Supergirl has opened well below DC's biggest box office hits, and the numbers tell a clear story. Craig Gillespie's adaptation of Milly Alcock's Kryptonian heroine arrived with considerable anticipation following Superman's success in 2025. Early estimates suggested a robust start, yet the actual preview figures landed far softer than projected. The gap between expectation and reality has become the talk of the DC Universe rollout this week.

While Superman soared in preview screenings, Supergirl's cousin act could not quite match that Kryptonian momentum at the box office gate.

Supergirl earned $7.8 million in domestic Thursday previews, a number that sits well behind DC's strongest openers. The Dark Knight Rises previously set the bar at $30.6 million, while Batman v Superman followed with $27.7 million. Superman, released in 2025, posted $22.5 million, and The Batman reached $21.6 million. Even Man of Steel and S****** Squad outpaced Milly Alcock's debut by a wide margin.

Globally, Supergirl added close to $13 million on its opening day, building toward a domestic weekend projection between $47 million and $50 million. That places the film in second position behind Toy Story 5 during its second weekend run. Production costs reportedly sit between $170 million and $175 million, pushing the break-even point toward $315 million to $425 million worldwide. Early tracking had once predicted a stronger $55 million start.

Supergirl Milly Alcock Shares the Hilarious Connection Her Krypton-Heroine Shares With Squirrels

As box office numbers settle, attention quickly shifts toward Kara Zor-El's next promised appearance on screen.

Despite the softer debut, a continuation already stands confirmed through Man of Tomorrow rather than a standalone sequel. Executive producer Lars P. Winther confirmed that Alcock returns in the upcoming film, now shooting alongside David Corenswet's Superman. Kara Zor-El shifts away from her galaxy-hopping arc toward reconnecting with her cousin on Earth. James Gunn reinforced this direction at the premiere, teasing an expanded role for the character moving forward.

Man of Tomorrow will reportedly pit both cousins against Brainiac, who targets them as the last surviving Kryptonians tied to Kandor. Gunn has described Kara as shaped by a harsher upbringing, hinting at friction rather than a seamless team-up. Lex Luthor's uneasy alliance with Superman adds further tension to the upcoming chaos. For now, though, Supergirl's box office story remains grounded firmly on Earth, well below DC's biggest debuts.

James Gunn’s 'Man of Tomorrow' First Look Reveals Nicholas Hoult’s Comic-Accurate Warsuit

What are your thoughts on Supergirl's softer box office debut against DC's biggest hits? et us know in the comments.