2026 Summer Movie Season - DC Studios' Supergirl: Review & Analysis

Woman of Tomorrow!!! DCU Solo Film Debut of Kara-El Is Fast-Paced and Thrilling Showcase of Heorverse's Most Layered Character Yet!!!!

Review By BJ Porter

Meet the other "El"

The Story

No matter the type of upbringing we had or the social status we hold, we are all defined by the moments that shape us. For Kal-El (David Cornswet), his relationships with his mother and father shaped his desire to be a symbol of hope for those he wished to protect. As Superman, he strives to be the ultimate representation of truth and justice across every corner of the planet. All that said, he does wish that another member of his family on his Kryptonian side shared his viewpoint. Despite sharing the same powers as Clark due to them being from the same bloodline, Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) is the complete opposite of her cousin. Having witnessed the destruction of her homeworld of Krypton as well as the death of her family firsthand, Kara is weighed down by trauma and grief in a way that her golden boy relative would never understand. Despite Clark’s pleas for her to take up the mantle and join the hero business, Kara is more content with drinking away her problems and partying on other planets alongside her very companion, Krypto, whom she adopted when she was young before Krypton’s destruction. But fate has a cruel way of forcing your hand. A young orphaned sword wielder named Ruthye Knull (Eve Ridley) arrives on Kara’s doorstep, asking for her assistance in tracking down the whereabouts of the vicious warmonger Krem of the yellow hills (Matthias Schoenaerts), who is responsible for the murder of her family. Initially dismissive of the young girl’s request, things get a whole lot more personal for Kara when Krem himself mortally wounds Krypto with a lethal poison weapon, giving him only 3 days to live before he succumbs to his injuries. Now pulled into a galaxy spanning revenge quest that will pit her and Ruthye against a collection of violent space pirates and a few other notorious criminals and bounty hunters, Kara will be forced to confront the uncomfortable scars that she has long tried to bury and step into the calling she's long been trying to avoid as she races against the clock to save the last piece of home she has left. 

Kara and Ruthye Traverse a hostile Galaxy

The Review

James Gunn's DCU returns to the big screen in the second theatrical entry in the Gods and Monsters Chapter of the interconnected heroverse. Loosely based on the acclaimed 2021 comic from Tom King, Supergirl gives Kara-El the long-awaited large-scale spotlight in one of the summer's biggest hero flicks. After traversing the galaxy with the woman of tomorrow, Supergirl makes the official DCU arrival of Kara-El a thrilling and thoroughly enjoyable ride right from the opening frame. The DC Universe's cinematic rebirth is still very much in its early stages. After a solid cinematic opening in last year's Superman, fans were eager to see how the rest of the universe would expand and grow in the years and projects that followed. One of those projects was a Supergirl-centric film that took inspiration from one of the character's most celebrated comic runs. Though this isn't the first time Kara-El has been portrayed on screen, this is the first time she has been showcased on this scale. What transpires is an action-packed, fast-paced intergalactic romp brimming with adrenaline and energy, yet also filled with deeply effective, profound character work with an emotionally hard-hitting edge. This movie has a lot going for it, with most of the credit going to the cast and the work they put in on screen. If we are giving out gold stars for performances, it should be obvious who gets first dibs. I truly am in awe of what Milly Alcock brought to the role of Kara in this film. It is not easy to play a character that has so many things going on internally, but Alcock takes the challenge and rises to meet it. Alcock's ability to deliver Kara's dry, sarcastic humor while also bringing out her deep-seated vulnerability is truly amazing to see, as she portrays a character who is wonderfully multifaceted and layered. These are the type of characters that truly elevate a film, and it was awesome to see it on display here. Alcock was truly special as our leading lady, leading the movie with charisma and tons of nuance, and I can't wait to see where she goes next in her development. Moving on to our secondary leading lady, Ruthye Knull, this may have been newcomer Eve Ridley's first major film role, but you wouldn't tell after seeing this performance. Ridley displays a strong sense of headstrongness, emotional rawness, and recklessness that blend together to make her just as engaging as Kara. Her chemistry with her is top tier as the lone wolf and cub dynamic makes for some very fun but also heartfelt and emotional moments that truly flesh out both characters. Ridley was wonderful in the role as her cinematic introduction leaves a strong impression. Great praise should also go to Matthias Schoenaerts as Krem of The Yellow Hills, who is an effective antagonist, whose ruthlessness and cold-blooded brutality make every scene he encompasses one that puts you on edge unsure if his next move will be the last one you see. It is one note at times but it is played in a way that more than serves the story. The characters bring life to the story and truly make all the moments on screen more meaningful as well as lively. Some of them bring an energy and viscerality to the film that undeniably elevate it to another level. Nobody seemed to have understood or excelled at that assignment more than Jason Momoa in his role as Lobo. When I tell you this man had the absolute time of his life playing a role he had constantly said was a dream of his, I am saying that with full confidence. Momoa brings all of the hard-edged aura and chaotic energy of this iconic character to the forefront, stealing every scene he is in with relative ease. From his look, his voice, and his devilishly delirious sense of full tilt, unhinged mayhem he brings to every scene, Momoa takes full advantage of being given the keys to the cigar-chewing bounty hunter and gets full marks for one of the most fun performances I've seen in this early stage of the DCU. 

