HBO Max will begin streaming the new DC film Supergirl next Thursday, with a cable premiere on HBO set for Saturday, Sept. 22 — a move that could widen the movie’s reach after a modest theatrical performance. For subscribers and DC followers alike, the release shifts the conversation from box-office returns to who actually sees the film now that it’s available at home.
The feature opened in late June and drew roughly $37 million in its first weekend, eventually reaching about $126 million worldwide. Those receipts fall short of the film’s estimated production cost, which industry sources place between $175 million and $185 million, and well under the blockbuster gross of 2025’s Superman, which topped $600 million.
Who’s in it and who made it
Milly Alcock headlines as Kara Zor-El, a role she first portrayed in 2025’s Superman and will reprise in the upcoming DC entry Man of Tomorrow. Alcock rose to prominence as Rhaenyra Targaryen on HBO’s House of the Dragon. The ensemble also includes Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, David Corenswet and Jason Momoa.
Behind the camera, the screenplay is credited to Ana Nogueira and the film was directed by Craig Gillespie. It was produced under the DC Studios banner with Peter Safran and James Gunn listed as producers; executive producers include Nigel Gostelow, Chantal Nong Vo and Lars P. Winther. The story builds on characters originally created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
- Streaming and broadcast dates: HBO Max next Thursday; HBO on Saturday, Sept. 22.
- Runtime: under two hours.
- Box office: ~$37 million opening weekend; ~$126 million total gross to date.
- Estimated budget: $175–185 million.
- Critical reception: 53% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes; 72% audience score.
What the streaming window changes
The quick shift from theaters to streaming is notable for several reasons. For Warner Bros. and DC Studios, household viewership on HBO Max will now factor more directly into the film’s perceived success; streaming exposure can boost franchise awareness even when theatrical returns lag. For viewers, the streaming premiere removes the paywall of a theater ticket and may increase the film’s cultural footprint through social sharing and repeat viewing.
That said, a strong home audience does not automatically erase the financial gap between production costs and box-office revenue. Studios increasingly balance theatrical income with subscription engagement and ancillary revenue when assessing a title’s long-term value, especially within shared cinematic universes.
Plot in brief and audience response
The film follows Kara Zor-El as she leaves familiar ground on an interstellar pursuit that mixes personal vengeance with a search for justice, teaming up with an unlikely ally when a new threat hits close to home. At under two hours, the story is brisk and concentrated on action.
Reaction has been mixed: critics have been lukewarm, while general audiences are more receptive. The disparity between the 53% critics score and the 72% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes reflects that split — a common pattern for spectacle-driven superhero films.
With the streaming rollout imminent, the next few days will show whether broader availability on HBO Max and a TV premiere will reshape the film’s reputation and viewership figures — important signals for the future of this iteration of the DC Universe.
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