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The DC Universe didn’t get off to the best start last year with Superman (2025). Still, there was some hope for the future. But now, it seems the franchise has been hit with its own Kryptonite.
Superman (2025)
Written and directed by co-CEO James Gunn and starring David Corenswet in the title role, Superman received mostly positive reviews, though many criticized its goofy tone and the lack of focus on its central character.
It also failed to “soar” at the box office, grossing $618.7 million worldwide against a production budget of $225 million plus a worldwide marketing budget of $125 million, as reported by Variety after the film was released in theaters on July 11 last year.
Supergirl (2026)
Now, the second film has arrived: Supergirl (2026). And it hasn’t just failed to soar — it’s struggling to even get off the ground altogether, having grossed only $68 million worldwide so far against its $170–186 million budget. It’s also receiving mixed reviews from audiences and critics, which never bodes well for a film’s box-office longevity.
Variety describes the film as “super-horrendous,” citing the action as “generic” and the script as one of the “worst” the reviewer can remember. Watch the official trailer for the film below:
Related: James Gunn’s DCU Could Be Over Sooner Than Expected, New Report Suggests
Directed by Craig Gillespie (Cruella, I, Tonya) and starring Milly Alcock as the lead, Supergirl failed to generate the same level of buzz as its predecessor (which was already lacking anyway) long before hitting theaters.
After Gunn compared the film to his very own Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, fans expressed fatigue with that formula and felt that the film wouldn’t offer anything new.
Meanwhile, many have found Alcock herself to be problematic, especially during the press tour.
Over the past few weeks, Alcock also made comments that have drawn comparisons with Rachel Zegler‘s while she was “promoting” Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, which was a box-office bomb, grossing $205.7 million worldwide against its reported $336.5 million production budget.
In an interview with Vanity Fair in March, Alcock explained how her role in Supergirl and in the HBO series House of the Dragonhave helped make her aware that “simply existing as a woman in that space is something that people comment on.”
“It definitely made me aware that simply existing as a woman in that space is something that people comment on,” she told the outlet, adding, “We have become very comfortable having this weird ownership of women’s bodies. I can’t really stop them. I can only be myself.”
Those comments didn’t seem in any way egregious; however, fans were quick to suggest that Alcock was “playing the victim” and labeled the film “woke” as a result. And from there, things only got worse for Alcock, as she would go on to fan those flames with some divisive comments.
Milly Alcock’s Divisive Comments
In an interview with Variety prior to the film’s June 26 release, the Australian star discussed the premature backlash surrounding Supergirl, explaining that she has learned to tune out outrage, while clarifying her previous remarks, saying: “I didn’t even say ‘men’ — I said ‘people!’ And they [fans] got so angry. I was like, ‘You’re proving my point. You’re proving my point!'”
But despite clarifying those comments, while promoting the film, Alcock poured fuel on the flames of that outrage when she said that she thinks Kara/Supergirl is “queer” and would “probably go both ways.”
Audiences have become increasingly vocal in expressing their frustration with filmmakers, studios, and actors who make the decision to bring identity politics into film and television projects.
Alcock also made comments that have drawn comparison with Rachel Zegler’s during her own press tour, telling the Associated Press that “what makes this film [Supergirl] so beautiful is that it’s not centered around a man, it’s not centered around love at all.”
Similarly, Zegler told Variety ahead of the live-action Snow White‘s release that the titular princess is “not going to be saved by the prince and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love.” These comments sparked outrage from fans who felt that the star was insulting the source material. In Supergirl‘s case, however, men represent a significant portion of its target audience.
Alcock Trolled and Bullied by Toxic Fans
While criticism is expected with any blockbuster, it’s worth noting that Alcock has been the subject of online bullying and trolling, with several content creators, particularly on YouTube, repeatedly poking fun at her appearance using cruel AI-generated images to generate clicks.
Going back to the DCU, though, what does the future look like now that its second film is shaping up to be a box-office bomb?
Upcoming DCU Projects
James Watkins’ body horror film Clayface (2026) remains set for October 23, 2026, and Man of Tomorrow (2027) is still scheduled for release on July 9, 2027. The latter film will see the return of Corenswet as Superman, opposite Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, with Gunn back in the director’s chair.
And though there have been no updates for some time, the Batman film The Brave and the Bold, from Andy Muschietti (2023’s The Flash) is still reportedly in development.
Whether Supergirl‘s performance will shake up this slate remains to be seen. However, DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran recently told the New York Times (via The Hollywood Reporter) that he’s still confident about the plans he and Gunn laid out for the new DCU in 2023 after they had assumed their roles.
“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,” he told the outlet.
While Safran doesn’t seem shaken by Supergirl‘s rocky debut, this still isn’t great for the DCU.
As for the DCU on streaming, which so far includes the animated series Creature Commandos and Peacemaker Season 2, that’s also expected to continue this August with HBO’s Lanterns, which stars Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as Green Lantern characters Hal Jordan and John Stewart, respectively. The latter project has also been on the receiving end of fan backlash.
Have you seen Supergirl yet? If so, what did you think? Is the film enough to bring down the DCU before it even gets going? Share your thoughts with us below!
