Supergirl (2026) Review: Fun, But Ultimately Ordinary
DCU’s second installment, Supergirl, is here. We finally get to spend time with Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin, yes, the same cousin teased at the end of Superman (2025). Even before release, the movie found itself at the center of controversy because of Milly Alcock’s casting. Personal attacks aside, is Supergirl actually anything more than another superhero movie?
Let’s dig in. This review is filled with spoilers. So… be warned!
At a Glance
Director | Craig Gillespie |
Starring | Milly Alcock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, Jason Momoa |
Genre | Superhero, Sci-Fi, Adventure |
Inspired by | Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2021) |
Verdict | Fun in the moment but ultimately forgettable. |
Rating | ★★★½ (3.5 out of 5) |
What is Supergirl about?
The story follows Kara during her birthday week’s pub crawl across the galaxy while Clark keeps calling to check up on her. Say what you will about David Corenswet’s Superman, he absolutely nails the awkward nerd side of Clark Kent. He continues the same charm from his solo movie.
But this isn’t Kal-El’s story. It’s Kara’s.
During one of those stops she meets Ruthye Marye Knoll, a young girl seeking revenge after the Brigands leader Krem of the Yellow Hills murdered her parents. Ruthye asks Kara to help her hunt him down.
Kara refuses. That changes when Krem shoots Krypto with a neurotoxin that kills its host within 72 hours. Now the mission becomes much bigger than revenge. Kara and Ruthye travel across multiple planets to track down Krem, recover the antidote, and save Krypto, who quickly becomes the emotional center of the film.
How Different Is Supergirl From the Woman of Tomorrow Comic?
By now most fans know the movie is inspired by Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2021–22). The keyword here is inspired. The movie takes plenty of creative liberties. It almost feels like an alternate universe version of the comic.
Just like Superman (2025) shocked audiences by revealing Jor-El wanted Kal-El to conquer Earth, Supergirl continues James Gunn’s trend of challenging familiar Kryptonian lore. We learn much more about Krypton’s destruction.
The biggest change is Kara’s origin. Traditionally, Kara is Kal-El’s older cousin who was supposed to help raise him after arriving on Earth. That isn’t what happens here.
In the DCU, Kara is born eight years after Kal-El leaves Krypton. Her father, Zor-El, protects Argo City inside a force field after Krypton’s destruction. Unfortunately it only buys them time. Kryptonite radiation eventually dooms the city, forcing Zor-El to send Kara to Earth to survive.
Comic readers already know Argo City’s history eventually ties into Brainiac. With the changes James Gunn has made, though, it’s impossible to predict where the DCU is taking that storyline.
Milly Alcock is a Good Supergirl
I actually don’t mind the backstory changes. One thing James Gunn’s DCU has consistently done well is preserve the essence of its characters.
I mentioned this in my Superman (2025) review. Clark still felt like the beacon of hope even with the changes to the lore. The same applies here. Kara isn’t the reckless version we’ve seen in some adaptations. She also isn’t as unquestionably righteous as Melissa Benoist’s CW Supergirl.
Instead, she’s someone carrying enormous trauma while still trying to be kind. That struggle becomes the heart of the movie. Milly Alcock captures that surprisingly well. Yes, there are moments where the performance feels a little uneven. Then again, we’ve all seen superhero movies with far weaker performances.
Which makes all the pre-release hate over the casting look even more unfair in hindsight.
Why Supergirl Feels Ordinary
Here’s where the movie started losing me. It isn’t bad. It also isn’t memorable.
It doesn’t feel like James Gunn simply remade Guardians of the Galaxy. The found family angle exists, but this is clearly its own story.
The problem is the screenplay. The plot conveniences become incredibly obvious. New conflicts appear exactly when the movie needs another action sequence. After a while it starts feeling repetitive.
Kara fights space pirates. Then more space pirates. Then even more space pirates.
Was Lobo Actually Needed In This Movie?
Speaking of repetition… Why was Lobo here?
Don’t get me wrong. Jason Momoa absolutely nails Lobo. Honestly, he feels far more natural playing Lobo than he ever did playing Aquaman.
But narratively? Why is he here? Are we seriously supposed to believe Kara couldn’t have obtained the antidote without him?
Comic fans know Lobo thrives as an agent of chaos. That’s exactly what he is here as well. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that he existed to generate hype, add star power, and introduce another future DCU character.
I loved Momoa’s performance. I just don’t think the story actually needed Lobo.
Final Verdict: Is Supergirl Worth Watching?
Supergirl is one of those movies that works while you’re watching it. You won’t feel like you wasted your money at the theatre. You’ll probably walk out thinking…
“Is that it?”
Yes, the action scenes are entertaining. Yes, Kara flying through space and fighting pirates looks great. Yes, the final scene genuinely surprised me.
Most importantly, the movie understands what makes Kara different from Superman. She isn’t simply the female version of Clark. She’s someone dealing with unimaginable loss while choosing to be good anyway.
That part works. Everything around it just feels… ordinary.
Honestly, this story could have worked just as well as a one-hour special, similar to Marvel’s The Punisher: One Last Kill.
Rating:
I am giving Supergirl a 3.5 out of 5 stars. If you’re a DC fan or enjoy superhero movies, this is a perfectly enjoyable weekend watch. I’m just not convinced it’s essential viewing. This is one of those movies you enjoy for two hours and then slowly forget about.
Before DC fans come after me, let me be clear. I’m not saying Supergirl is bad. I’m just saying it’s ordinary.
Can you honestly tell me you’ll remember this movie scene by scene a few months from now?
Click here to find out more details on Supergirl (2026). And for more such reviews and breakdowns, keep checking The Watchlist Diaries.
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