The DC Universe’s newest Girl of Steel has just added another review to her growing collection. As Kara Zor-El takes flight across the big screen recently, legendary Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima has shared his verdict on Milly Alcock’s Supergirl. Interestingly, his review looks beyond the capes, action, and Rotten Tomatoes scores.

And that’s exactly where Kojima believes Supergirl separates itself from the typical superhero blockbuster

After catching Supergirl in IMAX, Hideo Kojima took to X to share a thoughtful review, arguing that the film is not a conventional battle between heroes and villains. Instead, he described it as a coming-of-age story centered on Kara Zor-El’s journey to heal from trauma rather than simply saving the world. Comparing its storytelling to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly instead of modern superhero blockbusters, Kojima praised the film’s morally layered characters and emotional focus.

I saw “Supergirl” in IMAX. It wasn’t a “superhero movie” about saving the Earth through self-sacrifice as “justice” confronts “evil.” It was a coming-of-age story about saving oneself, Kara, as she struggles with her own trauma," Kojima posted on his X.

The gaming icon also noted that Supergirl reminded him less of Mad Max: Fury Road and more of a character-driven western, where survival, redemption, and personal growth outweigh the traditional fight between good and evil. His observations closely mirror Tom King’s original Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic, which famously drew inspiration from True Grit. That emotional foundation ultimately shapes Kara’s bond with Ruthye, as the two navigate grief, loss, and healing together throughout the film.

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Interestingly, Kojima is not the only one who believes Supergirl deserves a second look. Moviegoers seem to have reached a very different verdict of their own.

With more than 500 verified ratings, Supergirl debuted with a 75% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes, comfortably outperforming its 59% Tomatometer. The gap immediately fueled fresh debate online, with many moviegoers arguing that while critics appreciated Milly Alcock’s performance as Kara Zor-El, they were far tougher on the screenplay, pacing, and visual execution. For many fans, the audience score became further proof that critics and general viewers simply weren’t watching the same film.

Even so, the audience response wasn’t entirely unanimous. While many celebrated the 75% score as a positive sign for James Gunn’s new DC Universe, others argued it still felt modest for a major superhero release and insisted the film’s ultimate test would come at the global box office. Directed by Craig Gillespie and inspired by Tom King’s acclaimed Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the film has now found itself at the center of yet another critics-versus-fans showdown.

And with Hideo Kojima now joining a growing section of audiences in praising its emotional storytelling, Kara Zor-El’s journey is proving to be about far more than just another superhero adventure.

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Have you watched Supergirl yet? What are your thoughts on Hideo Kojima’s review? Let us know in the comments.