Supergirl Audience Score Beats Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Supergirl is receiving a warmer response from moviegoers than from professional critics after its release, with the film’s audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes climbing to 77%, significantly above its 58% critics’ score. The gap follows several days of online discussion after the initial critical reviews placed the film below other recent DC Universe releases, including Superman, Peacemaker and Creature Commandos, while also ranking it among the lower-rated entries in the former DC Extended Universe.

Although the audience score trails Superman, which holds a 90% audience rating, past DC releases have shown that audience and critic reactions do not always align. Black Adam, despite earning only a 39% critics’ score, reached an 87% audience rating, while The Flash received an 81% audience score. Based on current audience ratings, Supergirl ranks among the top 15 DC films on Rotten Tomatoes.

Industry attention is now shifting from review scores to the film’s commercial performance. The Flash earned respectable audience ratings but ultimately lost about $200 million at the box office. With a reported production budget of $175 million, Supergirl is expected to perform better financially, although current projections suggest it may struggle to surpass $300 million worldwide, well below the box office success of Superman but ahead of The Flash.

Strong word-of-mouth could still improve the film’s theatrical run if positive audience reactions continue to spread. Supergirl also faces competition from Jackass: Best and Last, released the same weekend, while Toy Story 5 is expected to dominate the box office during its second weekend after opening with $159 million domestically.

The film’s performance carries added significance for Warner Bros. as it represents the second theatrical release in the studio’s new DC Universe strategy. A modest box office return would increase expectations for Clayface, scheduled for release this fall, before James Gunn returns with Man of Tomorrow in 2027. Gunn’s creative decisions, including his choice of writers, directors and approval of completed films, have come under greater scrutiny following Supergirl‘s mixed critical reception. Early preview numbers have begun emerging following Thursday night screenings, with Friday results expected next, while current forecasts suggest Supergirl could finish its opening weekend in second place.