Supergirl (dir. Craig Gillespie)

by Jack Martin | Jun 25, 2026

Certificate: 12A

Running Time: 108 mins

UK Distributor: Warner Bros

UK Release Date: 25 June 2026

WHO’S IN SUPERGIRL?

Milly Alcock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, David Corenswet, Jason Momoa, Ferdinand Kingsley, Diarmaid Murtagh

WHO’S BEHIND THE CAMERA?

Craig Gillespie (director), Ana Nogueira (writer), James Gunn and Peter Safran (producers), Claudia Sarne (composer), Rob Hardy (cinematographer), Fred Raskin and Tatiana S. Riegel (editors)

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

Kara Zor-El (Alcock) embarks on a vengeful quest across the galaxy…

WHAT ARE MY THOUGHTS ON SUPERGIRL?

I believe that I’ve said somewhere before that “Snyder Bros” – aka the die-hard advocates for Zack Snyder’s now mercifully defunct DC Extended Universe – are the MAGA of online fandoms, and given their incessant hate campaign against James Gunn and Peter Safran’s newly revamped DC Universe, it’s hard to describe them in any other way. Last year’s Superman reboot faced relentless nitpicking and mocking from them at every available, as has virtually every project announced under the new regime, including Supergirl which has been especially targeted as of late, not just because of its somewhat muted critical reception but also because – and this is where their true colours are starting to show – they can’t seem to stand there being a female-led superhero film where the central heroine isn’t fetishised in any way (much love to 2017’s Wonder Woman, but tell me there isn’t a hint of sexualisation in Gal Gadot’s costume in that film).

In the case of Supergirl, the Snyder Bros are once again far too quick to leap to conclusions that only benefit their lost cause. While it’s true that director Craig Gillespie’s film isn’t a particularly great movie, and quality-wise is somewhat of a step down after last year’s Superman, it’s perfectly serviceable in how it sets up this new iteration of the character, establishes a bit more of this wider universe, and provides a sturdy if safe narrative that’s okay enough to get behind.

Set shortly after her brief appearance at the tail-end of Superman, the film opens with Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) – the Krypton-raised younger cousin of Clark Kent/Superman (David Corenswet) – in the midst of her multi-planet bender to mark her 23rd birthday, accompanied by her beloved dog Krypto. However, the partying ends abruptly when Krypto is shot with a poison dart by Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts), a volatile member of the rogue Brigand outlaws, leaving the poor superpowered pup with three days until the poison takes hold, unless he can be supplied with the antidote that’s on Krem’s person. Seeking said antidote, Kara becomes determined to find Krem and save Krypto before it’s too late, but she also winds up bringing along with her young Ruthye (Eve Ridley), who herself is out for revenge after Krem slaughtered her entire family.

To further spite the Snyder Bros, let’s start with the positives. The foundations for this movie aren’t too bad, for you have this clearly Western-inspired story, one that carries more than a few traces of True Grit, combined with a punk rock sci-fi aesthetic where these various planets and the alien creatures that occupy them all look like something straight out of a Misfits album cover. It gives Supergirl a distinct feel over its predecessor, in addition to setting the character up as someone who’s far from simply being a gender-swapped clone of Superman, with their own personality shining through and making their ideas of heroism feel a bit more fresh in comparison to what we’ve seen beforehand. And of course, Milly Alcock is an instant delight as Supergirl herself, with her take on Kara being far more sardonic and hardened than previous iterations, but at the same time she is empathetic enough to still care about her even when she’s arguably on a more selfish path than the others she’s surrounding herself with.

Furthermore, it’s also cool seeing a bit more of the DC Universe beyond just Earth (which we only visit fleetingly, largely in a couple of flashbacks), as well as how the filmmakers utilise practical sets and full-body costumes to make these alien environments feel more real. There is certainly some heavy CGI, some of which inevitably looks better than others in parts, but when it’s showcasing some of the alien designs whenever they interact with the more human-looking characters, it is fascinating enough to make you want to check more of it out, showing that Gillespie at least has the drive to make these worlds feel as real as your classic Star Wars outing, albeit with a more DC-ified twist. That is especially apparent when Jason Momoa shows up as the alien bounty hunter Lobo, a role the former Aquaman was practically born to play which, despite his limited screen time, he makes the most of to where you’d be very comfortable seeing more of him in future movies or shows.

But while I am certainly leaning more towards a positive reaction, even I will admit that Supergirl is far from perfect. There are some pacing issues, particularly as it begins to head towards the finish line after taking practically no time at all to get itself moving, and a number of the CG-heavy visuals aren’t all that appealing to look at, coated in drab and unflattering colour schemes that at times actually do make it look like a Snyder-era DC movie (derogatory). Then, there is the rather rubbish villain; Schoenaerts is clearly having fun going more over-the-top than usual, but his character and his mannerisms come off as more annoying than truly intimidating, while his lack of depth other than just being a colossal dickhead for the fun of it makes him feel particularly empty. You get the feeling that Supergirl could defeat him in mere seconds, if it weren’t for the plot or some of the similarly underdeveloped supporting characters getting in the way.

So no, Supergirl isn’t another slam-dunk for the new DC Universe. But don’t celebrate just yet, Snyder Bros; there’s still enough about it to enjoy as a serviceable standalone, and especially as an introduction to this version of the character that is, hopefully, here to stay. Or at least, for long enough to make the Snyder Bros feel so much more insecure about themselves than they already are.

SO, TO SUM UP…

Supergirl may not reach the heights of last year’s Superman, largely thanks to some drab visuals and a rubbish villain, but it provides a serviceable introduction to Milly Alcock’s fun new take on the title character as well as a wider look at various other corners of the DC Universe.