What Is the Supergirl 2026 Movie?

After years of development hell, false starts, and a rebooted DC universe, Supergirl finally has her own solo film — and she’s nothing like the sunny, helpful hero you might remember from Saturday morning cartoons.

This version of Kara Zor-El is, as director Craig Gillespie puts it, a “rebellious spirit” with serious emotional armor. She’s all trench coats, sunglasses, scuffed combat boots, and retro foam headphones — an unapologetic mess who doesn’t want to be a hero. Think less “truth and justice” and more “cosmic road trip with a grudge.”

The film is part of the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, placing it in direct continuity with 2025’s Superman, where Milly Alcock first appeared in a scene-stealing cameo. Now she gets the full spotlight.

Full Cast Breakdown

The casting process was extensive. Milly Alcock was cast in January 2024 to debut in the first DCU film, Superman (2025), and Craig Gillespie joined as director in May 2024. Here’s the complete lineup:

Why Milly Alcock?

James Gunn was direct about the casting decision: “Milly is a fantastically talented young actor, and I’m incredibly excited about her being a part of the DCU. I was blown away by her varied auditions and screen tests for Supergirl. She embodies Kara as envisioned by Tom King, Bilquis, and Ana Nogueira.”

Critics agree with Gunn on at least this one point. Nearly every review says the former House of the Dragon star is terrific and fun as Kara Zor-El, “effortlessly shifting between being a fiercely menacing cosmic force, a genuinely funny protagonist, and a deeply vulnerable young woman.”

Plot: What Is the Movie Actually About?

When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.

That companion is Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley), a young mercenary whose father was murdered by Krem of the Yellow Hills. Something about Ruthye’s desire for revenge resonates with Kara — whose own trauma from Krypton’s destruction runs deep. The pair set off across the galaxy in what Gillespie describes as equal parts Western and road movie.

The Source Material

The film is loosely based on Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s acclaimed eight-issue Woman of Tomorrow series. However, producer James Gunn stressed that screenwriter Ana Nogueira “really took it to a different place,” so if you’re thumbing through the comic expecting a scene-for-scene adaptation, it’s different.

Unique World-Building Detail Worth Knowing

Jason Momoa as Lobo — A Bigger Role Than You Think

According to reports, Jason Momoa’s Lobo role was boosted during reshoots, added to the film on the same logic as Superman’s expanding presence: the character tested well and warranted more screen time. Audiences seem to agree — fan reaction to Lobo has been one of the film’s strongest positives in early exit polls.

Reviews & Critical Scores

Supergirl currently sits at 58% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, with a 77% audience score — both well below James Gunn’s Superman a year ago at 83% critics and 90% audience. The gap between critics and audiences tells a nuanced story.

What Critics Are Saying

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film three stars out of five, calling it a “sprightly and sparkling superhero yarn,” while noting that “there are moments when you’ll believe this franchise can fly.”

David Fear of Rolling Stone gave the film a positive review, noting it “can go deep” and that “this movie proves that you can take something that might seem esoteric and make mass entertainment out of it without selling out completely.”

On the harsher end, Variety’s review went viral for calling it “a comic-book movie with the worst script I can remember.” Critics consistently pointed to the screenplay, VFX quality, and a repetitive structure as weak points.

Despite an appealingly rough-edged title character played with scrappy aplomb by Milly Alcock, this second DCU installment defaults to too many of the clichés of superhero cinema at its worst, according to several critics.

What Audiences Are Saying

The divide is real. The 77% audience score is lower than Superman’s 90%, but notably higher than The Flash (63% in its era) and other DC disappointments. Casual viewers who went in without critic expectations seem to have found a fun, energetic ride — particularly for Alcock and Momoa’s performances.

Box Office: How Is It Performing?

The commercial picture is complicated. Supergirl made $7.8 million in previews domestically and $13 million globally in its first day — a figure that lands above The Marvels’ $6.6M preview night but below The Flash’s $9.7M and well below Superman’s $22M preview night a year ago.

The film is projected to make between $47 million and $50 million in its opening weekend, but it is expected to land in second place behind Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5, which dominated the previous weekend with a $159 million domestic opener and is projected to earn $80–90 million in its second week.

Supergirl’s domestic opening aligns with opening weekends for famous DC disappointments like The Flash ($55 million) and Green Lantern ($53.1 million). That said, Supergirl might disappoint at the box office, but it is not the end of the DCU — Clayface and Man of Tomorrow (2027) are on the horizon.

Behind the Scenes: Troubled Production

Getting this movie made was not smooth. Supergirl has been one of the most heavily reworked studio films of 2026. It test screened more than ten times with three different endings and three different composers, and its runtime came down roughly 25 minutes from a January cut — landing at a final 1 hour 48 minutes.

The Composer Situation

Ramin Djawadi was revealed to be composing the score in December 2025, but was replaced by Tom Holkenborg in February 2026, before Claudia Sarne ultimately took over as composer by March. The soundtrack was released by WaterTower Music on June 26, 2026.

Filming Locations

Filming took place from January to May 2025 at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden and in London, England, and in Scotland. Additional photography was captured in Iceland to achieve the alien-world aesthetic seen in the trailers.

The Superman Addition

As the movie got shorter in test screenings, Superman got bigger. WonderCon insiders said the film was being reworked to add more David Corenswet Superman and multiple endings, and the latest cut reportedly added even more Superman. This explains why Corenswet appears prominently in the marketing despite the film ostensibly being Kara’s solo outing.

Where to Watch: Streaming & Release

Supergirl is currently playing exclusively in theaters, and Warner Bros. has not announced an official streaming release date. Because it’s a Warner Bros. Pictures release, the film is expected to stream on Max after its theatrical run, though the studio has not confirmed when that will happen.

People Also Ask About Supergirl 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

At a Glance

Here’s everything covered in this article in one scannable reference block: