Supergirl (2026) review: Solid performances can't save forgettable story

DC's Supergirl arrives as the second major film in James Gunn's new DC Universe, following last year's Superman. While director Craig Gillespie brings ambition to the project, the film ultimately feels fine and forgettable, a missed opportunity for what should be a special second installment.

What Works

Milly Alcock delivers a solid performance as Kara Zor-El, and the film effectively explores her unique perspective as someone who experienced Krypton differently than Clark. The scenes exploring her connection to her lost home world are among the film's strongest moments. Her interactions with David Corenswet's Superman are genuinely great, offering some of the most engaging sequences in the entire picture.

Jason Momoa's Lobo is a highlight. Momoa appears far more suited to playing the character than he was as Aquaman, bringing a cool energy whenever he appears. While the film doesn't delve into his backstory, he's perfectly cast for kicking ass and providing entertaining action beats.

The emotional beats throughout the film mostly work well, and there's an encouraging sense that we'll see more of Alcock as Supergirl in future DC projects.

Where It Falls Short

The story itself is frustratingly predictable. Eve Ridley plays Ruthie, a character seeking revenge on Cram (Matthias Schoenaerts) for her family's fate. She inevitably finds her way to Supergirl, and from their initial meeting, the trajectory is entirely foreseeable. You can predict exactly where the relationship will go and how events will unfold.

The villain is a significant problem. Despite Schoenaerts being a phenomenal actor, Cram feels like a third or fourth-tier henchman rather than a credible threat. His attempt to embody a scary, Mad Max-inspired antagonist instead comes across as goofy, with odd expressions and an overall lack of menace. He never feels genuinely intimidating.

Technical Issues

The film attempts a darker, grittier science fiction tone, something between Guardians of the Galaxy and Mad Max. This aesthetic works inconsistently. The humor, while not overpowering the film as badly as in other recent projects, feels clunky and doesn't always land. The musical score and slow-motion action sequences don't fit their moments effectively, and the soundtrack struggles to enhance rather than detract from key scenes.

At just one hour and 45 minutes, the runtime feels like a missed opportunity. The film could have stretched to two hours by leaning further into the emotional beats that actually work, rather than relying on repeated action sequences we've seen countless times before.

The Verdict

Supergirl is entertaining enough to hold attention while watching, but most of it fades from memory almost immediately after leaving the theater. For a second major DC Universe film, it needed to be something special, and it isn't. The film makes the predictable choice of avoiding a post-credits scene, which feels like a mistake heading into future DC projects.

The performances, particularly Alcock's, suggest good things ahead for these characters. However, attempting another adventure in this particular style would likely be a misstep. The emotional core deserves to shine more than the repetitive action beats do.

Rating: 2.8 out of 5