Supergirl, the latest installment in James Gunn’s DCU, has received a 56% Rotten Tomatoes score, placing it among the lowest-rated entries in the franchise. According to Forbes, this score is classified as “rotten” and falls below the 83% score of last year’s Superman, which marked the start of Gunn’s cinematic vision for DC characters. The new Supergirl film, starring Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, is based on the DC comic series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and was directed by Craig Gillespie, a first-time director in the superhero genre.

Box Office Performance and Competition

According to Deadline, Supergirl is projected to open in the upper $40 million range domestically, with global estimates between $80 million and $90 million. This opening is expected to fall behind Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 5, which passed the $200 million mark in the United States and is projected to earn between $88 million and $96 million in its second weekend. The film is opening in 3,600 theaters, excluding Belgium and France, and is competing with films like Thunderbolts, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, and Wonder Woman.

Compared to previous DC films, Supergirl’s box office expectations are modest. The film is expected to outperform titles like Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom ($27.4 million opening) and Shazam: Fury of the Gods ($30.1 million opening), but still falls short of the 2023 hit The Flash, which opened with $55 million before being overshadowed by tabloid controversy. According to Deadline.

Reception and Criticisms

While Milly Alcock’s portrayal of Supergirl has been praised, the film’s overall direction and storytelling have drawn mixed to negative reviews. According to Me gusta el cine, the film is described as an “entertaining and colorful” space adventure but ultimately fails to match the quality of James Gunn’s previous Superman film. The plot centers on Kara Zor-El, who is depicted as a directionless and hedonistic young woman, helping a teenager named Ruthye (Eve Ridley) seek revenge against a criminal named Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts). The film’s pacing and character development have been criticized, though Alcock’s performance is widely acknowledged as a highlight.

IGN Deutschland notes that the film struggles to live up to the promise of its comic book source material. The review states that despite Alcock’s charm and the potential of the storyline, the film “stumbles over its own cape.” The review also highlights the broader challenges facing new film universes in the current cinematic terrain, where even established franchises like the MCU are seeing declining box office returns.

James Gunn’s Influence and DCU Strategy

James Gunn, co-head of DC Studios, is a central figure in the development of the new DCU. According to FM4, Gunn’s punk rock background and early work in B-movies have shaped his approach to storytelling, leading to a more irreverent and genre-blending style. Gunn’s work on films like Superman and The Suicide Squad has been praised for its fresh take on DC characters. However, Supergirl’s underwhelming reception raises questions about the sustainability of Gunn’s vision and the direction of the DCU moving forward.

The film marks a continuation of Gunn’s efforts to redefine DC on the big screen, following the success of Superman and the upcoming projects like Peacemaker and Creature Commandos. Despite the challenges, Gunn remains a key player in the DC cinematic strategy, tasked with building a new identity for the franchise. According to FM4.