Supergirl movie review by Movie Review Mom

MOVIE TITLE: Supergirl (2026)

This new superhero movie is now available in theaters and on digital platforms.

RATING: PG-13 (for sci-fi action, violence, language, and some suggestive material)

LENGTH: 1 hour 58 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: C

Featured Product About This Movie: Supergirl: Being Super by Mariko Tamaki and Joelle Jones

You can find this on Amazon at https://amzn.to/4bhgDBB

IN A NUTSHELL: This latest installment in James Gunn’s new DC Universe takes a sharp, cosmic turn as we follow Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El (played with an edgy, snarky attitude by Milly Alcock). Unlike her hopeful cousin raised on Earth (Superman), Kara grew up watching her home crumble. When a young, vengeful alien girl named Ruthye (Eve Ridley) recruits her to hunt down the brutal space pirate Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts) for murdering her father, the two embark on a wild, galaxy-hopping quest for justice and a cure for an injured Krypto the Superdog.

The film was directed by Craig Gillespie. Already, the movie has been nominated for “Best Summer 2026 Blockbuster Trailer” and “Best Action” by Golden Trailer Awards. I was curious to see what this second installment in the DCU would be. Sadly, I was disappointed. Have you seen it yet? If so, what did YOU think?

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Violence: Plenty of sci-fi superhero violence, laser blasts, space pirate brawls, and intense action sequences. We see a lot of people die. So much destruction.
Language: Some profanity and crude gestures from rugged space mercenaries. We have to read subtitles when other languages are spoken.
Mature Themes: The central plot revolves around a young child seeking violent revenge for her father’s murder. There are also references to grief, trauma, human trafficking, and alcohol use (Kara likes to party under red suns where she can actually feel the effects).
Ick: We see lots of vomit, drunkedness, and sloppy attitude from Supergirl. She’s not a very good role model.

THEMES:

Grief, trauma, and survival
Revenge vs. justice
Protecting innocence
Found family and unexpected companionship

THINGS I LIKED:

Milly Alcock’s Performance: She brings a wonderfully gritty, “pixie with an attitude” vibe that makes Kara feel completely distinct from traditional depictions. James Gunn wanted this new “Girl of Steel” to be completely different from what we’ve seen before in previous iterations. Mission accomplished. It has been said the cinematography was stylized to reflect her frenetic, messy emotional state. Part of her cape came from the original 1978 Superman movie cape! That’s pretty doggone cool. I adored Christopher Reeve as Superman.
Krypto the Superdog: Adorable. I wish there were more scenes with him. Some of his CGI didn’t look that great, though.
Jason Momoa as Lobo: He steals every single frame he is in as the ultimate space mercenary. It’s an incredibly fun performance that injects tons of energy into the second half. Rumor has it that he has been trying to get this role as the bounty hunter in the DCU for years! Unfortunately, his makeup design makes him look like a cartoon character.
The Visual Worldbuilding: Director Craig Gillespie delivers some beautifully imaginative alien landscapes and creative space settings. Some scenes, however, look like they’re straight out of Star Wars.
Action: Lots and lots of action. I always get a kick out of slow-motion sequences. There are a lot of those, too.
Humor: There is plenty of humor, both visually and in dialogue. Taken straight out of the graphic novel, the relatable humor of dealing with rude space passengers on a public bus was entertaining.
Easter Eggs: Listen out for an uncredited cameo voice by Seth Rogen as the voice of the shuttle driver. ha ha There are plenty more fun Easter Eggs to find related to the franchise and the story of Superman.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Role model: If I had a daughter, I wouldn’t want her to watch this movie. Superman is so virtuous, but Supergirl is usually drunk, snarky, violent, grungy, and has a foul mouth. She kind of seems like the Deadpool version of Superman. Everyone loves John Wick because he’s cool, tough, and loves his dog. Are we supposed to love Supergirl because of those exact same things? The movie felt like yet one more feminist movie filled with snarky, tiny girls who can beat up bigger men while acting like them. She spent the majority of the movie getting beaten up and almost dying a few times.
Pacing in the Middle: Compressing an eight-issue comic book journey into a two-hour film structure means some of the emotional depth of their planetary travels feels a bit rushed. Sadly, the script is just weak with a lackluster plot.
Ho-hum villain: The villain just felt like a bullying menace, not anyone truly frightening. The whole movie felt ho-hum and forgettable. So disappointing.
Changes to the Ending: Fans of the original comic book might find the altered narrative choice surrounding Krem’s final fate and Kara’s motivations a bit controversial compared to the source material.

Special Effects: More often than not, they don’t look that great.
Mixed Morality: Supergirl counsels another girl not to kill, all while massacring dozens and dozens of people herself. She is supposed to be good, yet she’s not very nice, unlike her cousin, Superman.

FUNNY LINES:

“I’m just trying to have a decent birthday drink without someone trying to steal my dog or start a galactic war.” – Kara Zor-El

“You’re telling me the girl who can fly through stars is annoyed by public transit?” – Ruthye

INTERESTING LINES:

“My cousin had a soft landing on a nice farm. I watched everyone I ever knew burn.” – Kara Zor-El
“Justice isn’t about what a monster deserves, it’s about what you have to carry after you give it to them.“ – Kara Zor-El

* “He sees the good in everyone. I see the truth.” – Supergirl talking about Superman

* “Your life will be your revenge.” – Supergirl