While Supergirl has spent weeks soaring across headlines, the DCU’s latest outing appears to have crash-landed with critics. What was expected to be another major win for James Gunn’s ambitious franchise reboot has instead sparked concern after early reviews handed the film one of the weakest Rotten Tomatoes scores in modern DC history. With the franchise still in its infancy, even a single stumble is enough to spark questions about the road ahead.

The disappointing score isn’t being pinned on Supergirl herself, but rather on the creative choices surrounding her.

The concern stems largely from Supergirl’s early Rotten Tomatoes score, which currently sits at 59%, earning the film a “rotten” rating and placing it well below Superman’s 83% critic score. While the number remains subject to change, it already positions the Milly Alcock-led project among DC’s weaker-reviewed modern releases, tying it with Wonder Woman 1984 and landing below titles such as The Flash (63%), Aquaman (66%), and Blue Beetle (78%). The criticism has been particularly noticeable given that Supergirl represents only the second theatrical chapter in Gunn’s rebooted DC Universe.

Interestingly, many reviews have singled out Alcock as one of the film’s strongest assets while directing criticism elsewhere. The reception has also reignited discussion around the DCU’s larger roadmap, with Supergirl arriving between Superman and the already-announced Man of Tomorrow, while projects such as Clayface and The Brave and the Bold continue to wait in the wings.

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Amid the ongoing debate surrounding the film’s reviews, Alcock’s preparation for the role is giving fans a fresh reason to appreciate the actress behind Kara Zor-El.

Speaking to Cinemark, Alcock revealed that learning Kryptonian was surprisingly similar to the process she used while portraying young Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon. With only a few weeks to prepare, the actress relied on audio recordings, phonetic spellings, and written dialogue to familiarize herself with the fictional language. Rather than memorizing individual words, Alcock explained that she repeatedly listened to the recordings until the dialogue developed a natural rhythm, comparing the experience to learning the lyrics of a song in another language.

Meanwhile, Supergirl is set to hit theaters on June 26, 2026, following an international rollout that begins on June 24. The film follows Kara Zor-El as she embarks on a cosmic journey alongside young Ruthye Marye Knoll, setting her on a collision course with the ruthless Krem of the Yellow Hills. Leading the cast are Milly Alcock as Supergirl, Matthias Schoenaerts as Krem, Eve Ridley as Ruthye, and Jason Momoa’s highly anticipated debut as the intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo, alongside David Krumholtz and Emily Beecham as Kara’s parents, Zor-El and Alura In-Ze.

While the film’s box office fate remains to be seen, Supergirl’s early critical reception has undoubtedly added an unexpected layer of pressure to James Gunn’s long-term DCU plans.

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What are your thoughts on Supergirl’s early Rotten Tomatoes score? Let us know in the comments.