Milly Alcock’s ‘Supergirl’ HBO Max Release Date Set After Box Office Struggles

DC Studios’ revamped cinematic universe has been progressing rapidly since James Gunn and Peter Safran took charge, quickly following up 2025’s ‘Superman’ with a female-led solo adventure slated for the next summer. This swift turnaround was intended to demonstrate confidence in the franchise’s new direction, allowing Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El to shine just a year after her debut.

‘Supergirl’ hit theaters on June 26, marking DC Studios’ second entry in its rebooted ‘Gods and Monsters’ chapter. The film follows Kara as she reluctantly teams up with an unexpected ally to face a formidable foe, all while striving to protect her loved ones, including her cherished dog Krypto.

Now that its theatrical run has concluded, the film is set to make its streaming debut. ‘Supergirl’ will be available exclusively on HBO Max starting September 10, with an HBO linear television premiere scheduled for September 12, as reported by Deadline.

This streaming arrival comes after a notably challenging summer at the box office for the film. According to Jingletree, ‘Supergirl’ wrapped its theatrical run with a mere $126 million worldwide, a significant shortfall compared to its reported production and marketing costs, which were around $290 million combined.

The film’s opening weekend set a disappointing tone, debuting to $37.1 million domestically from 3,600 North American theaters before plummeting 77 percent in its second weekend. This steep decline effectively dashed any hopes for a theatrical recovery, starkly contrasting with ‘Superman’s’ much more robust $618 million global total from the previous summer.

Critical reception was mixed, with reviews praising Alcock’s performance but expressing disappointment that the film didn’t quite meet the high bar set by Gunn’s earlier ‘Superman’ installment. ScreenRant’s review specifically noted Alcock’s ability to convey vulnerability in Kara’s grief over her parents and her dog Krypto, while also mentioning that the film felt like a letdown given the quick delivery of a female-led solo movie compared to other franchises.

Directed by Craig Gillespie with a script by Ana Nogueira, ‘Supergirl’ is based on Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s ‘Woman of Tomorrow’ comic series. The film’s HBO Max debut will also feature an American Sign Language version, performed by Catalene Sacchetti and directed by Jonaz McMillan, streaming simultaneously with the standard release, according to Vital Thrills.

Alcock leads a cast that includes Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, and Emily Beecham, with David Corenswet reprising his role as Superman and Jason Momoa making his DCU debut as bounty hunter Lobo. The film’s synopsis portrays Kara as headstrong and often reckless, embodying a unique form of heroism that emphasizes truthfulness and relatability over conventional niceness.

With its theatrical chapter now closed, ‘Supergirl’s’ arrival on HBO Max presents Warner Bros. and DC Studios an opportunity to connect with the substantial audience that bypassed the film in theaters. This streaming debut follows the film’s earlier home video release, which became available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD formats on September 8, featuring over 90 minutes of behind-the-scenes bonus content.

A version of ‘Supergirl’ with American Sign Language (ASL) will also stream exclusively on HBO Max on the same day, performed by Catalene Sacchetti (“Songs in Sign Language”) and directed by Jonaz McMillan (“The Pitt with ASL” Season One).

Given the rapid pace at which DC Studios is expanding its rebooted universe, ‘Supergirl’s’ streaming performance could significantly influence how the studio approaches future spinoffs and solo projects.

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