The next chapter of DC Studios’ growing cinematic universe is almost here, and the first wave of reactions to Supergirl has finally landed online. While critics appear somewhat divided on the movie as a whole, there’s one area where there seems to be very little disagreement: Milly Alcock and Jason Momoa absolutely make an impression.
Following the success of Superman, DC is shifting its focus to Kara Zor-El, a hero who couldn’t be more different from her famous cousin.
Directed by Craig Gillespie (Dumb Money) and based on the acclaimed comic series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the film looks to be taking audiences on a rougher, stranger, and more emotionally charged journey through space.
Early reactions suggest that’s exactly what viewers are getting.
One of the strongest endorsements came from The Mary Sue’s Rachel Leishman, who fully embraced the film’s take on Kara: “‘Supergirl’ is everything I wanted it to be. Girls can be messy and that rules! Kara isn’t her cousin, and I really loved how this movie makes that clear. She’s a different kind of hero and perfect in every way.”
That idea of Kara standing apart from Superman comes up repeatedly in the reactions. Rather than following the hopeful, idealistic path established by David Corenswet’s Man of Steel, Alcock’s version of the character appears to be carrying a lot more scars.
Journalist Mike Ryan was surprised by just how different the movie feels from what many expected: “‘Supergirl’ is not at all what I was expecting. I, too, assumed ‘superhero space movie with needle drops’ would have a similar tone to ‘GOTG’ or even ‘Superman.’
“Instead it looks and plays more like a ‘Mad Max’ movie, with dirty worlds, gross villains and a self destructive hero.”
That comparison to Mad Max showed up elsewhere as well. ComicBook’s Chris Killian described the film as a blend of several familiar influences: “If you threw ‘GOTG,’ ‘True Grit,’ and ‘Mad Max’ into a DC blender, you’d get #Supergirl – a grimy, funny, yet surprisingly somber space adventure.
“Milly shines, especially when we get into Kara’s tragic backstory, but Jason Momoa is having the fraggin’ time of his life as Lobo.”
Momoa’s performance as Lobo is generating a lot of excitement. Fans may remember that the actor had long expressed interest in playing the intergalactic bounty hunter, even during his time as Aquaman. Based on these reactions, it sounds like he finally found the perfect role.
BJ Colangelo from /Film echoed that sentiment while also praising Alcock and co-star Eve Ridley: “Milly Alcock is a fantastic Kara, and #Supergirl is an entertaining (and sometimes depressing) take on a ‘True Grit’ in space.
“Jason Momoa was born to play Lobo, and Eve Ridley shines as Ruthye. Some of the CGI is ugly, but I will always be on board with a messy superheroine.”
Not everyone was completely won over, though. Several critics felt the film struggled with story issues despite strong performances. Tessa Smith offered one of the more measured reactions:
“Unfortunately, Supergirl is a mixed bag for me. As a fan of the comic, I was (perhaps) overly excited for the film adaptation.
“While Jason Momoa’s Lobo & Milly Alcock shine, some adaptation choices and a bland villain keep it from greatness. It’s, simply put, just fine.”
Brandon Davis shared a similar viewpoint: “#Supergirl soars at times through a scattered adventure at its best in moments of touching dialogue. Kara’s arc payoff could’ve benefited from better story structure, but Milly Alcock is great. Wanted to love it, liked it. Practical elements & Lobo are standouts!”
John Nguyen from Nerd Reactor also came away wanting more from the material given to Alcock: “I was mostly hopeful going in, even with a few reservations.
”I love Craig Gillespie’s work, and I was excited to see Milly Alcock take on this role. But for me, #supergirl felt bland, and I left wishing she had been given stronger material to show what she can really do.”
Others landed much higher on the film. Dan Marcus of The Film Frontier was enthusiastic about the experience, writing: “I was a big fan of ‘Supergirl,’ a lively, vivid, and entertaining superhero film with a lot of heart.
“Milly Alcock shines as the titular character, establishing she is a star. This has gorgeous cinematography, great humor, and stylish action. It’s not perfect, but I had fun.”
Meanwhile, Gizmodo’s Germain Lussier highlighted the film’s emotional weight and how it fits into the broader DC Universe: “#Supergirl is highly enjoyable.
“It doesn’t quite have the resonance of ‘Superman,’ but it acts as both a perfect companion and follow-up to that movie with better characters and more complex relationships. It’s also incredibly emotional, which makes the action hit even harder.”
Taken together, the reactions paint a picture of a movie that may not work for everyone but is at least trying something different. Critics repeatedly point to Alcock’s performance, Momoa’s scene-stealing Lobo, and the film’s willingness to embrace a rougher, more tragic sci-fi western tone.
That’s particularly important because Supergirl has been a key piece of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC plan from the start. Originally announced as Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the project remained part of the studio’s roadmap even as other plans shifted.
After Kara’s appearance in Superman, the character is also expected to return in next year’s Man of Tomorrow, making this film a significant building block for the future of the franchise.
The bigger question now is whether audiences connect with it. Early tracking has suggested the movie could face an uphill climb at the box office, making positive word of mouth especially important.
The critical response may be mixed, but if moviegoers embrace Alcock’s take on Kara and Momoa’s wild interpretation of Lobo, Supergirl could still find its audience.
We won’t have to wait much longer to find out. Supergirl flies into theaters on June 26, 2026.
