The Struggles of DC Studios with Supergirl
DC Studios is currently facing challenges with its latest release, Supergirl. The character of Kara Zor-El, also known as Supergirl, has been a prominent figure in DC’s lineup since her creation in 1959 by Otto Binder and Al Plastino. Sharing the same powers as her cousin Superman, Supergirl has been featured in a variety of media formats including comics, television, and films. She was portrayed by Helen Slater in her 1984 film debut, followed by several actresses including Laura Vandervoort in Smallville, Melissa Benoist in the CW’s Supergirl series, Sasha Calle in The Flash, and now Milly Alcock.
Despite the character’s long-standing popularity and rich history, the recent cinematic venture by Warner Bros. and DC Studios did not perform as expected at the box office. The film’s global opening weekend only saw a modest $62.6 million, leading to a potential staggering loss of $100 million for the studio, according to a report by Variety. The production costs were around $170 million with an additional $120 million spent on marketing.
Jeff Block, an analyst from Exhibitor Relations, commented on the film’s underperformance, stating, “This was always going to be a tough hurdle for DC and Warner Bros. because Supergirl isn’t a character that has ever created an event-level blockbuster. Audience perception of ‘Supergirl’ was not good. This is just a case of the film wasn’t good enough to become an event.”
Reports suggest that for the film to break even, it would need to gross approximately $375 million, yet forecasts predict a closer figure of $300 million. This shortfall indicates a projected loss of $100 to $120 million during its theatrical run, marking this as Warner Bros. second major flop in 2026 following Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride!, which grossed only $23 million worldwide against a budget of $90 million. This stark contrast is evident when compared to the studio’s successful releases in 2025, such as Sinners, A Minecraft Movie, and Weapons.
Adding to the financial woes, the lead actress Milly Alcock, making her film debut as Kara Zor-El, received around $400,000 for her role with a potential bonus tied to box office performance which now seems unlikely. This situation mirrors the disparity seen in the 2025 DC movie Superman, where lead actor David Corenswet was paid a base salary of $750,000 with an additional box office bonus. Despite Supergirl‘s powerful message and female lead, it seems unlikely to replicate the success of James Gunn’s Superman, which ended its run with a substantial $618.7 million worldwide and ranked among the top ten highest-grossing movies of 2025.
Ava Thornton is an entertainment journalist with a keen eye for the latest in Hollywood, indie films, and streaming trends.
Her work blends insider knowledge with a deep appreciation for storytelling.
