For much of her existence, Supergirl has lived in Superman's giant shadow. Introduced as his cousin first, she has always struggled to stand apart from her famous male counterpart. Released in 1984, Supergirl starred Helen Slater, who embraced her role and gave an earnest performance that deserved better. Even with a strong supporting cast including Faye Dunaway, Peter O'Toole, Brenda Vaccaro, and Mia Farrow, the film couldn't overcome a schizophrenic screenplay, inconsistent visual effects, and an identity crisis. Over forty years later, DC Studios is finally giving Kara Zor-El another shot. With Supergirl (2026), they've replaced wide-eyed naivety with a battle-hardened heroine who hasn't faced obstacles without getting her uniform dirty or heartbroken. The result is an action-packed and often thrilling superhero blockbuster that gives the character her own identity separate from Superman, even if it doesn't always manage to fly.
Reviewed by Allan R. Ellenberger
Craig Gillespie (director of I, Tonya and Cruella) directs the film from a screenplay by Ana Nogueira based on the celebrated comic series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely. Instead of focusing on familiar comic-book mythology, this film centers on Kara Zor-El as a young woman grappling with grief, anger, and survivor's guilt. While cousin Kal-El was raised with the love and support of Jonathan and Martha Kent, Kara remembers Krypton. She witnessed its explosion and the deaths of everyone she loved. That trauma has made her tougher, more guarded, and much more reckless than Superman.
Fans of House of the Dragon will recognize Milly Alcock as inspired casting. She approaches Kara with confidence, sass, vulnerability, and boiling fury. This is not a bright and sunny, optimistic Supergirl. Alcock's Kara drinks too much on ruby sun-orbiting planets that rob her of her abilities. She screams at her enemies and desperately tries to find where she belongs. Yet beneath all that prickly toughness, an undeniable heart slowly shines through. It may be one of DC's newly rebooted shared universe's best performances to date.
The ensemble cast also deserves praise. Eve Ridley is adorable and tenacious as Ruthye Marye Knoll, the young girl who convinces Kara to aid in bringing justice to her family's murderers. Matthias Schoenaerts makes for a villainous enough Krem. David Corenswet also makes a cameo reprising his role as Superman, serving as a quick reminder that while this story takes place in the same universe as his solo film, it is Kara's journey and nobody else's. Jason Momoa as the intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo was a great addition, helping lighten the mood.
Visually, Gillespie injects Supergirl with a personality very different from last year's Superman. Gunn's vision favored primary colors, optimism, and Silver Age comic-book pageantry. Gillespie's film is grittier than glossy. Much of it plays like a western in space, with frontier planets, outlaw gangs, rusty spaceships, and shades of gray in its heroes and villains. Bits of True Grit, Mad Max, and even Star Wars course through its veins. Visual effects are top-notch throughout, though several action sequences spiral out of control and tension gives way to thrills.
Unavoidably, there will be comparisons to the 1984 movie. Helen Slater's Supergirl was innocent, kind, and naive, and she quickly endeared herself to audiences with her desire to do good, but she lacked presence in powers or attitude. Faye Dunaway chewed the scenery as the malevolent Selena with such delight that her performance is campy-iconic today despite the film's flaws. That film felt more like a fantasy story that included a superhero. This version gives Kara's story emotional stakes with real tragedy and trauma to ground it. Yes, Helen Slater is adorable, and her performance was great for its film, deserving cult classic status. But Milly Alcock has more room to explore her character's psychological makeup. Helen Slater even praised Alcock's performance as fierce, funny, and real.
The film has polarized critics. Positive reviews praised Alcock's performance and Gillespie's direction outside her comfort zone. Others criticized the script for being scattered and the pacing choppy. Some felt the film never reached the expected emotional level, while others appreciated the risks of straying from typical superhero movie expectations. Audience scores have been positive, with many fans appreciating Kara's imperfections and humanity and the smaller scale story.
Business-wise, the movie has faced speed bumps from the start. Despite much hype, Supergirl crashed at the box office with a poor debut well below predictions. Many now wonder if superhero burnout has come for Marvel and DC. Some experts predict moviegoers will embrace only the biggest-name comic-book titles, ignoring obscure characters no matter how good they are.
Standing on its own, Supergirl stacks up well against the new Superman. Gunn's film may be the more assured and consistently thrilling adventure, but Supergirl is probably the more emotionally ambitious picture. Superman gives us hope because he believes there is no limit to how great the world can be. Kara earns our sympathy because she is still trying to believe it for herself. That emotional throughline gives the film its own identity.
No, Supergirl isn’t flawless. The plot drags a bit in the middle; a lot of supporting characters aren’t fully realized, and the story sometimes takes detours before getting where it’s going. But Milly Alcock provides the character with what she’s been missing for generations: autonomy. Kara isn’t just Superman’s little cousin. She’s her own hero.
Forty-two years after Helen Slater first stepped into the cape, Supergirl has the intelligent, heart-led superhero movie she deserves. It might not soar to the lofty heights of Richard Donner's Superman or even James Gunn's downright buoyant reboot, but it does something those before it could not: it lets Kara Zor-El speak for herself.
Be sure to check back tomorrow on The Hollywoodland Revue for the fascinating history of the Woman's Club of Hollywood, one of the city's most influential civic organizations whose remarkable legacy—and uncertain future—help tell the story of Hollywood itself.
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