Supergirl 2026 Review: A Bold New Beginning With A Few Kryptonian Cracks

James Gunn and Peter Safran’s rebooted DC Studios has a strong future direction, which was validated by the box office performance of Superman (2025). Sticking true to its consistent yearly output, Supergirl and Clayface (2026) are two live-action films releasing this year. 

Our version of the Supergirl 2026 review would highlight why the film is still worth watching despite flaws that leave you a bit disappointed. 

Plot details of Supergirl (2026)

Kara Zor-El (played by Milly Alcock) is to fight some intergalactic battles since she is on a mission on behalf of an alien girl, Ruthye (Eve Ridley). Her parents were killed by Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts), and he is the same person who hurt Kara, aka Supergirl’s dog, Krypto, as well.

Kara needs the antidote from Krem, and during her journey, both the girls are helped by Lobo (Jason Momoa). Watch the trailer here: 

Actors’ performances in Supergirl (2026)

We see Milly Alcock’s Supergirl is hardened and less smitten with humanity than her famous cousin, Superman (David Corenswet), whom we briefly see in the film as well. It is clearly because the latter gets to have a real family on Earth when he was sent from a dying Kryptonian planet, while Kara lost everything: her family, her planet, and her home. 

Obviously, as Gunn and Safran promised, she portrays a true anti-hero who has a lot of demons and baggage that have changed her. She, as a superhero, is free from an unseen responsibility of looking “perfect” as she is struggling with her identity as well as morality. She could be considered the true grace of the film, who actually saved it with emotional punch and character depth. 

Eve Ridley is equally stunning in the role, as she is strong-headed and vengeance-driven Ruthye, who does not flinch in front of the villain. She is fearless and stubborn and always there for Kara. With her mature acting, they both develop a kid-sister bond despite undergoing several challenges together.  

The space pirate villain, Krem, was played by Matthias Schoenaerts, who gave an eccentric and larger-than-life performance. He is a ruthless human trafficker who makes people killing as easy as ABC. His demon-like figure added to the intimidating physical presence that offered a raw take on the unpredictable character. 

And then comes the chaotic, foul-mouthed Lobo, on his rockstar bike, who is a well-known space bounty hunter. He is vicious and unfiltered, often noticed stealing the scene from Supergirl. The film’s heavy action and wild humor are attributed to his name. 

What do critics add to the Supergirl 2026 review?

The critics’ consensus does not approve much of Supergirl, as it says, 

“Millie Alcock brings a swagger to Kara Zor-El that’d make Krypton proud in this otherwise familiar origin story, dawning a promising new hero in the DCU who’s still waiting for an adventure that matches her vigor.” [Source]

Fans’ reaction

The general audience has always been fans of more human stories that are full of emotions and embedded in deep grief. Viewers enjoyed Supergirl’s origin story, as they resonated with Alcock’s acting and decent visual effects. A few mentioned that the pic reminded them of Guardians of the Galaxy, but overall, it was a fun superhero flick. The audience wanted more screen time for Lobo, though.  

Is it worth watching?

Supergirl is definitely worth watching, especially knowing that it comes from the rebooted DC Studios by Gunn and Safran. I loved Superman (2025) and was genuinely excited to watch Supergirl; however, things did not go as expected. 

Firstly, very notably, the story imitated a John Wick-type storyline, as Kara’s dog was hurt where Wick’s dog was killed. Both incidents were catalysts for the vengeance that the protagonists were to launch later. Though the film is based on Tom King’s 2021 comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, its intentional homage to the classic Western novel and movie True Grit creates confusion.  

We know that Supergirl was devastated due to the losses and pain she has suffered; the movie frequently finds ways to strip Kara of her powers, making her feel less “super” than in the first DC reboot film, Superman. The key action moments were missing. 

Though there has been criticism of the movie’s pacing and aesthetics, I liked them both. Still, the lack of compelling development on the main antagonist’s part cannot be ignored. It could be the reason that despite strong emotional performances from the leads, the film appeared emotionally underwhelming. 

What we liked

• Milly Alcock’s hardened performance
• Strong emotional core
• Excellent chemistry between Alcock and Eve Ridley
• Ridley’s compelling portrayal of Ruthye
• Jason Momoa as Lobo
• Pacing and visual style
• Solid world-building

What could be better

• The main antagonist, Krem, lacks meaningful development
• The emotional impact in the climax is weakened
• The story borrows familiar revenge tropes from John Wick
• Supergirl is frequently stripped of powers
• The action set pieces, while entertaining, don’t consistently deliver the scale
• Lobo is underutilized 
• The narrative doesn’t fully capitalize on its emotional premise 

Here is a detailed breakdown of our rating for Supergirl (2026):

Story/plot	6/10
Characters and acting	6/10
Direction and pacing	7/0
Visuals and cinematography	7/10
Soundtrack/score	8.5/10
Themes and message	7.5/10
Emotional impact	5/10
Creativity and originality	5/10
Rewatchability	2/10

Our rating: 6/10

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Is Supergirl (2026) available for streaming?

Yes, Supergirl (2026) (PG-13) is now available to stream via rent or buy on digital platforms.  

Genre: Quest, sci-fi, fantasy, superhero, action, tragedy, adventure

IMDb rating: 6.0

Rotten Tomatoes: 52 percent on Tomatometer (critics’ score) and 73 percent on Popcornmeter (audience score)

Cast: Milly Alcock, Jason Momoa, David Krumholtz, Eve Ridley, Matthias Schoenaerts

Director: Craig Gillespie

Writers: Otto Binder, Tom King, Ana Nogueira

Producers: James Gunn, Peter Safran

Release date: June 26, 2026

Movie runtime: 1 hour 48 minutes