(LOS ANGELES) – The new DC Universe film “Supergirl” has opened to a mixed critical reception, raising questions about the direction of the franchise under studio architect James Gunn.
The film received a 57 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes following its release on 22 June 2026. That figure sits well below the 83 percent score earned by “Superman”, the earlier DCU entry that introduced the character. Early box office estimates project earnings of roughly 300 million US dollars, about half the total brought in by “Superman”.
This is the first DCU project overseen by Gunn that he did not write or direct himself. Craig Gillespie directed the film from a script by Ana Nogueira. Gunn’s own superhero projects have all earned high critical marks. His “Guardians of the Galaxy” scored 91 percent, “The Suicide Squad” earned 90 percent, and the “Peacemaker” series reached 93 percent.
Nogueira is also set to write the upcoming DCU films “Teen Titans” and “Wonder Woman”. This has caused some industry watchers to voice concern about future quality. Observers have also pointed to Gunn’s past public praise for the 2023 film “The Flash”, which he called one of the greatest movies ever made. That film finished with a 63 percent critic score and lost money at the box office. Gunn later hired its director, Andy Muschietti, to helm the upcoming DCU project “Batman: The Brave and the Bold”.
Reviews for “Supergirl” have described the film as bland and derivative. Critics praised the lead performance of Milly Alcock as Kara Zor El but said the story around her was weak. The plot follows a hungover Kara on a distant planet who is pulled into a quest for revenge alongside a young girl named Ruthye, played by Eve Ridley. Some scenes drew comparisons to the cantina in “Star Wars”, but much of the film was called visually dull and lacking emotional weight.
The film’s underperformance places greater attention on the next DCU releases. These include the HBO Max series “Lanterns” and the autumn horror title “Clayface”. Both will arrive before Gunn directs his next film, the Superman sequel called “Man of Tomorrow”.