07/09/2026
As a lifelong fan of Superman, Supergirl, and DC Comics in general, I went into Supergirl hoping for something special. Unfortunately, while I didn’t hate the movie, I also didn’t love it. In the end, I’m giving Supergirl 2.5 out of 5 stars.
This is one of those movies that’s not terrible, but it’s also not something I can see myself rushing to watch again anytime soon. It has some good ideas, some fun moments, and a few things that I genuinely enjoyed. But it also has some major problems that keep it from being a great superhero movie.
Let’s start with the positives.
First and foremost, I thought the actress playing Supergirl did a very good job. Whether you agree with some of the writing choices or not, I think she brought personality to the role and did the best she could with the material she was given. She was believable as Kara, and I never felt like she was the problem with the movie.
Second, Krypto was fantastic.
Now, I do have one complaint. The movie spends a lot of time with Krypto injured, sick, or in danger. As a Krypto fan, I hated seeing that. But at the same time, I understand why the writers did it. Krypto’s condition gives Supergirl a personal reason to keep fighting and moving forward. It raises the stakes and gives the story some emotional weight. I just wish we could have seen a little more of healthy, happy Krypto being an absolute menace to society.
Another positive is that we got to see Superman. It wasn’t a huge role, but anytime Superman shows up, I’m happy.
We also got Lobo, played by Jason Momoa. For years, comic book fans have been saying, “If they ever bring Lobo to the big screen, Jason Momoa needs to play him.” And now it finally happened. Whether you loved the movie or hated it, seeing Momoa as Lobo was one of those moments where the casting just made sense. It’s like casting Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man. Some people simply fit a role naturally, and Momoa fits Lobo.
Now, I don’t think this version of Lobo was nearly as dangerous or intimidating as the comic book version, but I was still smiling every time he appeared. If this is just the beginning for the character, then I’m excited to see where they take him next.
I also appreciated that the story had a clear goal. At its core, this is a story about revenge, justice, and trying to save Krypto. The movie always had a direction, and there was always a reason for the characters to keep moving forward. That’s something I can appreciate.
And finally, I thought the fight scenes were actually pretty good. In fact, I enjoyed the action in this movie more than the action in the Superman movie that came before it. The fights felt more energetic, more impactful, and more entertaining overall.
Now let’s talk about the negatives.
My first issue is something that I know comes directly from the comics, but I still don’t like it.
I really don’t care for seeing Supergirl partying and getting drunk.
I understand that this version of Kara is dealing with trauma. I understand that she watched Krypton die and carries emotional scars that Superman doesn’t necessarily carry in the same way. I get what the writers were going for.
But I’m also someone who grew up in the 80s and 90s. Back then, superheroes were role models. They were characters we wanted to be like. They inspired us to be brave, honorable, selfless, and to do the right thing even when it was difficult. Superman, Supergirl, Batman, Captain America, Spider-Man—these weren’t perfect people, but they were characters who constantly tried to rise above their flaws and become something better.
Lately, there seems to be a trend in superhero storytelling where heroes are increasingly portrayed as broken, cynical, reckless, morally compromised, or self-destructive. Sometimes that can create interesting stories, and when done well it absolutely has its place.
But personally, I think we’ve started losing something important.
One of the reasons superheroes became so popular in the first place is because they represented ideals. They gave us something to aspire to. They reminded us that ordinary people could choose courage over fear, kindness over cruelty, and responsibility over selfishness.
That’s why seeing Supergirl stumbling around drunk didn’t really work for me. I know it’s comic accurate. I know there’s a story reason for it. But when I watch a Supergirl movie, I want to see someone who inspires people to become better versions of themselves. Maybe that’s just the old-school comic book fan in me talking. But I miss superheroes who felt heroic.
Another issue is that Supergirl spends much of the movie struggling emotionally and mentally. Again, I understand why. The story is trying to explore the trauma she carries from witnessing the destruction of Krypton. The problem is that the movie spends so much time focusing on her weaknesses and emotional struggles that it sometimes forgets to show us why she’s such an incredible hero in the first place.
Which brings me to my biggest complaint.
The villain.
The villain is awful. I’m sorry, but he is one of the most forgettable comic book villains I’ve seen in a long time. He looked stupid. He doesn’t feel intimidating. He doesn’t feel powerful. He doesn’t feel important. He doesn’t feel like a genuine threat to Supergirl. The only memorable thing he did was catch a tank with one arm. lol
When I think about great comic book villains, I think about characters who command attention every time they appear on screen. This guy never reaches that level. He feels like a random space criminal who somehow wandered in from a low-budget Mad Max fan film and accidentally ended up in a Supergirl movie. For me, he completely drags the film down.
And then there’s the issue that bothered me more than anything else. We rarely get to see Supergirl at her full potential. Throughout most of the movie, she’s weakened by something. She’s poisoned. She’s injured. She’s affected by environmental conditions. She’s recovering from one thing or another. She’s constantly operating below her maximum power level.
As a result, it feels like we spend most of the movie watching a weakened Supergirl instead of watching Supergirl be Supergirl.
To make matters worse, she barely wears the classic Supergirl costume until the end. Maybe that’s a modern storytelling trend, but I’ve never been a fan of it.
When I buy a ticket to a superhero movie, I want to see the superhero in costume doing superhero things.
Call me old-fashioned.
If I buy a Batman movie ticket, I want Batman.
If I buy a Superman movie ticket, I want Superman.
And if I buy a Supergirl movie ticket, I would very much like to see Supergirl before the closing stages of the movie.
That’s not an unreasonable request.
At the end of the day, Supergirl isn’t a bad movie. The lead actress does a good job. Krypto is lovable, even if the movie keeps putting the poor dog through the wringer. Jason Momoa was a fun choice for Lobo.
The action is solid. The story moves at a decent pace. And there are enough entertaining moments here to keep the movie from completely falling apart.
But the weak villain, the constant depowering of the main character, the lack of classic superhero moments, and some questionable character choices keep it from reaching its full potential.
For me, Supergirl lands right in the middle. Not great. Not terrible. Just okay.
2.5 out of 5 stars from the only movie critic that matters.
