Supergirl breaks DC Universe record — for all the wrong reasons

There’s been no shortage of superhero cinema lately, but let’s talk about the latest DC headache: Supergirl. You’d think, after James Gunn rebooted the whole DC universe last summer with a shiny new Superman film, things would be flying high. Unfortunately for Warner Bros, Supergirl’s not taken off – and that’s putting it politely.

Superman Soars, Supergirl Sinks

Let’s rewind for a second. Last year, James Gunn unveiled a very blue-tights, red-cape Superman reboot, sticking David Corenswet in the suit. That film went down well, not least because Gunn slotted in a quick cameo for Superman’s cousin, Supergirl, played by Milly Alcock (if you’re thinking 'That’s the one from House of the Dragon' – yes, that’s her). Cue excitement, and a green light for a standalone Supergirl adventure.

Supergirl’s solo effort landed in cinemas this past June, just in time to square off with a certain Toy Story 5, which had already been camped out at the box office for a week. You might be hoping for a neck-and-neck race – but no, not even close. On its very first weekend, Supergirl was already trailing behind Toy Story 5’s second go-round. That’s not a great look for a blockbuster, and it only got worse from there.

Box Office: A Relentless Slump

The numbers tell the whole sorry tale. On its fourth weekend in cinemas, Supergirl managed to scrape together just $1.4 million domestically. That’s a 62% drop from the third weekend. In DC movie terms, that’s utterly dismal – the worst fourth weekend for any DC film so far, whether you’re counting Gunn’s new regime or digging back to the Zack Snyder era. Even 2023’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods did better on its fourth lap ($1.6 million), and that one was hardly setting the world alight.

• Supergirl’s global haul so far: $121.1 million worldwide
• What Superman pulled in its first domestic weekend: $125 million (that’s just the US and Canada, before Superman’s $618.7 million final tally)
• Supergirl’s break-even target: $340-350 million at the box office
• Digital release date: 28 July, when it’ll be available to rent or buy digitally

In other words, Supergirl has less in the kitty globally – after nearly a month – than Superman made from US cinemas in its first three days. Once it shows up for rent at the end of July, there’ll be even less incentive for anyone to schlep out and catch it on the big screen. Even counting whatever digital sales it claws back, Warner Bros. Discovery’s nowhere close to breaking even, at least as far as cinemas are concerned.

DC’s Game Plan: Steady as She Goes

So is this a crisis? You’d think there’d be panic in the Warner Bros. boardroom, but apparently not. Peter Safran, DC Studios’ co-CEO, seems oddly unfazed by the disaster, saying:

'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.'

Translation: 'Yes, it flopped. No, we’re not binning our plans.' Supergirl’s not disappearing, either – she’ll be back alongside Superman in Man of Tomorrow, which is aiming for a cinema release on 9 July, 2027.

What’s Next for the DCU?

The next entry in James Gunn’s rebooted universe is Clayface, set for 23 October, 2026. It’s a horror spin built around Batman’s long-time nemesis – genuinely something a bit different for DC, although, judging by Supergirl’s numbers, it’s anyone’s guess whether that’ll bring the crowds back.
For now, the summer box office isn’t all doom and gloom. The Odyssey is riding high and smashing records, even as Supergirl limps towards its digital release.