Early critical reactions to DC Studios’ Supergirl have praised Milly Alcock’s lead performance as Kara Zor-El and Jason Momoa’s turn as villain Lobo, but reviews for the film overall are mixed ahead of its June 26 cinema release, reports slashfilm.com.
The film, directed by Craig Gillespie, is the second theatrical entry in James Gunn’s relaunched DC Universe following last year’s Superman. Alcock stars as Superman’s cousin, with Momoa co-starring as Lobo alongside Eve Ridley as Ruthye.
Critics posting first reactions online described the film as a grimy space western, with several comparing its tone to True Grit and Mad Max rather than Guardians of the Galaxy. The adaptation of Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic was scripted by Ana Nogueira, who is also writing DC’s “Teen Titans” film.
Praise for the cast was near unanimous. /Film’s BJ Colangelo called Alcock a fantastic Kara and said Momoa was born to play Lobo, while ComicBook.com’s Chris Killian said Alcock shines in Kara’s tragic backstory and Momoa is having the time of his life. The Mary Sue’s Rachel Leishman said Kara isn’t her cousin and that difference is the film’s strength, adding girls can be messy.
Other reviewers found the film uneven. Critic Tessa Smith called it a mixed bag with strong leads let down by adaptation choices and a bland villain. Brandon Davis said Supergirl soars at times but Kara’s arc suffered from story structure issues, while Nerd Reactor’s John Nguyen said the film felt bland and Alcock deserved stronger material.
More positive notices highlighted the film’s heart and visuals. The Film Frontier’s Dan Marcus called it lively and entertaining with gorgeous cinematography, and Gizmodo’s Germain Lussier said it was highly enjoyable and incredibly emotional, acting as a perfect companion to Superman with more complex relationships.
Supergirl, originally announced as Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, featured a cameo for Alcock’s Kara in Superman. The character is set to appear in next year’s Man of Tomorrow. Warner Bros. previously developed an R-rated Lobo film for years, a role Momoa had publicly pursued before playing Aquaman.
Supergirl opens in cinemas on June 26, 2026.
•Featured image credit: Warner Bros.
