OG Supergirl Star Reviews The New DCU Movie After Disappointing Box Office Debut

Helen Slater delivers her verdict on the DC Universe’s new Supergirl movie.

Slater played the titular character in the 1984 Supergirl film. As indicated by the 19% critics’ score and 26% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie was not well-received, and it only grossed $14.3 at the domestic worldwide box office after being made on an estimated budget of $35 million. The character did not get her own movie again until 2026’s Supergirl, with Milly Alcock playing the superhero this time.

While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Slater shared that “I loved the new Supergirl film. I thought Milly Alcock was astonishing — fierce, strong and great comic timing!” As someone with a doctorate in mythological studies, she added that “My understanding is that these myths should be changing. We want reinterpretations. That keeps it alive and keeps it going. It echoes what’s happening in the culture right now. It’s fun that it evolves and keeps developing.”

Slater’s positive review comes after a disappointing opening weekend box office, only earning $68 million globally and $37.1 million in the U.S. after being made on a reported budget of $170 million. DC Studios’ co-Ceo Peter Safran has acknowledged that “Supergirl didn’t meet our box office expectations” while explaining that “it’s just one component of a broader, long-term strategy at DC Studios that we remain confident in.”

While the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is 76%, the critics’ score is more negative at 54%. In ScreenRant‘s Supergirl review, Molly Freeman gave the movie six out of 10 stars and wrote that “There’s still something missing. Namely, the conviction of who the character of Kara/Supergirl truly is,” Similar to Slater, she praises how “Alcock’s performance as Kara has a great deal of vulnerability, and the moments when she’s worried about Krypto or grieving her parents genuinely brought tears to my eyes. Even Kara’s lighter scenes, like when she’s joking around with Ruthye, are buoyed by Alcock.”

Despite the disappointing box office debut and mixed critical reception, as confirmed by Safran, the DCU’s plans are not changing at this time. Alcock was previously revealed to be reprising the role of Kara Zor-El/Supergirl in the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, which is still in production. Directed and written by James Gunn, the film releases in theaters on July 9, 2027, and sees Superman (David Corenswet) and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) teaming up against Brainiac (Lars Eidinger).

Alcock first appeared as Supergirl during Superman‘s ending, when she reunites with Krypto. While she is playing the character across multiple projects, Slater did not get the same experience, sharing with THR that “I know it didn’t do well because we didn’t make the second and third film.” However, she did play many other DC roles over the years, including Lara-El in Smallville, voicing Martha Kent In DC Super Hero Girls, and Eliza Danvers in the Supergirl television series, where the eponymous superhero was played by Melissa Benoist.

Helen Slater as Supergirl flying in Supergirl

Slater also has a de-aged cameo as Supergirl in 2023’s The Flash movie. There was speculation that the appearance was entirely CGI-generated, but Slater confirms that this is not true: “I was in this very wild machine with 600 eyes around it. But they could have just put a Barbie doll in because I’m de-aged so much. They were so kind to fly me out to London, but I don’t know that they needed to.”

The 1984 Supergirl movie is directed by Jeannot Szwarc and written by David Odell, with a cast that also includes Faye Dunaway as Selena, Peter O’Toole as Zaltar, Simon Ward as Zor-El, Mia Farrow as Alura In-Ze, and a story set after Christopher Reeves’ Superman III.

2026’s Supergirl is directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira. It sees Kara teaming up with the young Ruthye (Eve Ridley) after the villainous Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts) poisons Krypto and kills Ruthye’s family. Corenswet reprises his role of Superman, and the cast also features Jason Momoa as Lobo, David Krumholtz as Zor-El, and Emily Beecham as Alura In-Ze. In the DCU timeline, it is set after Superman and before Man of Tomorrow, and reveals this universe’s version of how Krypton was destroyed.