Supergirl lands in the DCU with one flaw critics can’t stop pointing out
Supergirl touches down in theaters this week as the DCU’s second chapter, and early reviews are largely upbeat — but critics keep zeroing in on one glaring problem. So what’s the big flaw they all flag?
Here we go, another day, another superhero film stepping awkwardly into the cinematic spotlight. This time, it’s DC Studios giving us Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, swinging into cinemas at the end of the week. And as you might expect, first reviews are rolling in—and boy, there’s a tune they’re all humming, and it’s not exactly heroic.
The Critic Chorus: Everyone’s Got the Same Problem
For all the flash, spectacle, and spaceship nonsense, apparently there’s one thing dragging Supergirl down—and no, not her cape. Nearly every reviewer zooms in on the film’s main villain, Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts), as the big snag. They’re not mincing words, either.
- Tessa Smith (Mama's Geeky) reckons Jason Momoa’s Lobo and Milly Alcock’s take on Supergirl are fun to watch, but says both some of the adaptation choices and a 'bland villain keep it from greatness.' Krem was a bit of a dud in the comics too, Smith points out, but the film actually made things more odd by turning Krem and his bunch of space pirates into sex traffickers. Her response, summed up: 'Like.. what?'
- Owen Gleiberman (Variety) wasn’t impressed, calling Krem an 'overly derivative Mad Max reject.' The review bemoans the character being hyped up as strong as '10,000 men,' but wishes he had 'the magnetism of one interesting one.' For a supervillain, that’s not exactly a glowing endorsement.
- Nick Schager (The Daily Beast) says Krem just looks the part of a generic space baddie, face covered in studs, delivering taunts and threats like a bog-standard comic book villain. Schager describes Krem as 'as pedestrian as Kara’s plight and emblematic of a quest that plays it safe at every turn.'
- Jason Flatt (But Why Tho) simply says Krem 'has almost half a personality.'
- Pete Hammond (Deadline) wasn’t convinced by Schoenaerts’ performance either, calling it 'heavily affected.' Hammond says the villain has 'no dimension other than being bad, which is a shame,' then rather cruelly compares him to the underwhelming villain from the infamous 1984 Supergirl film. Which, if you remember it, is damning.
Bit of Context: Comic Roots & Film Plot
For the diehards, Supergirl here is based on Tom King’s limited series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. The plot? Supergirl teams up with a young girl, Ruthye Marye Knoll, on a mission to take down—you guessed it—Krem of the Yellow Hills, for his attacks on Krypto the superdog. Yes, Krypto gets hurt, and yes, revenge follows.
Release Date & The Rest
Supergirl opens in UK cinemas on 26 June 2026. Gives you plenty of time to lower expectations for the villain front, at least.