SUPERGIRL offers a more realistic take on the iconic female superhero. Milly Alcock does everything right in this movie as Kara Zor-El. While I wasn’t crazy about the overall plot, I still got chills when it was a full-blown superhero movie rather than a space adventure. Read our full Supergirl movie review here and watch it in theaters!

SUPERGIRL is coming to theaters now to show us Kara Zor-El in the new DC Comics universe from James Gunn. I really enjoyed his Superman movie starring David Corenswet, which also introduced Milly Alcock as Supergirl. However, the very same thing that I wasn’t thrilled about with that movie becomes even more prevalent here.

I’m talking about the fact that this movie, about Kara Zor-El AKA Supergirl, focuses more on adventures in space than on her being an actual superhero. I was expecting more of a classic superhero movie than this offers. With this movie, we’re getting something that feels more like a spin-off to Guardians of the Galaxy.

Continue reading our Supergirl (2026) movie review below. Find it in US theaters from June 26, 2026.

Not a classic superhero movie

In many ways, Supergirl is not a classic superhero movie. Not in the way Wonder Woman (2017), Captain Marvel (2019), or Black Widow (2021) were. And, for the record, I love all three movies. They are movies I can watch over and over again, because they focus both on origin stories and stay true to the superhero format.

With Supergirl, we do get an origin story, but we also get a lot of space creatures and wild action-adventure on various planets. This does not make for a particularly good superhero movie, but it does make for solid entertainment still.

And people would do well to remember this when they feel like going after Milly Alcock, who I personally love as Supergirl. Mind you, I say this as someone who was actually pretty excited about Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El in The Flash. That would have been a very different movie, and not at all a classic Supergirl movie.

And I am very pleased that this is instead a return to the classic and original take on the character. Of course, we do also meet her in a younger version than in most other live-action adaptations. Including the 1984 movie starring Helen Slater and the TV series starring Melissa Benoist.

So, the casting is great, Milly Alcock is great, but the movie overall feels more like a spin-off to Guardians of the Galaxy. Sometimes it even feels like a Star Wars movie.

Supergirl (2026) – Movie Review

Space adventure versus Superhero movie

As much as I do love a good adventure and have thoroughly enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy (not least thanks to Zoe Saldaña and Karen Gillan) and Star Wars (thanks to Daisy Ridley and Carrie Fisher), I was not expecting to see Kara Zor-El spend quite so much time in space.

I mean, sure, I get it; She is an alien from the planet Krypton, which no longer exists. And, unlike her cousin, Superman, she wasn’t sent to Earth as a baby. Instead, her parents managed to take her with them when they survived the initial downfall of their home planet.

As a result, Kara grows up on this tiny part of Krypton, which won’t make it either. As a result, she is a teenager when she is sent to Earth and her cousin, Clark Kent. Of course, Clark welcomes her with open arms and a heart full of love. That’s who he is. Always being good and caring.

Kara Zor-El is more of a cynic. As she states in this movie, Clark sees the best in people, while she sees them (or “us”, I suppose) for what we really are; Some are good, some are bad, and most are somewhere in the middle, just trying to get by.

Don’t blame Milly Alcock for the DC of James Gunn

I loved the parts when we got to see Kara’s childhood and her arrival on Earth. Also, anytime she interacted with cousin Superman. Actually, I always enjoyed scenes with Milly Alcock as Supergirl, just like I loved seeing David Corenswet as Superman. My issues with both movies have more to do with all the space noise around them.

Obviously, this has nothing to do with Milly Alcock and everything to do with the current DC Comics cinematic universe, which people would do well to remember.

The difference will undoubtedly be that while no one (or very few) went after David Corenswet as Clark Kent, people are already lining up to hate on Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El. And they shouldn’t. They really shouldn’t, because she is brilliant as Supergirl.

Watch Supergirl in the theater

Craig Gillespie is the director of Supergirl, and he is not the obvious choice. He has, however, directed some amazing movies in the past. Often very character-driven with very quirky characters. Perhaps this is most obvious in I, Tonya (2017).

A movie I loved, and which resulted in three women getting Oscar nominations and one winning. Allison Janney won the Oscar while Margot Robbie was nominated, as was editor Tatiana S. Riegel.

Now, I don’t expect anyone to get nominated for Supergirl, which isn’t really something we see too often with classic superhero movies anyway. The screenplay for this 2026 female superhero movie was also written by a woman. Actor-turned-screenwriter Ana Nogueira wrote the screenplay.

As of right now, Ana Nogueira is also slated as the writer of the upcoming Wonder Woman movie. James Gunn canceled the plans for a third movie by Patty Jenkins, so this will be a new take on that iconic superhero character. Hopefully, one that is much more down-to-earth.

I do not (repeat: do not!) want to see Wonder Woman in space!

As much as I enjoyed the parts of Supergirl that focused on the title character, I wasn’t too thrilled with all the space adventures. Those felt more like a James Gunn vibe than wanting to focus on the title character. It’s fine for entertainment, but it didn’t make the title character stand out as much as she could (and should) have.

Womentainment recommendation: Run to the theater and support Supergirl

Now, I’m not just saying you should watch Supergirl in the theater to support this movie. I do honestly feel this is a very entertaining and fun movie. However, I also have to recognize that this movie will not be judged as just “any other” superhero movie would be.

This movie is, objectively speaking, so much better than many other superhero movies featuring a male superhero, but you know this will be judged differently.

Could it have been better? Yes, absolutely. However, Milly Alcock is amazing in the title role, and both she and the character deserve our support. As do all the other women and girls, who need a good (but not naive) character to look up to.

So, do check it out in theaters now. Not least to enjoy what Milly Alcock brings to the table as a brilliant Supergirl.

Supergirl is out in theaters worldwide the week of June 26, 2026.

Director: Craig Gillespie
Writers: Ana Nogueira, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster
Cast: Milly Alcock, Jason Momoa, Matthias Schoenaerts, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, Alice Hewkin, Wil Coban, Clara Rosager, David Corenswet

Official plot:

When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.