When the New DCU Timeline launched with Superman in 2025, James Gunn’s film exuded a tonal shift in the DC Cinematic Universe (DCCU) that provided hope that subsequent films would build upon that success and reach even higher heights. While it is not as successful as its predecessor as a stand alone film, the latest film from the DC universe, Supergirl, delivers decent entertainment and holds its own as a solid piece of super hero lore, it too falls a bit short of the world-building blockbusters that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has succeeded in producing since 2008.
The film begins as Kara Zor-El (aka Supergirl), who is played by newcomer Milly Alcock, finds herself unenthusiastically tethered to a recently orphaned girl named Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley) who seeks revenge on the ruthless aliens who murdered her parents, who are led by Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts), who also happened to have shot and mortally wounded Kara’s best friend, the loyal Krypto – last seen in the aforementioned Superman. Finding they have a common enemy, the pair set out on to either bring Krem to justice or take vengeance on him.
Director Craig Gillespie – perhaps best known for I, Tonya (2017) and Cruella (2021) – imbues the film with a similar look and pacing to Gunn’s Superman, Meanwhile the story, crafted by screenwriter Ana Nogueira, attempts to world build in a sly way by interspersing Kara’s origin story in a series of flashbacks rather than follow the standard format of many super hero films.
By and large, this approach proves successful, but the presence of several subplots keeps the film from arriving at the hero’s ultimate appearance a bit too late and that softens the stakes at hand and instead simply becomes more spectacle than event. The seemingly gratuitous addition of the character of Lobo (played with “Hugh Jackman as Wolverine” gusto by Jason Momoa), adds a little character to the proceedings, but his presence goes largely unnoticed for the most part.
Supergirl/Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) in “Supergirl.” (Warner Bros. Pictures/TNS). Warner Bros. Pictures/TNS.
As the titular character, Alcock does extremely well holding the film together portraying Supergirl as a rebellious young woman still trying to sort out her troubled past and find her way as a hero. While her hero’s journey may not be as conventional as her cousin’s, it is obvious that her heart is in the right place and the fact that the adventure begins to save her dog certainly helps that progression. As Kara’s pseudo sidekick, Ridley holds her own while keeping a boulder-size chip on her shoulder throughout almost the entirety of the film.
Ultimately, Supergirl is another step in the right direction for the DCCU – albeit a small one. But is also a misstep in the sense that it isn’t quite as effective as a standalone film as was its predecessor. That being said, here’s hoping that the Girl of Tomorrow returns for more cinematic adventures in the not too distant future.
WHERE TO WATCH: (powered by JustWatch)
| Producer: | James Gunn, Peter Safran |
| Release Date: | June 26, 2026 |
| Running Time: | 107 minutes |
| Starring: | Milly Alcock, Jason Momoa, Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham |
| Writer: | Ana Nogueira |
| MPAA Rating: | PG-13 (for sequences of strong violence, action, language, and smoking) |
| Director: | Craig Gillespie |
| Distributor: | Warner Bros. |
| External Info: | Official Site / Facebook / Instagram / X (Twitter) / TikTok / #Supergirl |
