The DC Studios film "Supergirl" has experienced a steep 74% drop in its second weekend at the box office, earning significantly less than initially projected and falling behind "Young Washington," a historical drama from Angel Studios. The performance raises questions about the strategy for James Gunn's reboot of the DC cinematic universe.

"Supergirl," starring Milly Alcock, opened to approximately $37 million, falling short of earlier projections that anticipated as much as $65 million. By its second weekend, the film's domestic gross reached just over $58 million. With an estimated production budget of $175 million and marketing costs potentially exceeding $100 million, the film is projected to incur substantial financial losses for Warner Bros. Its opening weekend average per theater was $2,665.

In contrast, "Young Washington," a film focusing on the early life and military career of George Washington, garnered an estimated $21 million in its opening weekend from 2,700 theaters, achieving a per-theater average of $7,721. This film, with a reported production budget of $20 million, has resonated with audiences, earning a 92% positive score despite middling critical reviews.

Panelists on Fox News' "Gutfeld!" debated the factors contributing to "Supergirl's" performance, suggesting that comments made by lead actress Milly Alcock regarding her character's bisexuality and audience perceptions of "woke" Hollywood narratives may have alienated viewers. The film's trailers were described as having an "anti-hero feel" with "sloppy visual effects" and an "uninteresting plot."

James Gunn, who was brought in to revitalize DC Studios with an overarching creative vision similar to that of Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige, has now overseen two films in his rebooted universe. While the 2025 "Superman" film was described as a "moderate success" with "acceptable, if not a bit underwhelming" results, "Supergirl's" performance represents a more significant setback. The film's projected losses could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars globally.

The disparity in box office performance between "Supergirl" and "Young Washington" highlights differing audience reception to narrative choices and marketing strategies in the current film landscape.