Using her strong arm

The film has so much going for it from the opening frame. The thing that I believe is the film's biggest strength is the effective structure of its story. If you have an understanding of the basic structure of the hero's journey model, the film, for all its flash and awe, does deliver in bringing a strong sense of simplicity to its storytelling. The movie sets up its stakes well and also makes the motivations of the characters clear. You understand what is driving them and what they could potentially gain or lose if they continue down a certain path. Sure, it is easy to predict the outcome for those who have read the comic this film took inspiration from, but for those not in the know, it creates a strong investment in the story and what the characters experience within it. That is also one of the things that makes Supergirl such a great experience. As I mentioned earlier, the characters and the people bringing them to life are the make-or-break of any movie. If you do not have a strong investment in the characters, every other cog in the cinematic machine falters, resulting in an experience not worth the price of admission. Kara's arc of truly facing and overcoming her grief and sense of loss is one of the main elements that make her more than just a drunken party girl with Superman's powers. There are so many layers to her that make her more complex and nuanced. Through her arc and that of Ridley's Ruthye, there are a ton of themes explored, like how we deal with loss, the consuming grip of vengeance, and navigating how to move forward when grief is consuming or clouding your judgment. The movie explores these thematic elements through the characters, thus making them refreshingly multifaceted. It is what makes a film like this more than just a loud summer action romp. That said, it's not like I'm complaining about that being the case for that is a huge contributing factor to my enjoyment of the film. The movie is wall-to-wall action with set pieces that are fast-paced and chaotic in a way that brings a different type of energy than Superman. From the cinematography, the stellar production design, to its overall tone, the world displayed in this movie clearly has a darker grit to it, yet it is still one you enjoy being in. While the fast-paced nature of the film is an element that is an advantage the film has, especially during action sequences, It can be seen as a bit of a hindrance, especially when it comes to pacing. The movie moves at a rate where there were times that I wished things would slow down a bit more. It isn't a deal breaker by any means, but I would have loved to have sat with scenes a little longer to give us some time to breathe before moving on. Stretching out the film more could offer more opportunities to further flesh out the story instead of condensing a ton to keep it under 2 hours. I appreciate keeping things tight, but having that balance of expansion and making the most of the extra room is something that really could have made this movie even more of a thrill than it already was. Overall, Supergirl is a fun and emotionally strong roller coaster ride with tons to offer. While the breakneck pace is a double-edged sword, it has charm, personality, and interesting, fleshed-out characters carrying the load in a way that makes the trip so worth it. We now have a character within the DCU that is a refreshing layer cake of nuance that I am hoping is a sign of things to come as more start appearing in the remaining projects of this chapter of the DCU and beyond. As this heroverse continues to find its footing in the early outset, the thrilling cinematic interpretation of the cousin of Kal-El is a ray of sunshine shining brightly amongst the stars. 

Final Score Rating

A fast-paced thriller with action, heart, and characters that feel real and bring life to every scene. 
A strong secondary cinematic entry for the still-young DC Universe, continuing to build its foundation.

Nothing say super quite like family.