The DC Universe's second film, Supergirl, has struggled commercially and critically in its initial theatrical release. The film earned merely $37 million domestically across its first three days and $30 million internationally during its opening weekend, substantial shortfalls against its reported production budget exceeding $170 million. Director Craig Gillespie's film received mixed reviews, and industry reports indicated creative tensions between the director and studio leadership James Gunn and Peter Safran over the film's final cut, which continued to underperform in test audiences throughout development.

Supergirl's performance marks a significant setback for the franchise when compared to its predecessor Superman, which debuted with $220 million domestically and approximately $620 million globally, whilst earning an 85% critical rating from aggregators. The new film holds a 55% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics acknowledging lead actor Milly Alcock's spirited performance but finding the narrative itself formulaic. The disparity highlights the franchise's uneven commercial trajectory following its strong inaugural entry.