Supergirl, the second installment in the rebooted DC cinematic universe, struggled at the box office this weekend, earning $38 million domestically and $68 million worldwide. This opening falls on the lower end of expectations for a major summer blockbuster, with a break-even point of $300-350 million worldwide appearing challenging given a crowded summer slate.
The film, starring Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, holds a 56% critics score and a 76% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The underperformance has sparked discussions about toxic fandom and superhero fatigue, both of which have impacted the film's reception.
Toxic Fandom and Online Discourse
Alcock has faced online criticism regarding her appearance, similar to previous female-led superhero films like Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel. Former Superman actor Dean Cain was among those who commented negatively. Alcock addressed the issue with Vanity Fair, stating, "We have become very comfortable having this weird ownership of women's bodies. I can't really stop them. I can only be myself." This triggered backlash, with some male fans claiming she was alienating them. Alcock responded to Variety, saying, "I didn't even say 'men' — I said 'people!' And they got so angry. I was like, 'You're proving my point. You're proving my point!'"
Despite such discourse, previous female-led superhero films like Wonder Woman (2017) and Captain Marvel (2019) were box office hits, with Captain Marvel grossing over $1 billion worldwide. Toxic fandom, while loud, represents a small portion of the audience and has rarely directly affected box office performance.
Superhero Fatigue and Market Saturation
Supergirl's performance reflects broader superhero fatigue. The genre has dominated for over 25 years, but hits are no longer guaranteed. Upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day is expected to perform well due to Tom Holland's popularity, but lesser-known properties struggle. The Marvels (2023) underperformed partly due to requiring audiences to have watched two TV shows. Similarly, Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps fell short of expectations in 2025.
Superman, the first film in the rebooted DC universe, grossed over $600 million worldwide but had a hefty $225 million budget. Supergirl, as a character largely known from TV, faced an uphill battle. The film's marketing failed to resonate, and early screenings received lukewarm reactions. According to Deadline, the audience was 59% male and 65% over 25, indicating that young women, the target demographic, did not turn out.
Quality and Future Prospects
The movie itself has been described as dull and episodic, recycling elements from past comic-book films. Despite Alcock's strong performance, the film lacks distinctiveness in a crowded summer season. DC Studios will next feature Alcock's Supergirl in 2027's Man of Tomorrow, which will test the new DC run's viability in a climate where superhero movies no longer guarantee success.
