The big-budget superhero film “Supergirl” has underperformed at the box office, despite its high production costs of $170 million. The movie, which stars Milly Alcock as the titular character, has earned only $37.1 million in North America and $62.6 million globally in its opening weekend.
The poor start is a disappointment to Warner Bros. and DC Studios, which had high hopes for the film’s success. “Supergirl” is the sequel to last summer’s “Superman,” which launched the new DC Universe under the direction of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Analysts attribute the film’s poor performance to its lackluster initial ticket sales and intense competition during the height of summer movie season. The release of other family-friendly films, such as Universal’s animated “Minions & Monsters” and Disney’s live-action “Moana,” may have taken away from “Supergirl”‘s chances at success.
The film’s production budget was relatively high, but some analysts argue that it would need to earn at least $375 million to break even. However, with projected lifetime grosses of $100 million domestically and $200 million globally, the film is likely to lose money in its theatrical run.
The poor performance of “Supergirl” raises concerns about the future of DC Studios and its ability to produce successful superhero movies. The studio had previously championed a “bold 10-year plan” for the new DC Universe, but the film’s failure may indicate that this plan is not working as expected.
Despite the criticisms, some fans have defended the film, praising its characters, casting, and entertainment value. However, others argue that the film’s poor writing and directorial choices contributed to its downfall.
The success of other superhero movies, such as “Deadpool” and “Captain America: Brave New World,” suggests that audiences are still drawn to the genre. However, the trend towards more selectively produced films and lower budgets may signal a shift in the way studios approach superhero movies.
As one analyst noted, “superhero movies can still be marketable, but studios need to ask themselves, ‘Are casual moviegoers going to our film?'” This suggests that studios must re-evaluate their approach to producing successful superhero movies.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/box-office/supergirl-box-office-bomb-dc-studios-1236797855