Supergirl Opens Below Expectations, but DC Studios Stands by Its Long-Term Strategy

DC Studios has addressed the performance of Supergirl after the film opened below expectations during its first weekend in theaters. Despite the softer-than-expected debut, the studio’s leadership insists that the result does not alter its long-term vision for the new DC Universe.

DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran, who runs the company alongside James Gunn, said he remains fully confident in the strategy they introduced in early 2023 after taking over the studio. Speaking to The New York Times, Safran stated, “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.”

Released by Warner Bros., Supergirl arrived in theaters last weekend with Milly Alcock starring as Kara Zor-El. The film earned approximately $38 million at the domestic box office, falling short of pre-release projections of around $50 million. Worldwide, director Craig Gillespie’s superhero adventure collected an estimated $68 million during its opening weekend.

Supergirl marks the second theatrical release in the new DC Universe overseen by Peter Safran and James Gunn. The story follows Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin, as she encounters several iconic DC characters, including Jason Momoa’s Lobo. One year earlier, Superman, starring David Corenswet, launched the rebooted franchise with a worldwide gross of approximately $618 million. Supergirl was produced on a budget of about $170 million, significantly lower than Superman’s reported $225 million production cost.

Although the opening weekend fell below expectations, DC Studios is moving forward with its previously announced roadmap. The studio’s next theatrical release will be Clayface, a body horror film scheduled for October starring Tom Rhys Harries in the title role. It will be followed by Superman: Man of Tomorrow, which is set to premiere next summer.

On the television side, DC Studios continues expanding its interconnected universe. The animated series Creature Commandos has already been renewed for a second season, while Lanterns is scheduled to debut in August, starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart.

Separate from the new DC Universe, the Emmy-winning series The Penguin continues to receive critical acclaim, with Colin Farrell reprising the character he first portrayed opposite Robert Pattinson in Matt Reeves’ The Batman.

During the Supergirl premiere earlier this month, executive producer Lars P. Winther revealed that the new DC Universe has the support of David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Skydance Media. Ellison is currently leading the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery following approval from the U.S. Department of Justice. Speaking about Ellison’s involvement, Winther simply said, “He’s been great with us.”

Peter Safran is widely regarded as one of Hollywood’s most influential producers in the superhero genre. Before becoming co-CEO of DC Studios, he spent years working with Warner Bros. through The Safran Company, producing several successful franchises, including The Conjuring Universe, Aquaman, Shazam!, The Nun, and Blue Beetle. Throughout his career, Safran has built a reputation for balancing commercial success with long-term franchise development.

In late 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery appointed Peter Safran and filmmaker James Gunn to lead DC Studios in an effort to rebuild the DC brand after years of inconsistent storytelling across its shared universe. In January 2023, the duo unveiled the first chapter of their new vision, titled Gods and Monsters, introducing an interconnected slate of films, television series, and animated projects. Their goal has been to establish a cohesive cinematic universe comparable to the successful model developed by Marvel Studios.

Within that strategy, Superman was designed to serve as the foundation of the new franchise, while Supergirl expands the mythology through a different perspective on Krypton’s legacy. Although the film’s opening weekend has prompted questions about audience interest in the rebooted DC Universe, Peter Safran maintains that the performance of a single title should not define the overall direction of the franchise.

James Gunn has repeatedly emphasized that DC Studios’ top priority is producing strong stories rather than rushing projects into production. That philosophy has resulted in several previously planned films being canceled or reworked to better fit the studio’s long-term vision. With multiple movies and television series already scheduled over the next several years, the studio continues to focus on building a stable foundation despite early box office fluctuations.

For Milly Alcock, Supergirl represents one of the biggest milestones of her career. After earning widespread praise as the young Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon, the Australian actress was selected to portray one of DC’s most iconic female superheroes. While the film’s commercial debut may have fallen short of expectations, her performance has received positive reactions from both critics and audiences, strengthening the possibility that Supergirl will continue to play a major role in the expanding DC Universe.