Supergirl early reactions tease whether the DCU can soar after Superman

If you thought Warner Bros. was keeping things close to their chest with 'Supergirl', think again. We’re still more than a week out from release, but the studio has already let early reactions fly and – based on the first lot of opinions – they seem rather bullish. Given 'Supergirl' is following last summer’s runaway success, 'Superman', you’d expect them to feel quietly smug. The reality? Depends who you ask.

The First Impressions: Mostly Glowing, with a Bit of Reality Check

If you were wondering whether the DC Universe is still on a roll, the current answer is, 'probably.' Rachel Leishman (The Mary Sue) pretty much summed up the positive side of things:

'SUPERGIRL is everything I wanted it to be. Girls can be messy and that rules! Kara isn't her cousin and I really loved how this movie makes that clear. She's a different kind of hero and perfect in every way.'

The comic book die-hards are also being kept happy. Joseph Deckelmeier from MovieWeb, who clearly rates 'Woman of Tomorrow' highly, shared:

'As someone who loves Woman of Tomorrow, my expectations were sky high and #Supergirl worked for me. Milly Alcock IS Kara, Eva Ridley jumped off the comic and onto the screen as Ruthye, and Jason Momoa as Lobo is perfect. Loved the practical creatures and old-school sci-fi feel.'

It looks like Milly Alcock (yes, the one you probably know from 'House of the Dragon') is getting plenty of attention in the lead role. David Crow at Den of Geek was just as enthusiastic, saying Alcock 'owns the role and will change our idea of Supergirl forever.' He reckons this is the sort of straightforward, emotionally-driven superhero flick that’s been missing lately – plenty of punchy set-pieces, but loads of character, especially through Kara’s relationship with Ruthye.

Junior Felix (The Hollywood Show) doesn’t hold back either:

'#Supergirl SOARS! Milly Alcock is the perfect Kara. This film is filled with gorgeous set pieces and dazzling action sequences. Momoa IS LOBO, but I wanted more of him. The scenes with Clark are priceless. Third act is F'N fun. The future is bright with this Supergirl.'

Not Everyone Is Over the Moon

Predictably, not every critic is turning cartwheels in excitement. Brandon Davis (of The Brandon Davis Show and the Phase Hero podcast) found it a bit more uneven:

'Supergirl soars at times through a scattered adventure at its best in moments of touching dialogue. Kara’s arc payoff could’ve benefited from better story structure but Milly Alcock is great. Wanted to love it, liked it. Practical elements & Lobo are standouts!'

Tessa Smith (Mama's Geeky) landed even more squarely in the lukewarm zone:

'Supergirl is a mixed bag for me. As a fan of the comic, I was (perhaps) overly excited for the film adaptation. While Jason Momoa’s Lobo & Milly Alcock shine, some adaptation choices and a bland villain keep it from greatness. It’s, simply put, just fine.'

Germain Lussier (Gizmodo/iO9) also seems happy enough, describing it as 'enjoyable,' with better characters and relationships than its Superman predecessor and a good dose of emotion underpinning the bombastic bits. He does admit, though, that 'it doesn’t quite have the resonance of Superman.'

The Cast – In Brief

• Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl, making her first proper splash in the DCU
• Eva Ridley as Ruthye, the plucky kid sidekick who pretty much walks out of the comics
• Jason Momoa as Lobo, in what seems to be the crowd-pleaser role if the credits are to be believed
• There’s also a bit of Clark Kent – those scenes are being singled out in early reactions

Opening Weekend: Up Against a Juggernaut

Here’s the slightly awkward bit for Warner Bros. (or any studio, frankly): 'Supergirl' drops on 26 June 2026, just a week after 'Toy Story 5' turns up and hoovers up nearly every family (and plenty of grownups, let’s be honest) from the box office. The Disney-Pixar sequel is currently tipped for the biggest opening of the year, if tracking is even half-right.

That means 'Supergirl' is likely heading for second place out of the gate – current estimates have it eyeing off a $55 million opening, which is fairly robust, but not enough to catch up with Woody and Buzz if their momentum holds.

Warner Bros. and DC Studios are presumably banking on solid word of mouth to build a bit of staying power, hoping that the July holidays (particularly the Fourth) might prop up the numbers. Even if the box office fight isn’t in their favour, the bigger story may be Milly Alcock’s arrival: she’s already booked to return as Kara in 2027’s 'Man of Tomorrow.'