Supergirl (2026)

Supergirl is directed by Craig Gillespie, known for I, Tonya and Cruella, and written by Ana Nogueira. The film attempts to launch a new corner of the DC universe while simultaneously giving Supergirl her own coming of age journey. While the movie does succeed in giving its protagonist a genuine character arc and lays some groundwork for future stories, the script often struggles with dialogue and plot points. Several lines land awkwardly, pulling scenes out of their emotional moments rather than enhancing them. In many cases, the performances feel less at fault than the direction, as stronger takes or rewrites could have improved several key exchanges.

Milly Alcock, known for House of the Dragon, carries the film and easily emerges as its greatest strength. She brings vulnerability, confidence, and determination to Supergirl, making the character feel relatable even when the material around her falters. Alcock does everything she can with the dialogue she is given, and her performance often elevates scenes that otherwise would not work. The fact that she stands out so clearly among the cast speaks to both her talent and the unevenness of the supporting material.

Eve Ridley plays Ruthye, but the character is written in a way that leaves little room for growth or complexity. Much of her role feels one dimensional, and her interactions with Supergirl can become repetitive over the course of the film. Similarly, Jason Momoa, known for Aquaman and Dune, brings his natural charisma to Lobo, but the character itself feels surprisingly shallow. Despite the larger than life personality, Lobo rarely moves beyond a handful of familiar traits and failed attempts to be cool.

Matthias Schoenaerts, known for The Old Guard and Rust and Bone, plays Krem, the film's primary antagonist. Unfortunately, the character is largely forgettable and exists mainly to give the heroes someone to pursue. His motivations never become particularly compelling, and the script does little to make him feel like a genuine threat or memorable villain.

One of the film's strongest aspects is its willingness to establish future directions for the DC universe while still allowing Supergirl to change and grow throughout the story. That arc gives the movie some emotional weight, even when the dialogue and supporting characters fail to support it. However, the overall experience feels uneven enough that it becomes difficult to imagine revisiting it, especially for viewers, like myself, who typically enjoy returning to comic book films multiple times.

Overall, Supergirl succeeds primarily because of Milly Alcock's performance and the effort to give the character a meaningful journey. The weak dialogue, underdeveloped supporting cast, and forgettable villain prevent the film from reaching its potential. Supergirl offers a promising lead for the future of DC, even if the movie surrounding her falls short. This film, at the time of writing this, is sitting at rank thirty six for the top hundred for 2026. Result: C