James Gunn's Supergirl Flop Highlights DC’s Larger Problem

Opinion

While Hollywood can endure a bad movie, a $170 million investment in a flop is unsustainable.

Warner Bros., Supergirl, and DC Studios’ latest attempt to revitalize their cinematic universe failed miserably. It opened to a disappointing $37.1 million domestically and earned a mere $126 million worldwide, falling short of its reported production budget.

TheWrap has labeled these figures as disastrous for a franchise tentpole.

The warning signs were evident. Supergirl’s opening weekend expectations were reduced to a range of $50 million to $55 million domestically, but it failed to meet even that modest target. Its $38 million domestic opening weekend figure was significantly lower than Morbius, a highly criticized 2022 superhero film that opened to $39 million.

Audiences were also not enthusiastic about the movie. It received a B-minus CinemaScore, which is considered weak for a superhero blockbuster. While Rotten Tomatoes currently holds a 53% positive review score from critics, its verified audience score is slightly better at 72%.

The most telling aspect of the situation was the rushed release to the home market. Supergirl was released digitally only 32 days after its theatrical debut, which is among the shortest theatrical windows for a modern DC film. By late July, its worldwide theatrical earnings had barely reached $124 million.

The simplest explanation for this failure is “superhero fatigue,” but it is also becoming increasingly disingenuous.

Moviegoers have not stopped attending expensive franchise movies. Instead, they have become more discerning about which ones warrant two hours of their time and are willing to pay higher theater ticket prices. A familiar logo is no longer sufficient to captivate audiences.

This raises questions about DC’s strategy.

James Gunn and Peter Safran’s theatrical reboot featuring Superman, arguably the most recognizable superhero, was a risky move. Instead of introducing Batman, Wonder Woman, or Green Lantern, Supergirl arrived with the financial expectations of a major franchise installment without the equivalent level of audience demand.

Milly Alcock’s performance stood out despite the film’s criticism. Forbes’ Paul Tassi praised her as the movie’s sole bright spot while criticizing its direction, visual effects, screenplay, and DC’s strategic choices.

This distinction is significant. When a talented lead can’t save a $170 million production, blaming the character or actress overlooks the broader lesson.

Studios have long marketed superhero movies as essential components of an expansive interconnected story. However, audiences have realized that a cinematic universe alone isn’t enough to make a compelling movie.

Supergirl’s failure stems from audiences’ decision that this particular superhero movie wasn’t worth watching. At a $170 million budget, Hollywood can no longer afford to ignore this crucial distinction.