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DC Has Crowned a New Box Office Disaster
DC's superhero movie *Supergirl*, starring Milly Alcock in her solo debut, has hit a new low at the North American box office, taking just $1.4 million in its fourth weekend of release. The film, which followed last year's well-received *Superman*, struggled from its opening weekend onwards, and its continued decline highlights a stark contrast between the fortunes of the two DC releases and raises questions about audience interest in the franchise's follow-up films.
The $1.4 million weekend haul represents a 62% drop from the previous frame, and it is now officially the worst fourth-weekend total for any film in either the current DC Universe or the former DC Extended Universe. That puts it below even *Shazam! Fury of the Gods*, which took $1.6 million in its fourth weekend in 2023 and had previously been regarded as one of DC's biggest box office failures.
In short
- Supergirl earned just $1.4 million in its fourth weekend.
- That's the worst fourth-weekend total in DC film history.
- It fell below the previous record-holder, Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
This represents a serious warning for DC Films. Not only has Supergirl become the franchise's worst-performing fourth-weekend entry, but its collapse immediately following Superman's success suggests the studio has failed to build either genuine audience momentum or lasting confidence in its slate. Such a dramatic reversal demands serious analysis of whether fundamental issues with DC's approach to these films are preventing the franchise from capitalising on rare periods of audience goodwill.
The case against
A single underperforming film, whilst disappointing, does not negate a franchise's viability, particularly when preceded by a well-received entry. Box office performance fluctuates based on numerous external factors beyond the studio's control, including competition, timing, and market conditions. This setback, though significant, provides an opportunity to learn and refine the franchise's approach without suggesting that DC Films' core potential has been fundamentally damaged.
Explained simply
DC is a major film franchise owned by Warner Bros that produces superhero movies. The success of these films is measured by how much money audiences spend on cinema tickets, known as box office performance. This matters because these films are expensive to make and studios rely on strong ticket sales to recover their investment.
The latest DC superhero film, Supergirl, starring Milly Alcock, has significantly underperformed at cinemas compared to what a major studio release would typically earn. This is particularly striking because DC's previous superhero release, Superman, was well-received and performed well commercially, creating a sharp contrast between the two films' fortunes.
When a DC film severely underperforms after a successful predecessor, it raises questions about audience confidence in the franchise's direction. The studio then faces decisions about whether to continue with similar projects or change its approach, making the box office performance of individual films important to the future of DC's superhero releases.