The newly released "Supergirl" film is projected to lose approximately $200 million, according to industry tracking. Warner Bros. and DC Studios, along with some media outlets, are pointing to audience reactions and perceived "misogyny" as primary factors for the film's underperformance, deflecting blame from the studio's creative decisions and star Milly Alcock's controversial remarks.
The film, the second in DC Studios' new universe under James Gunn, had an ambitious rollout with extensive media promotion, including profiles for star Milly Alcock in Vanity Fair and Variety, and a $100 million brand tie-in campaign from Warner Bros. Initial projections anticipated an opening weekend domestic gross of $60 to $70 million, but the film ultimately earned only $37 million domestically. With production and advertising costs factored in, this shortfall is expected to result in significant financial losses.
Critic and Audience Reception
Critics and audiences have largely given "Supergirl" mediocre to poor reviews. Given the competitive summer movie season, the film may struggle to reach $100 million in U.S. box office revenue, marking it as a substantial financial and creative disappointment.
Star's Comments and Studio Response
Prior to the film's release, Alcock made several public statements that have been cited as potentially alienating to a portion of the audience. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she commented on the scrutiny of women in Hollywood and the tendency for audiences to feel "ownership" over female bodies. She later told Variety that criticism stemmed from "burner accounts" and individuals identifying as "Dad of four, Christian."
In a separate discussion with Queerly Radio, Alcock addressed the film's focus, stating, "I think that what makes this film beautiful is that it's not centered around a man, it's not centered around love at all." When asked about exploring her character's "queerness," she responded, "She probably goes both ways."
These remarks have been contrasted with the studio's response. DC Studios Co-CEO Peter Safran acknowledged the box office results were disappointing but expressed confidence in DC Studios' long-term strategy. According to The New York Times, Warner Bros. executives were reportedly surprised by the intensity of the backlash to Alcock's comments, believing such reactions were less prevalent in current culture. The Times' reporting also suggested that "female-led superhero movies have been rejected almost uniformly over the past five years or so, perhaps reflecting a resurgent misogyny among the core fan base, which is largely male."
Critics of this narrative argue that the studio and media partners are failing to take responsibility, attributing the failure to "misogyny" rather than potentially ill-advised promotional strategies, casting choices, or the quality of the film itself. Data indicated that approximately 59% of "Supergirl" moviegoers were men, leading to further debate about audience demographics and marketing approaches.