DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran expressed continued optimism for the studio's direction even as Supergirl didn’t meet “box office expectations” against its reported $175M budget. The film launched into a competitive summer marketplace from Warner Bros. This performance arrives as the latest test for the rebooted franchise's theatrical prospects.
Starring Milly Alcock as the titular superhero, Supergirl collected $38 million domestically from Warner Bros., following pre-release projections that had pointed toward an opening closer to $50 million. The global weekend total for the movie reached $68 million. DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran told the New York Times that the results reflect broader market dynamics in the current theatrical landscape.
While the film did not meet expectations at the box office, Safran emphasized that this outcome represents just one element within the studio's plans. “While Supergirl didn’t meet our box office expectations, it’s just one component of a broader, long-term strategy at DC Studios that we remain confident in,” he told the New York Times, underscoring the commitment to building a sustainable future for the franchise beyond any single release.
Supergirl marks the second big-screen project from Safran and James Gunn’s DC Universe slate. The story follows Kara Zor-El as she navigates life after Krypton’s destruction, teaming up with an unlikely young companion on a quest for justice across the stars. Along the way, she encounters the chaotic bounty hunter Lobo, adding a dynamic layer of action and camaraderie to her journey without relying on heavy connections to other heroes.
Kara confronts the weight of her survivor’s guilt and searches for meaning after losing her homeworld, teaming with a determined young girl seeking vengeance against a brutal space pirate. Their bond develops through perilous encounters on hostile planets and tense alliances, giving Alcock room to portray a hero who is equal parts fierce protector and emotionally scarred outsider. Lobo’s unpredictable presence injects raw energy and moral complexity into the interstellar chase.
DC Studios will follow with the body horror project Clayface hitting theaters in October starring Tom Rhys Harries as the shapeshifting title character. The Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow then launches next July to further expand the connected universe. These releases underscore the studio’s push into varied genres while advancing its multi-year plan for DC characters on the big screen.
