Warner Bros. and DC Studios may already be signaling concern about Supergirl’s box office prospects.
A newly released TV spot for Supergirl prominently features David Corenswet’s Superman alongside Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El, a move many fans immediately interpreted as an attempt to boost interest in a struggling DCU project.
New ‘SUPERGIRL’ tv spot featuring David Corenswet’s Superman! pic.twitter.com/hrYTQHoBuq
— DC Film News (@DCFilmNews) May 23, 2026
The timing is difficult to ignore.
The marketing push arrives just as new forecasting reports suggest Supergirl could open at nearly the exact same level as The Marvels, one of the most notorious superhero box office bombs in modern Hollywood history.
DC Suddenly Leaning on Superman
The new TV spot places a noticeable emphasis on Superman despite the film supposedly being Supergirl’s standalone breakout moment.
For many fans, that immediately raised questions.
Why is DC suddenly using Superman this heavily in marketing if confidence in Supergirl is supposedly strong on its own?
Studios do this all the time when concern starts creeping in around audience interest. Lean on the recognizable character. Push nostalgia. Remind viewers of a more iconic hero connected to the project.
And right now Superman remains vastly more recognizable to mainstream audiences than Milly Alcock’s version of Supergirl.
Superman withstands fire in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
The move also comes shortly after long-range tracking from Box Office Theory projected the film for a domestic opening weekend between $47 million and $65 million.
That low-end figure is in virtually identical territory to The Marvels.
‘The Marvels’ Comparison Is Becoming a Serious Problem
The comparison to The Marvels is rapidly becoming unavoidable online.
Marvel’s 2023 sequel opened to roughly $46 million domestically before collapsing almost immediately at the box office. The film ultimately finished with only around $84 million domestic despite carrying Marvel Studios branding.
(L-R): Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ THE MARVELS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.
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Now Supergirl is tracking in almost the exact same range.
Black Adam – $67M
The Flash – $55M
Morbius – $39M
The Marvels – $47M https://t.co/DSJHxLQ64R— Unbiased Snyder Fan (@UltraBiasedFan) May 23, 2026
One viral X post comparing recent failed comic book openings made the situation look even worse:
- Black Adam — $67 million opening
- The Flash — $55 million opening
- Morbius — $39 million opening
- The Marvels — $47 million opening
Those are not movies DC Studios wants associated with its brand-new cinematic universe.
The long-term projections are arguably even more concerning.
The poster for Supergirl – DC
According to Box Office Theory, Supergirl could finish somewhere between $107 million and $181 million domestically during its full theatrical run. The midpoint estimate of roughly $137 million would still place the film behind notorious DC failure Black Adam domestically.
The lower-end projection is even uglier.
A $107 million domestic finish would place Supergirl almost directly alongside The Flash, which became one of the biggest financial disasters in DC history.
Milly Alcock Controversy Still Hanging Over the Film
The movie also continues to carry baggage surrounding its lead actress.
Milly Alcock previously generated backlash after mocking “Christian dads” during interviews while also stating she was comfortable upsetting “the right people.” Those comments spread rapidly online and became a flashpoint among DC fans already skeptical about James Gunn’s direction for the franchise.
Supergirl using Heat Vision in the Supergirl trailer – YouTube, DC
Hollywood often dismisses those controversies as meaningless internet outrage, but audiences have repeatedly shown frustration with celebrities attacking or mocking portions of the paying fanbase during press tours.
Whether fair or not, Alcock’s public comments are now tied directly to the conversation surrounding Supergirl.
Gunn’s Superman May Not Be the Safety Net DC Thinks He Is
The bigger problem for DC Studios is that Superman himself may no longer be enough to guarantee audience excitement.
James Gunn’s Superman was supposed to relaunch the DC brand with massive momentum and restore widespread confidence in the franchise after years of instability. Instead, the film failed to become the kind of breakout theatrical phenomenon many expected from the most iconic superhero character in comic book history.
Superman in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
READ: Supergirl Predicted To Open Similar to The Marvels at Domestic Box Office
While the movie had its defenders online, the box office conversation surrounding the film quickly shifted from celebration to damage control. Questions emerged about profitability, especially given the film’s enormous production and marketing costs. Even Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos publicly stated during acquisition discussions involving Warner Bros. that Superman ultimately lost money theatrically.
That matters because DC now appears to be using Superman as a selling point for Supergirl.
But if audiences weren’t overwhelmingly energized by Superman himself, it raises an uncomfortable question for Warner Bros.: why would casual moviegoers suddenly rush out for a Supergirl spin-off connected to the same cinematic universe?
Superman’s Presence May Reveal More Than DC Intended
To be fair, marketing strategies change constantly during a campaign. Featuring Superman in a Supergirl TV spot does not automatically mean Warner Bros. is panicking.
But the optics are difficult to ignore.
Superman grimacing by a Stagg Industries sign in the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman – YouTube, DC
When a supposedly standalone Supergirl movie suddenly starts leaning heavily on Superman right as box office forecasts compare the film to The Marvels, fans are naturally going to wonder whether DC Studios is trying to reassure audiences before tracking gets even worse.
How much do you think Superman will be in the Supergirl movie? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
