Supergirl is reportedly projected to close its theatrical run with a global box office total that could lose Warner Bros. more than $100 million.
That’s according to Variety, which reported on dark skies ahead for the sophomore DCU film after it bombed in theaters on its opening weekend. Its first four days in theaters saw it bring in a disappointing $38 million domestically, for a $68 million global total, and it doesn’t sound like it will have the legs to break even.
The site said Warner Bros. and DC spent $170 million to produce Supergirl and $120 million to market it. Although, as noted by Variety, the cut for theater owners would usually bring the break-even number to a staggering $375 million, one source says it will need to reach $300 million to recoup its costs.
The Milly Alock-led superhero flick kicking off its run with $68 million already suggests Warner Bros. is in store for an uphill battle to reach those numbers, but there are even more factors at play. Being poised to be an early summer blockbuster with its June 26 release date means Kara Zor-El will soon face a crowded space as audiences flock to new films throughout July.
Things start early with the release of Minions & Monsters July 1. Evil Dead Burn and the live-action Moana remake then both follow July 10. Mid-to-late July is where things get especially busy, as moviegoers will almost certainly leave Supergirl as an afterthought when Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey makes landfall July 17, while Spider-Man: Brand New Day will bring superhero movie fans back to theaters July 31.
With so little room to breathe, Supergirl is currently only projected to accumulate $200 million to $210 million throughout its worldwide box office run. Mixed reactions from fans online could steer interested fans away from showings, too, potentially leaving it with even more disappointment down the road.
An already optimistic $200 million in box office earnings would theoretically leave Warner Bros. with $100 million to $120 million in losses. However, one Variety source familiar with the film’s financials said that, should projections pan out, the loss would be closer to $80 million to $85 million. A reported lack of backend deals for the cast and crew will help it break even, but the Warner Bros. picture is still off to a rough start.
“This was always going to be a tough hurdle for DC and Warner Bros. because Supergirl isn’t a character that has ever created an event-level blockbuster,” Exhibitor Relations analyst Jeff Bock told Variety. “Audience perception of Supergirl was not good. This is just a case of the film wasn’t good enough to become an event.”
As fans take to social media to argue about needle drops and story decisions, Supergirl reviews haven’t been particularly strong. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes currently shows a “rotten” critic score of 54%, while its audience score sits at a somewhat more favorable 76%. IGN gave the film a 6/10 review.
Despite Supergirl’s struggle, the DCU is showing no signs of slowing down. Superman began DC Studios’ rebooted comic book movie universe with a sonic boom when it premiered last year. While more TV shows like Lanterns and a Jimmy Olsen / Gorilla Grodd project are in the works, the next film, Clayface, is already set to break the mold this October. Man of Tomorrow will see David Corenswet – and Alcock – return to the big screen in July 2026. Beyond that, DC Studios plans to introduce Batman into the new DCU via a Brave and the Bold movie, there are plans for a Wonder Woman film, and co-CEO James Gunn has spoken openly about eventually getting to a new Justice League.
“While Supergirl didn’t meet our box office expectations,” DC Studios co-CEO Safran told The New York Times in the aftermath of Supergirl’s opening weekend, “it’s just one component of a broader, long-term strategy at DC Studios that we remain confident in.”
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
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