Supergirl Flies to HBO Max This September — Why Milly Alcock's Kara Zor-El Deserves a Second Chance

The DCU's Most Divisive Movie Is About to Find Its Real Audience

Supergirl, the second film in James Gunn and Peter Safran's rebooted DC Universe, is set for its HBO Max streaming debut this September — and honestly, streaming might be where this movie finally gets its due. Starring Milly Alcock (House of the Dragon) as Kara Zor-El, the film earned $126.4 million at the box office against a $170–186 million budget. Ouch. But box office isn't the whole story.

What the Movie Actually Is

Directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya, Cruella) and written by Ana Nogueira, Supergirl adapts the acclaimed comic miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely. The plot follows Kara on a galaxy-spanning quest to hunt down the adversary who harmed her beloved dog Krypto. It's a cosmic revenge story — grittier and weirder than the Superman (2025) movie where Alcock first debuted the role.

The cast is genuinely great: Matthias Schoenaerts as the villain Krem of the Yellow Hills, Eve Ridley as Ruthye Marye Knoll, plus David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, David Corenswet returning as Superman/Clark Kent, and Jason Momoa debuting as Lobo. Behind the scenes: cinematography by Rob Hardy, editing by Tatiana S. Riegel and Fred Raskin, music by Claudia Sarne, and distribution by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Why Streaming Changes Everything

Here's the millennial take: some movies just play better at home. The 108-minute runtime is tight, Gillespie's punk-rock sensibility suits a couch watch, and Alcock's prickly, hard-drinking Kara (very different from the CW's version played by Melissa Benoist, and a big swing from the DCEU's Sasha Calle in The Flash) is the kind of performance that builds a cult following on rewatch.

The DC Studios strategy is clear — Superman soared, Supergirl stumbled theatrically, and now Clayface (October 23) tries horror. But a strong HBO Max run for Kara Zor-El could rehabilitate the character ahead of future team-ups (hello, Avengers: Doomsday competition from across the aisle). Controversial? Sure. Worth your September watchlist? Absolutely.

Bottom line: Forget the box office discourse. Milly Alcock, Jason Momoa as Lobo, a Tom King adaptation, and a revenge quest over a dog — stream it on HBO Max and decide for yourself.