After a string of box office wins with hits like Obsession, Backrooms, and Toy Story 5, the domestic box office hit a major snag this past weekend. While Toy Story 5 held onto the top spot, its second-weekend drop was steeper than anticipated. But the real story was the disappointing debut of Supergirl, the latest big-budget superhero entry from DC Studios.
The film opened to just $37.1 million domestically, landing in second place and falling short of even the most modest projections. To put that in perspective, it earned less than half of what Superman—the first installment of the DC Universe—made in its opening weekend back in 2025. Even more alarming, Supergirl underperformed compared to two of the biggest box office bombs in recent memory: The Flash ($55 million debut) and The Marvels ($46 million debut), the latter being the MCU's most notorious flop.
Directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, with Jason Momoa reprising his role as Lobo, Supergirl arrived with a reported budget of around $180 million. That leaves the film with a steep climb to profitability, especially given its mixed reception. Critics and audiences alike have been lukewarm, with the film earning a 56% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus reads: "Milly 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." Opening day audiences gave it a B- CinemaScore, a poor grade for a superhero tentpole.
The underwhelming debut has already prompted DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran to express disappointment. The film's performance raises questions about the viability of the DC Universe's second chapter, especially after Superman grossed $620 million worldwide against a $225 million budget. Supergirl now faces an uphill battle to even approach those numbers.
For context, Supergirl opened slightly higher than other notorious underperformers like Joker: Folie à Deux, Birds of Prey, and Dark Phoenix, but it still fell short of Morbius' $39 million debut. Both The Flash and The Marvels ultimately tanked, grossing around $270 million and $205 million worldwide, respectively. Supergirl will need strong legs and international support to avoid a similar fate.
This latest box office stumble adds to a growing narrative of superhero fatigue, as audiences become more selective about which caped crusaders they'll show up for. The DCU's next moves will be closely watched, especially as the studio tries to build a cohesive universe around its flagship characters. For now, Supergirl serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of launching a new hero without a surefire hook.
Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more updates on the box office and the future of the DC Universe.
