Supergirl is just a week away from its June 26, 2026 premiere but it seems that the movie has been screened to select members of the press. It seems that the critics who have seen the movie have thoroughly enjoyed it. But the most common theme of most critics’ reviews is that the Milly Alcock-led DCU movie has the vibe of the classic action franchise, Mad Max.
It is not surprising because the Craig Gillespie-directed movie is adapting the 2023 acclaimed eight-issue graphic novel, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. That graphic novel saw Kara Zor-El travel across different planets of the universe to aid the young girl Ruthye Marye Knoll, who is on a quest for revenge.
Supergirl first reactions: What are the critics saying?
The upcoming DCU movie made a good impression on the critics who have seen it. But a lot of critics in their short social media reviews pointed out the influence of the Mad Max movies on the DC project. That’s not because the movie is set in a post-apocalyptic Earth, but because it sees the titular hero travel far and wide across the galaxy.
Comicbook.com‘s Chris Killian was one of the many critics to draw comparisons between the movie and the Mad Max franchise in his X (formerly Twitter) review:
“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. (1/2)”
He especially appreciated the movie for the puppetry, production design, and the practical effects of the movie, saying:
“I also want to highlight the practical effects. The design, makeup, and puppetry are all Oscar-level good. Krypton looks incredible. And my goodness does this movie solidify what peak casting David Corenswet is as Supes. Every time he’s on screen, you can’t help but smile. (2/2)”
Mike Ryan was another critic who pointed at the Mad Max influence in the production design of the movie. Ryan’s short review on X read:
“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.”
Apart from the Mad Max comparison, many reviews have also praised Milly Alcock and Jason Momoa’s turns as Kara Zor-El and Lobo as highlights of the movie. In fact, Momoa’s turn as Lobo is exciting because the actor lobbied to play the part even when he was cast as Aquaman a decade ago for the now-defunct DCEU.
Collider‘s Rachel Leishman especially loved the movie because of its messy and complicated protagonist. However, some critics like Tessa Smith were less impressed by the movie, citing the source material Woman of Tomorrow as superior.
What do we know about the DCU movie?
It probably takes place after last year’s Superman, which ended with Kara reuniting with Krypto the Superdog. This movie would begin with Kara celebrating her birthday, where she comes across a young girl named Ruthye, who is on a quest for vengeance. A shocking event pushes Kara to join the young girl in her seemingly dangerous quest, which spans the galaxy. The official synopsis for the movie reads:
“When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.”
Are you excited for the new DCU movie? Let us know.
Edited by Debashri Roy