The original 'Supergirl' star, Helen Slater, has come to the defense of the new movie, despite its poor box office performance and negative headlines. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Slater expressed her love for the film and praised Milly Alcock's performance as Supergirl, calling her 'fierce, strong, and great with comic timing'.
Slater's support for Alcock is not new. When Alcock was cast as Supergirl, Slater took to Instagram to congratulate her, stating that the DC universe awaited Alcock and that she would be 'AMAZING'.
The 1984 'Supergirl' movie, starring Slater, was a box office disappointment, grossing only $14 million and receiving negative reviews. Despite this, Slater remained involved with DC, appearing in 'Smallville' and the 'Supergirl' TV series. The 2023 'The Flash' movie also featured Slater's Supergirl in a cameo.
The latest 'Supergirl' movie, released in 2026, has faced similar challenges. It debuted domestically with a $37 million opening weekend, significantly lower than the $125 million opening of 'Superman' in 2025. DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran acknowledged the film's failure to meet expectations but downplayed concerns about the DC Universe franchise.
The movie has received a mixed reception, with a 55% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a B- Cinemascore grade, which is considered poor for a summer blockbuster. However, Alcock's performance as Supergirl has been widely praised, even in negative reviews.
Despite the 'Supergirl' movie's poor performance, Alcock is set to return as Kara in 'Man of Tomorrow', a sequel to 'Superman' with David Corenswet in the lead role. This suggests that the DC Universe franchise is committed to Alcock's portrayal of Supergirl, despite the challenges faced by the latest 'Supergirl' film.
