“Supergirl” is a decent standalone movie — so why is everyone acting like it’s awful?

Here we go again. A woman-led superhero movie is out in theaters, and people can’t stop gleefully bashing it, as well as prematurely analyzing its performance based solely on its opening weekend earnings.

And okay, I’ll admit it — before I watched Supergirl in a movie theater this past weekend, my expectations were medium to low.

Part of the reason was the reviews; the second film in the reboot of the DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran received a “rotten” score of 55% on Rotten Tomatoes (the audience score is much more positive). Another reason is superhero blockbuster fatigue. I’ve seen nearly every live-action superhero movie in theaters during its opening weekend for the last 20 years. I’m a fan of the genre, but studios are pushing them out quicker and quicker. Audiences barely get to breathe between sequels and spinoffs.

Yet I loved Gunn’s Superman, which opened last summer to positive reviews all around and earned $618 million at the global box office. Gunn did not direct Supergirl, but I trusted his vision after last year’s hit. Plus, House of the Dragon’s Milly Alcock was leading the film, so how bad could it be?

As it turns out, Supergirl isn’t bad at all. Directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya) and written by Ana Nogueira, the film is a fun detour that gives a backstory to Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El. Based on the critically acclaimed comic book series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, it follows Kara as a reluctant (and often drunk) superhero who teams up with Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley), a teenage girl seeking revenge after her family is murdered.

Although the plot is darker than Superman’s, the film still feels like it’s in the same universe as last year’s hit. The visuals, dialogue, and world-building are all in line with the new DCU. I was entertained for the duration of the film, which, in case we forgot, is the goal of every moviegoing experience! I can’t say the same for every other superhero film released in the last few years, yet many of those films weren’t judged as harshly.

So why are people acting like Supergirl is the worst movie ever made? (One critic even said it had the “worst script I can remember.”) There’s a simple answer: misogyny. While it doesn’t apply to every negative review and reaction to the movie, the growing hatred and resentment of women across the world have definitely impacted women-led superhero films.

In the weeks leading up to the June 26 release of the film, men mocked 26-year-old Alcock’s appearance across social media. The narrative was clear: Alcock, who spends most of Supergirl wearing loose T-shirts and minimal makeup, wasn’t styled to fit the male gaze. It’s quite the opposite: with a human trafficking plot tied to the villain, Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts), the story calls out those who sexualize young girls and women.

Additionally, Kara doesn’t have a love interest, and the film isn’t interested in giving her one. Supergirl is a story about a depressed, super-powered woman who is pulled out of her bar-hopping to help other people and find her purpose.

To be clear: The story isn’t for everyone, and, despite everything I wrote above, I don’t think you’re a bad person if you don’t like it.

But we need to talk about how the public responds to women-led stories in a genre that historically has been consumed by male-majority audiences. Supergirl was set up to fail with the backlash that started as soon as the first trailer hit the internet. Now, after an opening weekend that earned the film $38 million domestically against a budget of over $170 million, everyone is quick to call it a failure…when the film hasn’t even been in theaters for a week. DC Studios doesn’t appear to be confidently promoting its film, either.

Safran, co-chairman and co-chief executive of DC Studios with Gunn, told the New York Times on Monday, “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.”

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The statement doesn’t exactly inspire audiences to jump to see it during the upcoming holiday weekend.

Supergirl is not the awful film the public is being led to believe it is. It’s a decent standalone movie that gives Supergirl a backstory before she next appears with David Corenswet in 2027’s Man of Tomorrow. There’s humor, an emotional core, and engaging performances. It deserves more attention.

Supergirl is now playing in theaters.

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