Is the New 'Supergirl' Movie That Scored Only 54% on RT as Bad as They Say? (Spoiler, Yes)

Supergirl is the first DC Universe project developed without the direct involvement of James Gunn, who personally oversaw Superman, Peacemaker, and Creature Commandos.

Craig Gillespie, the director of Cruella, took the helm instead of the studio's creative lead, and newcomer Ana Nogueira penned the screenplay.

With a budget of $170 million, the movie was expected to be a major event. However, following poor test screenings, it was subjected to heavy-handed studio interference.

What Is 'Supergirl' About?

Unlike Superman, who was raised by a loving family on Earth, his cousin Kara Zor-El, also from Krypton, spent years watching her loved ones die agonizing deaths as the people of Krypton were slowly consumed by radiation.

These experiences left Supergirl cynical and aloof. She shuns her cousin and any attempt at emotional connection and her closest companion is Krypto the dog, the only remaining link to her homeworld and family.

On her 23rd birthday, Supergirl meets Ruthye Marye Knoll, a girl whose family was killed by Krem of the Yellow Hills, a space pirate. When Krem attacks Krypto, Supergirl embarks on a perilous adventure.

'Supergirl' Is a Blockbuster Lacking in Character and Creative Freedom

Supergirl offers a surprisingly limited array of locations for a film with a $170 million budget. Most of the battles take place off-screen or in dim lighting, and only one action sequence is memorable.

Dog lovers are out of luck, too – Krypto appears in just two shots. Gillespie, who built his career on movies about flawed women, tackles this blockbuster without showing any real curiosity about the protagonist or her comic-book backstory.

At a loss for direction, Gillespie mimics the style of Guardians of the Galaxy, assembling a genre mashup of enlightened nonconformists and ruthless space outlaws. However, he fails to strike a balance between brutality and cuteness – the movie lurches erratically between comedy and drama.

'Supergirl' Definitely Doesn't Deserve Your Attention

A major factor in the downfall of Supergirl is that Gillespie and Nogueira are outsiders, at best, and complete strangers, at worst, in this world of blue tights and red suns.

Supergirl is a movie that tries to be everything at once but ends up being nothing – it is too dark for family viewing and too silly for adults. It will disappoint comic book fans, casual viewers, and even those who simply wanted to see Milly Alcock in the costume.

If you're still on the fence about watching Supergirl, the answer is a definite no.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Supergirl'?

• Supergirl has 54% from critics and 75% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.1/10.

• On Letterboxd, Supergirl scored 3.1/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Supergirl'?

Supergirl is currently playing in theaters.