Read this Supergirl movie review to find out if it’s worth watching. The DCU gains another watchable entry. Director Craig Gillespie doesn’t quite stick the landing with this origin story. Adapted loosely from Tom King’s Woman of Tomorrow, the film pairs Supergirl with her cousin Clark, played by Superman actor David Corenswet. The movie is a grief-driven, revenge-fueled space adventure. Krypto, Jason Momoa’s Lobo, and the villain Krem round out the cast. Alcock’s swagger carries the movie through its rougher stretches, though a familiar script and cramped world-building keep this DC Studios Chapter One installment from soaring.

About Supergirl 2026

• Directed by Craig Gillespie
• Written by Ana Nogueira
• Synopsis: “While celebrating her 21st birthday, Kara Zor-El travels across the galaxy with her dog Krypto, during which she meets the young Ruthye Marye Knoll and goes on a murderous quest for revenge”
• Release date: June 26, 2026
• Starring: Milly Alcock, Eve Ridley, Matthias Schoenaerts, Emily Beecham, Wil Coban, Alice Hewkin, David Krumholtz, and Jason Momoa

Watch the trailer below:

Warning: Spoilers for Supergirl 2026 follow below.

What Happens in Supergirl (2026)?

Kara’s 21st birthday triggers the chaos. Along with her dog Krypto, Kara joins a journey that includes meeting Ruthye Marye Knoll. From there, she sets out on a quest for revenge. The film adapts the comic miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. The Superman sequel borrows elements of True Grit. Milly Alcock’s Kara is teamed up with bounty hunter Lobo, played by Jason Momoa. The film keeps his role surprisingly minimal. The narrative focuses on Kara’s friendship with her new friend.

The story begins with Kara celebrating on the Red Star planets, where Superman’s attempts to bring her home are cheerfully ignored. After Ruthye is rescued, Kara is drawn into a fight against Krem of the Yellow Hills, a villain who poisons Krypto and puts his life at risk. Themes of vengeance are woven throughout, and a darker subplot involving sex trafficking is introduced through the Brigands, adding unexpected weight to the space-western setup.

Who are the Main Characters, and How is the Acting?

Milly Alcock brings a compelling presence to the screen. The film leaves the old “aww shucks” version of the 1980s Supergirl behind. Instead, a human rawness is added, capturing the messiness of figuring out who you are in your early twenties. Every choice feels loaded with consequence. She’s fiercely feminist, though never in an obvious way, whether she’s wearing a Blondie concert t-shirt or rescuing trafficking victims.

Eve Ridley delivers a standout performance as Ruthye Marye Knoll. As a gutsy alien teen chasing down the space pirate Krem, she captures fierce determination perfectly. Sharp, dramatic line deliveries provide comedic contrast, and real chemistry is built with Alcock’s reluctant, cynical Kara.

Matthias Schoenaerts plays Krem of the Yellow Hills, a ruthless intergalactic pirate covered in facial piercings. He’s chased across the galaxy after murdering Ruthye’s family, and the role is played well, even if his motivation stays paper-thin. Basically, he’s a jerk with a grudge and not much else going on.

Kara’s parents, Alura In-Ze and Zor-El, are played by Emily Beecham and David Krumholtz. The pair survives Krypton’s explosion on a chunk of the doomed city. Kara is later saved during an unexpected escape. Their heart-rending performance doesn’t get much screen time, but they nearly steal the movie.

The film treats Jason Momoa’s Lobo like set dressing. Even for someone who isn’t a huge fan of the comic character, the movie version feels hollow. He never actually does anything cool. Instead, everyone just insists he’s cool, over and over, until it starts to feel like being told the Fonz is cool without ever seeing him do anything.

A brief but memorable cameo is delivered by David Corenswet as a dorky, self-conscious Superman. He tries and fails to talk Kara into accepting Earth, fumbling his way through the conversation in English. Through this contrast, it’s made clear that Kara isn’t just Superman’s cousin. She’s established as a fully independent hero in her own right.

Is Supergirl (2026) Technically Well Made?

Craig Gillespie is best known for directing complicated women in films like Lars and the Real Girl (2007), I, Tonya (2017), and Cruella (2021). That same magic, however, isn’t quite recaptured here. The team spends a lot of effort matching James Gunn’s style, which leads to odd scenes like Superman’s cousin listening to “Catch These Fists” by Wet Leg on an alien jukebox.

According to reports, the studio released a different cut of the film after poor test screenings. So, it’s hard to know exactly what Gillespie originally intended. Still, the film delivers some genuinely stunning action, including a memorable bus hijacking sequence. The fights are powerful because in most of the film, Supergirl fights underpowered.

This is Ana Nogueira’s first feature screenplay, and that inexperience shows in places. The story has been called too familiar by many, leaning hard into a standard hero’s journey. Some dialogue lands as hackneyed, and “tell, don’t show” moments pop up often. The film passes the Bechdel Test with room to spare, and the filmmakers still pull off a reasonably strong narrative.

Cinematographer Rob Hardy, known for Mission: Impossible: Fallout and his collaborations with Alex Garland on Ex Machina and Annihilation, does solid work despite some wonky CGI. Action is shot with a sweeping, single-camera style in several standout moments. IMAX cameras and anamorphic Ultra Panatar II lenses are used throughout, giving the film its gritty, intergalactic space-western look.

Production design, led by Oscar-nominated designer Fiona Crombie, leans into that same dirty space-western aesthetic. Browns and greys dominate the palette, though pops of yellow and green show up in select scenes. As a result, a tangible world is created for the actors, and the realism of the IMAX shots is noticeably enhanced.

What’s Good and Bad in Supergirl (2026)?

So what actually works here, and what falls flat? Below, the pros and cons are broken down for anyone deciding whether this superhero flick is worth a ticket.

Pros

• IMAX Visuals
• Alien Worlds
• Practical Puppets
• Excellent Music
• New Characters
• Fun Action

Cons

• TV Feel
• Low Stakes
• Choppy Pacing
• Repetitive Sets

Final Verdict: Should You Watch Supergirl (202

Compared to garbage like Justice League, Supergirl is more than watchable, though as a follow-up to Superman, some disappointment is unavoidable. Milly Alcock delivers a standout performance, and real depth is brought to Kara despite a script that plays it safe. Jerky action sequences, murky fight scenes, and shaky CGI hold the film back at times. Even so, some engaging moments are offered up by Alcock’s performance. Overall, the film cruises at a pleasant altitude without truly soaring, but the movie perfectly sets up future Supergirl stories in the DC Universe.

Overall: Watch Supergirl (2026)

Supergirl is given 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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