‘Supergirl’ Just Landed on HBO Max, Giving Milly Alcock’s DCU Debut a Second Chance

DC Studios’ rebooted cinematic universe has been building momentum ever since James Gunn and Peter Safran took the reins, delivering last year’s well-received ‘Superman’ as the foundation for everything that’s followed. Expanding that universe further meant handing the spotlight to one of its most anticipated new heroes, and audiences finally got that chance back in June.

That film was ‘Supergirl,’ the second theatrical release in Gunn’s DC Universe and part of the studio’s larger Chapter One: Gods and Monsters slate. Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, the movie starred Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, sending her cousin Superman’s storyline into an entirely new corner of the galaxy.

Now, after a relatively short theatrical run, ‘Supergirl’ has officially made its way to HBO Max, streaming exclusively on the platform starting Thursday, September 10. HBO will also air the film on its linear channel two days later, on Saturday, September 12, at 8 p.m. ET, with an American Sign Language version performed by Catalene Sacchetti also available on HBO Max the same day.

The film follows Kara as she leaves Earth behind and heads into space alongside Ruthye Marye Knoll, a young alien girl seeking revenge against Krem of the Yellow Hill, the man responsible for murdering her father. Along the way, Kara crosses paths with Jason Momoa’s Lobo, while David Corenswet reprises his role as Superman, tying the film directly back into the broader universe Gunn established with last year’s release.

Despite the ambition behind the project, ‘Supergirl’ struggled significantly at the box office. The film opened to just $37.1 million domestically against a reported $170 to 186 million production budget, eventually settling at a worldwide total of roughly $126.4 million, a number that left the film well short of profitability once marketing costs were factored in.

Critical reception landed somewhere in the middle as well, with the film currently holding a 53 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer alongside a stronger 72 percent audience Popcornmeter score. Alcock’s performance has largely been singled out as one of the film’s strongest elements, even by critics who found other aspects of the story less compelling.

Not every reviewer landed on the more critical side of that divide, though. In a four-star review, Get Your Comic On praised the film as “a phenomenally fun time at the movies, anchored by an incredible performance from Milly Alcock,” further noting that it “breaks new ground by taking DC’s characters out into space, widening the scope of the burgeoning DCU infinitely.”

That kind of praise suggests the film’s streaming debut could give it a genuine second chance to find its audience. Unlike a crowded summer box office where ‘Supergirl’ had to compete directly with other blockbusters, HBO Max offers a lower-stakes environment where curious viewers can decide for themselves whether the film’s mixed theatrical reception was fully deserved.

It’s also worth noting that Alcock’s journey as Kara Zor-El isn’t ending here. She’s already confirmed to reprise the role in the upcoming DCU Superman sequel ‘Man of Tomorrow,’ set for release in 2027, giving the character plenty of room to grow regardless of how this first outing performed commercially.

For a studio still in the early stages of rebuilding its shared universe, a modest box office stumble doesn’t necessarily spell trouble long-term, especially with a performance as well-received as Alcock’s anchoring the character moving forward. Streaming numbers over the coming weeks will likely offer a clearer picture of just how much of an audience ‘Supergirl’ can still find.

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