As a second instalment of the DC Universe (DCU), ‘Supergirl’ (2026) sets a different tone in James Gunn’s cinematic universe. It follows Supergirl in her quest to save her dog while becoming her best self.
The film was based on the comic ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ (2021–2022), which was in turn based on the 1968 novel ‘True Grit’, and follows the same plot line.
After her whole family was murdered, Ruthee Ruthye Marye Knoll (Matthias Schoenaerts) sets out to seek revenge on a space bandit Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts). She meets Kara Zor-El / Supergirl (Milly Alcock), whose dog, Krypto, has also been poisoned by Krem, who is also the only person with an antidote. Together, they embark on an interplanetary adventure to seek revenge and the cure.
Last year’s ‘Superman’ was a breath of fresh air. With the trend of darker, grittier superheroes - as popularised by 'The Dark Knight' (2009) and continued to the late DC Extended Universe (DCEU) - resting in peace, the 2025 take started the cinematic reboot of the DC Universe with a return to bright, hopeful and inspiring. The tone proved to fit well with the extremely humanistic character of Superman and managed to keep him relevant in the current time.
What shines in this continuation of the universe is the titular character herself. While Superman is a character viewers can look up to, Supergirl is a messier character in which audiences can see themselves.
Instead of being sent away to Earth as a toddler like her cousin Kal-El, Kara spent time growing up on Krypton. She had a life there and slowly saw the planet dying. This traumatised her greatly. She struggles to fit in and spends her time hopping planet to planet, drinking and partying. This differentiates 'Supergirl' from its predecessor, establishing that the new DC Universe is not all bright and shiny.
What audiences root for with Kara is not only for her to save her dog but for her to save herself and become the Supergirl she is meant to become.
I especially like Milly Alcock’s portrayal of the character. With her sunglasses, headset and no-care attitude, it was such a stark contrast to Clark Kent, despite sharing the same ‘Super’ symbol. What is also fun is that she basically has the same super powers, but is willing to let loose and use those powers more.
What the film falls short on is its delivery. The first two arcs set out an interesting premise and emotional backstory for Kara. It also challenges the main character with morally complex situations. However, this does not pay off in the third arc. We can somewhat understand what inspired Kara to change, but the change feels too out-of-nowhere, and the impact is not quite there. Even just thinking back to the "raise the flag scene" in Superman, I can find an example of a setpiece that was really impactful as a wake-up call for the main character.
I know I've compared this film to ‘Superman’ a lot, but with it being a soft continuation of that and sharing the ‘Super-’ title, there is a lot to contrast, whether the tonal difference or the quality of the film. Nonetheless, while not living up to her cousin's previous outing, Supergirl is still an enjoyable watch that shows what the DC Universe can be.
It's a universe that definitely can be more. The upcoming third release in the franchise, ‘Clayface’, is set to portray a villain origin story using the body horror genre. That should, regardless of reception, surely expand the tone of this cinematic universe, assuring the audience that they will not only get the brightest of the bright but also the darkest of the dark.
