Milly Alcock as counterpoint of Superman! Our META Movie Review of Supergirl
We'll tell you whether the new DC Universe movie is any good – and break down what other critics have to say
Superman is a thing of the past. Now it's Supergirl's turn. The new DC Universe film expands the superhero universe with an interplanetary sci-fi adventure that's just as witty as Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy." But can Milly Alcock pull off the role of Supergirl? Find out what we and other critics think of the film in KinoCheck's META review!
Here's what it's about
While her cousin Kal-El, aka Superman (David Corenswet), upholds law and order on Earth, Supergirl has entirely different concerns: Kara Zor-El is busy celebrating her birthday. She's wandering around remote planets, indulging in alcohol, and basically has only one enemy: the galactically massive hangover the next morning. That changes, however, when she meets the young Ruthye (Eve Ridley). The girl is on a mission of revenge – and asks for help tracking down the ruthless butcher Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts) and his men. At first, Kara has no interest in the whole thing. Until her beloved dog Krypto is caught up in it. Now she has a score to settle with Krem herself.
Supergirl: A far cry from her famous cousin
"Supergirl" is the second film set in the new DC Universe created by James Gunn and Peter Safran. Inspired by the comic book miniseries "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow" by Tom King and Bilquis Evely, however, this film takes a decidedly different approach than its predecessor, "Superman." When Krypto pees on the newspaper reporting Kal-El's latest heroic deed in the very first scene, it becomes clear: Supergirl isn't simply the female counterpart to Superman – she's a counterpoint. He likes to show off his superhero costume; she prefers a "Blondie" T-shirt. He's nearly invulnerable; she struggles with deep-seated wounds. He's found a new home on Earth and feels connected to humanity. She's alone.
It is precisely these stark differences from "Superman" that make director Craig Gillespie's new DC adventure so appealing. Therese Lacson of Collider agrees, writing:
"Supergirl is as effervescent and colorful as Superman, but offers a cosmic twist that sheds away the extra baggage that comes with centering a story on Earth and takes the opportunity to truly develop this new version of the character."
This is by no means the only positive review – but overall, the reviews for "Supergirl" are mixed. Tomris Laffly, for example, is particularly harsh in her assessment of the film. On RogerEbert.com, the critic takes issue with some of the very aspects of the superheroine that we particularly appreciate about the film:
"She is a hard-drinker, a wise-cracker, a no-nonsense fighter; qualities that are supposed to conceal her vulnerabilities."
Humor and tragedy
For Laffly, it's all just a "'cool girl' cliché". We see it differently: As a heroine, Supergirl exudes a punk-rock attitude that's a lot of fun. First the excess, then saving the world. Or at least saving her dog. It's precisely that defiant streak that works so well. This isn't just because of the cool soundtrack featuring bands like Wolf Alice or the fact that Kara likes to give her opponents the middle finger every now and then. It's also thanks to the dialogue by screenwriter Ana Nogueira, which never sounds forced coming from her protagonist's mouth but always comes across with a certain nonchalance. The humor apparently goes over well with Molly Freeman of ScreenRant, too, though she describes the film overall as "middling," speaking for many critics who find "Supergirl" not bad, but not outstanding either – not least in light of its predecessor:
"Still, there is plenty of humor and enjoyment to be found in Supergirl. [...] Altogether, [it] is a fine summer popcorn movie, even if it won't take the world by storm the way Superman did."
However, the comic book adaptation doesn't rely solely on lighthearted humor; it also delves into tragedy. Alongside the central plot involving the battle against Krem, the heroine's origin story is also woven into the narrative. While her cousin was sent to Earth as a baby, Kara had to go through a lot before she finally landed on our planet. How she struggles with the traumas of her past is an integral part of the film and fits seamlessly into the overall narrative through condensed flashbacks.
However, not everyone views this so positively – opinions are divided here as well. Owen Gleiberman of Variety, for example, has nothing good to say about the origin story and speaks of a "terrible script." USA Today writer Brian Truitt, on the other hand, offers a more nuanced assessment:
"The various Kryptonian flashbacks that lead up to Kara and Superman's first get-together slow the main narrative's momentum, though they do work to build out Kara's motivations and a vision of a hero different from her cousin."
Milly Alcock is thoroughly convincing as Supergirl
Overall, we're much more positive about the film than many of our colleagues. But even we have a few criticisms. For instance, the antagonist Krem doesn't come across as particularly complex. He's purely evil and serves primarily to advance the plot – a task he accomplishes brilliantly. Jason Momoa's appearance as the cult DC character Lobo, on the other hand, is rather peripheral to the story, but it's a nice treat for fans. Additionally, the CGI effects sometimes look more artificial than is good for a blockbuster. All in all, however, these aspects hardly matter, because Milly Alcock outshines everything else. With the "House of the Dragon" star, the casting for Supergirl was a home run. At least on that point, the majority of critics are more or less in agreement. For us, one thing is certain: as Kara Zor-El, Alcock delivers a performance in which wit and tragedy, nonchalance and determination go hand in hand – and one that consistently does justice to the heroine's complexity. There has never been a more interesting DC superheroine on the big screen.
Conclusion: The film has received a rather lukewarm reception from many critics. Our take: "Supergirl" is a fantastic addition to the new DC Universe. Milly Alcock shines in a sci-fi adventure that, despite minor flaws, is just as entertaining as its predecessor "Superman" – but features the more compelling character.
"Supergirl" hits theaters on June 26, 2026.
