Supergirl is the second film in James Gunn and Peter Safran's new DC universe after Superman. And yes, even though they're family, their films are quite different.
The film is directed by Craig Gillespie, known for I, Tonya and Cruella, with a screenplay by Ana Nogueira and starring Milly Alcock, known for House of the Dragon, in the lead role. The cast also includes Eve Ridley as Ruthye, Matthias Schoenaerts as Krem and Jason Momoa in a brief appearance as Lobo, after playing Aquaman in the previous DC universe.
The film adapts the comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, by Tom King and Bilquis Evely. Since I haven't read it, I don't know how faithful the film is, so in this review I'll stick to discussing it as a film, not as an adaptation.
As a curiosity, screenwriter Nogueira had already worked on another Supergirl film intended for Sasha Calle, the actress from The Flash, but that project disappeared when DC changed direction. This version, however, has nothing to do with it and started practically from scratch.
Supergirl plot
Kara Zor-El leads a very different life from her cousin Superman. She drinks, travels through space and drags herself from bar to bar, a consequence of having experienced Krypton's destruction -including her family- far more consciously than Clark.
Her path crosses Ruthye's, a young woman seeking revenge on Krem, the man responsible for her father's death. From there they begin a journey together across different worlds, with Supergirl taking part very much against her will.
A space road movie, basically.
What works in Supergirl
The best thing about the film is clearly Milly Alcock.
Her Supergirl has personality, charisma and feels completely different from David Corenswet's Superman. She's more cynical, more impulsive and less idealistic.
Let's say that if Superman is the perfect son-in-law, you wouldn't want Supergirl anywhere near Christmas dinner. Basically because she'd empty your drinks cabinet. Before you even sat down at the table.
This isn't a female version of Superman, as anyone unfamiliar with the character or who hasn't seen the film's trailer might think. And that's probably the film's biggest success.
The tone also works. Supergirl is light, well paced and entertaining practically from start to finish.
In fact, the character has more personality than the film itself. And that's obviously not a good thing.
Because the film feels an awful lot like Guardians of the Galaxy. The humor, pacing, characters, planet-hopping journey and even the staging of some action scenes follow a very similar pattern.
Is that bad? Not necessarily.
It's a formula that usually works, and it works here too. The trade-off, of course, is that it strips the film of some personality of its own.
The action and CGI do their job. Nothing is especially impressive, but there aren't any (d)effects that pulled me out of the film either.
By the way, Lobo's aforementioned appearance is exactly what it is: a fun Jason Momoa cameo and little more. He's there to remind you that everything is part of a bigger universe. He doesn't add much, but he doesn't get in the way either.
In that sense, you don't need any knowledge of the new DC universe to follow the film, and the connections with Superman or Lobo are there without taking over the film. This is handled well: it doesn't force you to do homework before watching just to understand it.
What doesn't work
The main problem is that Supergirl is a very forgettable film.
Not because it's badly made. Quite the opposite: almost everything is competently executed, but I think there was material here for much more.
Kara is psychologically broken by what she lived through on Krypton, and the film tries to give her depth through flashbacks. The problem is that that emotional evolution never quite comes through.
You know she has trauma. You know why she drinks, why she's cynical and why she relates to others the way she does. But the film explains the problem better than its causes.
Her relationship with Ruthye is also functional and not very surprising. It moves the story forward and triggers changes in Kara, but it follows very familiar paths.
And Krem is even less relevant.
He's the typical villain who serves his purpose for two hours and you'll probably forget shortly after the film ends. I'd be very surprised to see him in another DC movie.
What this needed was an antagonist capable of matching a much more interesting protagonist.
Verdict
Supergirl is entertaining, Milly Alcock is excellent and her version of Kara has the potential to become one of the most interesting characters in the new DCU.
But it lacks ambition.
With stronger drama and a better villain, there was material for a much more memorable film, while still keeping an identity less indebted to Guardians of the Galaxy.
As released, it's easy to watch. And just as easy to forget.
Technical details
| Field | Details |
| Title | Supergirl |
| Year | 2026 |
| Runtime | 108 minutes |
| Director | Craig Gillespie |
| Screenplay | Ana Nogueira |
| Based on | Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, by Tom King and Bilquis Evely |
| Main cast | Milly Alcock, Eve Ridley, Matthias Schoenaerts, Jason Momoa, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham and David Corenswet |
| Genre | Action, adventure, science fiction and fantasy |
| Country | United States |
| Producers | James Gunn and Peter Safran |
| Rating | 3/5 |
Rating
Who it is for
✔️ If you're looking for a light, entertaining space adventure.✔️ If you like the tone of Guardians of the Galaxy.
✔️ If you want to discover this new version of Supergirl.
Who it is not for
❌ If you're looking for a deep drama about Kara's trauma.❌ If you're tired of the humorous space-adventure formula.
❌ If you expect an ambitious superhero movie.
Frequently asked questions
Is Supergirl (2026) worth watching?
Yes, if you're looking for a light, entertaining space adventure. Milly Alcock works very well in the lead, although the film lacks ambition and is quite forgettable.
Do you need to watch Superman before Supergirl?
No. It's part of the same DC universe, but the story stands on its own and the connections with other films aren't necessary to understand it.
Does Milly Alcock work as Supergirl?
Yes. She's clearly the best thing about the film. Her Kara is charismatic, cynical, impulsive and quite different from David Corenswet's Superman.
Is Supergirl similar to Guardians of the Galaxy?
Very much so. The humor, pacing, journey through different worlds and some action scenes strongly recall Guardians of the Galaxy. The formula works and keeps the film entertaining, although it also robs it of personality.
Who is Lobo in Supergirl?
Lobo is a character from the DC universe, played here by Jason Momoa. His appearance is basically a fun, anecdotal cameo with little weight in the main story.
Is Jason Momoa still playing Aquaman?
Not in this new DC universe. After playing Aquaman in the previous film continuity, Jason Momoa appears here as Lobo.
Is Supergirl based on a comic?
Yes. The film takes its inspiration from Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, written by Tom King and illustrated by Bilquis Evely. This review doesn't directly compare the two works because I haven't read the comic.
Is Supergirl very different from Superman?
Yes. Kara is much more cynical and impulsive, and marked by the trauma of consciously experiencing Krypton's destruction. The film tries to show a much less exemplary hero than Superman.
Is Supergirl's villain any good?
Krem serves his purpose, but he's very forgettable. He's one of the film's weakest points and barely leaves any sense of threat once it's over.
Is Supergirl part of the new DCU?
Yes. It's one of the films in the new cinematic universe developed by James Gunn and Peter Safran, although it works perfectly well without knowing the rest.
What rating does Supergirl get?
I give it a 3/5. It's entertaining and has a very good lead, but it lacks personality, ambition, more convincing drama and a better villain to go further.
Leave a Reply