39AM on Source: MORNING MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle