Supergirl, DC Universe’s second film under James Gunn, is under the microscope after a disappointing box office run has led to comparisons with the biggest failures of the Snyder era. Starring Milly Alcock in the title role, the film follows Kara Zor-El as she embarks on a darker, more personal journey within James Gunn's rebooted DC Universe. However, as the movie’s box office number has remain a point of interest, fans and industry observers are comparing Supergirl’s performance to some of the most notable commercial disappointments in DC’s recent history.

As criticism surrounding the film grows, its disappointing theatrical performance has become the center of the conversation. 

James Gunn’s second DC Universe film, Supergirl, is flopping massively at the box office, with some comparing it to some of the biggest commercial failures of the Zack Snyder era. The superhero film experienced a drastic 77% drop off in its second weekend. It is now projected to lose between $100 million and $120 million in its theatrical run unless there is an unlikely turnaround. 

The underwhelming performance has reignited debates over whether the rebooted DC Universe is already slipping into familiar box office issues. The report points out that Supergirl’s poor performance is a sign of the increasing difficulty superhero movies have when they are based on lesser-known characters. While the blockbuster draw of major icons such as Superman and Spider-Man still pulls in the crowds, movies based on lesser-known characters have not succeeded in creating comparable buzz.  

Industry observers also cited broader market conditions over the July 4 holiday weekend, noting that movie going was impacted as audiences chose holiday celebrations over theaters. But the report suggests those alone do not explain Supergirl's steep decline, especially as other releases continued to do well. The film’s disappointing performance has thus increased pressure on the rebooted DC Universe and whether it can be trusted to deliver box office hits. 

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The comparisons have inevitably drawn attention to the DC film that became the benchmark for box office disappointment. 

The Flash was released in 2023 and was widely considered the biggest commercial disappointment of the Zack Snyder-era DC Extended Universe. The film, starring Ezra Miller as the lead and the return of Michael Keaton’s Batman, failed to attract crowds. It was made for a reported $200-220 million before marketing and only made around $271 million worldwide, falling way short of expectations and making a big financial loss for Warner Bros. 

It received positive early reviews and was heavily promoted as a major DC event, with multiverse storylines and several high-profile cameos. But the release was marred by mixed audience reception, franchise fatigue, and controversies surrounding its lead star. The film would go on to become a symbol of the declining box office fortunes of the DCEU, with its poor performance often cited as a example whenever newer DC releases, such as James Gunn’s Supergirl, face disappointing theatrical runs. 

Supergirl’s box office results have already presented hard questions for James Gunn’s rebooted DC Universe, but whether it ultimately edges out The Flash remains to be seen. The film has become an early test of the long-term viability of the franchise as comparisons to one of the DCEU’s biggest financial disappointments grow. With the film still playing in theaters, all eyes will be on whether Supergirl can bounce back or join the ranks of DC’s biggest box office disappointments.

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Do you think Supergirl can recover at the box office, or is it destined to become another DC disappointment? Let us know in the comments.