TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - DC Studios' Supergirl opened well below expectations, grossing just $38 million at the domestic box office and $30 million across 77 international markets for a disappointing $68 million worldwide debut weekend. The soft launch comes despite the blockbuster carrying a reported production budget of $170 million to $186 million before marketing expenses.
Directed by Craig Gillespie, Supergirl stars Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin, who embarks on an intergalactic journey alongside a young alien named Ruthye in pursuit of justice and revenge. As ambitious as the cosmic adventure appears, it ultimately struggled to keep pace with Toy Story 5 at the global box office.
Meanwhile, Toy Story 5 continued its global reign, adding $89.1 million internationally during its second weekend. The Disney and Pixar sequel has now amassed $585 million worldwide after less than two weeks in theaters, firmly maintaining its position as the world's top-grossing film of the weekend.
Beyond the financial numbers, the reception to Supergirl from both critics and audiences has been mixed. According to Variety, the film currently holds a 56% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and received a B- CinemaScore. At the same time, the film drew more than half of its domestic revenue from premium formats such as IMAX and other large-format screens, suggesting that much of its audience consisted of dedicated DC fans rather than the broader moviegoing public.
While reviews are inherently subjective, Deadline highlights several factors that may have contributed to Supergirl'sunderwhelming debut. Among the criticisms raised were that the plot feels too similar to films such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Mad Max, the main villain lacks depth, and some commentators argue that female-led superhero films continue to face stricter scrutiny from parts of the fan community. These are interpretations and opinions cited by the publication, not definitive causes of the film’s box office performance.
Supergirl serves as the follow-up to last year's Superman, which launched the rebooted DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran. Although Superman eventually grossed $618 million worldwide, Supergirl has started on a much slower trajectory.
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