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Helen Slater Endorses Milly Alcocks Supergirl Amid Box-Office Disappointment
Helen Slater, the original Supergirl who first appeared on screen in 1984, has taken a surprisingly enthusiastic stance on the 2026 DC Studios reboot starring Milly Alcock. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Slater declared, “I loved the new ‘Supergirl’ film. I thought Milly Alcock was astonishing – fierce, strong and great comic timing!” She had already voiced her support two years earlier on Instagram, writing, “Congratulations to the luminous Milly Alcock, the next Supergirl! DC universe awaits you! You will be AMAZING!!”
The 1984 film was a pioneering live‑action entry for the character of Kara Zor‑El, Superman’s cousin. Released in November of that year, it earned a modest $14 million against a $35 million budget and was met with largely negative reviews. Film critic Roger Ebert labeled it an “unhappy, unfunny, unexciting movie.” Although the movie never spawned a sequel, Slater remained a staple of the DC brand, appearing in the television series Smallville, the 2015 Supergirl series, and a cameo in the 2023 film The Flash.
Fast forward to 2026, and the new Supergirl opened with a domestic weekend gross of $37 million—far below the $125 million debut of 2025’s Superman. The underwhelming box‑office numbers have sparked a chorus of negative headlines, framing the film as a disappointment for DC Studios. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 55 percent approval rating, and a Cinemascore poll assigned the movie a B‑ grade, a low mark for a tentpole summer release.
Despite the mixed reception, Alcock’s performance has repeatedly drawn praise. Critics and audiences alike have highlighted her “astonishing” portrayal, and the actress has already been confirmed to return as Kara in 2027’s Man of Tomorrow, a sequel to Superman that will feature David Corenswet in the lead role.
DC Studios co‑CEO Peter Safran addressed the film’s commercial results in an interview with The New York Times. Safran said, “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.” He, along with James Gunn, was hired in 2022 to launch a new series of interconnected DC movies, and he has emphasized that the studio’s overall trajectory remains positive.
The film’s performance must be viewed in the context of DC Studios’ recent strategy. The 2025 Superman opened to a strong $125 million, and the 2026 Supergirl is part of the same cinematic universe that includes The Flash and upcoming projects such as Man of Tomorrow. Safran’s comments suggest that the studio is treating the film’s underperformance as a data point rather than a derailment.
Industry observers note that the box‑office shortfall could influence future budgeting and marketing decisions for the DC Universe. However, Safran’s statement indicates that the studio will continue to invest in the franchise, with Alcock already slated for a 2027 sequel.
In summary, Helen Slater’s endorsement of Milly Alcock’s performance contrasts with the film’s commercial and critical challenges. The 2026 Supergirl opened to $37 million domestically, a figure that falls short of the $125 million opening for 2025’s Superman. The movie holds a 55 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating and a B‑ Cinemascore. Despite the lukewarm reception, Alcock will reprise her role in 2027’s Man of Tomorrow, and DC Studios’ co‑CEO Peter Safran has reiterated confidence in the broader strategy for the DC Universe. The studio’s future releases, including the upcoming Man of Tomorrow, will likely be shaped by the lessons learned from Supergirl’s box‑office performance.
The 1984 film was a pioneering live‑action entry for the character of Kara Zor‑El, Superman’s cousin. Released in November of that year, it earned a modest $14 million against a $35 million budget and was met with largely negative reviews. Film critic Roger Ebert labeled it an “unhappy, unfunny, unexciting movie.” Although the movie never spawned a sequel, Slater remained a staple of the DC brand, appearing in the television series Smallville, the 2015 Supergirl series, and a cameo in the 2023 film The Flash.
Fast forward to 2026, and the new Supergirl opened with a domestic weekend gross of $37 million—far below the $125 million debut of 2025’s Superman. The underwhelming box‑office numbers have sparked a chorus of negative headlines, framing the film as a disappointment for DC Studios. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 55 percent approval rating, and a Cinemascore poll assigned the movie a B‑ grade, a low mark for a tentpole summer release.
Despite the mixed reception, Alcock’s performance has repeatedly drawn praise. Critics and audiences alike have highlighted her “astonishing” portrayal, and the actress has already been confirmed to return as Kara in 2027’s Man of Tomorrow, a sequel to Superman that will feature David Corenswet in the lead role.
DC Studios co‑CEO Peter Safran addressed the film’s commercial results in an interview with The New York Times. Safran said, “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.” He, along with James Gunn, was hired in 2022 to launch a new series of interconnected DC movies, and he has emphasized that the studio’s overall trajectory remains positive.
The film’s performance must be viewed in the context of DC Studios’ recent strategy. The 2025 Superman opened to a strong $125 million, and the 2026 Supergirl is part of the same cinematic universe that includes The Flash and upcoming projects such as Man of Tomorrow. Safran’s comments suggest that the studio is treating the film’s underperformance as a data point rather than a derailment.
Industry observers note that the box‑office shortfall could influence future budgeting and marketing decisions for the DC Universe. However, Safran’s statement indicates that the studio will continue to invest in the franchise, with Alcock already slated for a 2027 sequel.
In summary, Helen Slater’s endorsement of Milly Alcock’s performance contrasts with the film’s commercial and critical challenges. The 2026 Supergirl opened to $37 million domestically, a figure that falls short of the $125 million opening for 2025’s Superman. The movie holds a 55 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating and a B‑ Cinemascore. Despite the lukewarm reception, Alcock will reprise her role in 2027’s Man of Tomorrow, and DC Studios’ co‑CEO Peter Safran has reiterated confidence in the broader strategy for the DC Universe. The studio’s future releases, including the upcoming Man of Tomorrow, will likely be shaped by the lessons learned from Supergirl’s box‑office performance.
