Supergirl Movie Review (no spoilers)

I walked into this movie not nowing which way it was going......Supergirl is the first real “risk” of the new DCU after Superman — and that is a good thing. This is not being sold as a bright, clean, simple cousin-of-Superman story. This movie is grittier, more emotional, more space-western, and more revenge-driven than people expected.

My early verdict :Grade: B+ / A- potentialBest for: DC fans, older tweens/teens, superhero fans who want something rougher than Superman but not totally dark.

I can tell you Not best for: very young kids expecting a light, traditional “girl Superman” movie.

Did I like it? Yes, I was always entertained and wait for more!

What the movie is about

The official synopsis says Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, is pulled into an interstellar journey of vengeance and justiceafter a ruthless adversary strikes too close to home. She teams up with an unlikely companion, Ruthye Marye Knoll, and the story involves Kara, Ruthye, Krypto, the villain Krem of the Yellow Hills, and Jason Momoa’s Lobo.

The movie is inspired by Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the Tom King/Bilquis Evely comic run, and is directed by Craig Gillespie, best known for I, Tonya and Cruella. Ana Nogueira wrote the screenplay.

This Movie is not....“Superman with a skirt”

This seems to be the key point: Kara is not being presented as a polished, perfect hero. Reuters reports that Milly Alcock described Kara as a “reluctant hero,” rebellious but humble, while Craig Gillespie said he was drawn to the fact that Kara is flawed, traumatized, and not placed on a pedestal.

it felt like Mad Max, Guardians of the Galaxy, and even True Grit — meaning it may have messy alien worlds, road-movie energy, humor, violence, and emotional pain all mixed together.

That is smart because it gives Supergirl her own identity. The danger is that the movie could feel uneven if it jumps too much between humor, action, trauma, and revenge.

Milly Alcock as Supergirl

This looks like the movie’s biggest strength. Milly Alcock, brings humor, heart, sadness, and attitude to Kara. She's as a natural fit for the role, especially when the movie explores Kara’s tragic background.

That matters because Supergirl has sometimes been treated as a lighter Superman spin-off. This version is more specific: Kara is a survivor of Krypton’s destruction in a more direct, emotionally damaged way than Superman, who was raised by loving parents on Earth. The movie seems to lean into that contrast.

Alcock may become the reason people accept this new Supergirl quickly. She is not playing “nice superhero girl.” She is playing someone wounded, funny, reckless, and still capable of choosing good.

Jason Momoa as Lobo

Jason Momoa is the movie’s scene-stealers.

It seemed like Momoa is having a blast, and I wish he had more screen time.

Lobo could be the fan-favorite wild card — chaotic, funny, dangerous, and possibly a setup for more DCU stories.

ACTION!!!

The movie’s grimy alien settings, practical design, makeup, puppetry, and action sequences are fantastic. The vibe is more Mad Max.

That is a good direction for DC. After Superman, this gives the new DCU a different flavor: not just Earth-based heroics, but strange planets, revenge, bounty hunters, and space danger.

Family guide / age rating

The movie is PG-13. Common Sense Media’s preview says parents should expect drinking and partying, intense violent battle scenes, and darker themes connected to Kara’s trauma from seeing Krypton destroyed. It also says Kara is flawed but may still be a role model through perseverance, teamwork, and honesty.

My family recommendation:

• Ages 12–13+ are probably the best fit, depending on the child.

• Younger kids who loved Krypto or Superman may be surprised if this is darker and more violent.

• Good parent talking points: grief, revenge vs. justice, trauma, choosing to help others even when you are angry.

• 
  

FINAL VERDICT:

Supergirl is not trying to be a female version of Superman. This is a wounded, rebellious, space-traveling Kara Zor-El trying to figure out justice, revenge, trauma, and what kind of hero she wants to become. If Superman was about hope, Supergirl looks like it is about healing — but with fists, planets, Krypto, and Lobo along the way.

Recommendation:See it in theaters if you like DC, Milly Alcock, Krypto, space adventure, or superhero movies with a little more edge. For families, I would not treat it as a little-kid superhero movie — this is more of an older tween/teen DC movie.

I give it a B+ or 4 out 5