As Supergirl heads into its second weekend in theaters, the DCU movie appears to be facing a difficult box office test.
The film opened with $37 million domestically, which was lower than early expectations. While official second-weekend projections are expected soon, Minions & Monsters is likely to open at No. 1, while Toy Story 5 is expected to move down to second place during its third weekend in theaters.
That should leave Supergirl holding on to the No. 3 spot, especially now that Obsession has moved to Digital. However, the bigger concern for DC Studios will be the size of its second-weekend drop. The movie needs a strong hold to prove that it has found an audience beyond its opening weekend.
The movie needs a strong hold to prove it has found an audience
There is also a risk that filmgoers are saving their money for a packed July release calendar, which includes major blockbusters such as The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. With so many big-budget movies competing for attention, Supergirl may struggle to maintain momentum.
DC Studios will be hoping for some good news after the movie underperformed both domestically and internationally during its opening weekend. Current projections suggest that Supergirl could finish its global theatrical run somewhere between $175 million and $200 million. If that happens, the film may end up losing as much as $125 million when all is said and done.
Its weekday performance has been mixed so far. On Monday, Supergirl earned $3 million, before rising to $4.4 million on Tuesday, helped by Discount Day. However, the film dropped sharply on Wednesday, earning $2.1 million and bringing its current domestic total to $46.4 million.
After six days in theaters, Supergirl still has not reached the $55 million opening figure it was once projected to deliver. Even after its second weekend, the movie may not surpass the $70 million debut that early tracking had suggested was possible.
One box office disappointment is unlikely to derail DC Studios completely, but James Gunn and Peter Safran will likely be studying this performance closely. The response to Supergirl may influence how the studio approaches future DCU projects, including Man of Tomorrow and other upcoming films.
The critical response has also been divided. In major reviews, critics wrote that Supergirl suffers from weak writing, unnecessary cameos, and uninspired visuals, despite a strong performance from Milly Alcock.
However, audience reactions have been more mixed. Some viewers have defended the film as a fun and enjoyable comic-book movie, even if it is not perfect. One fan described it as a 7 out of 10, saying that while they may be an easy grader, Supergirl was still entertaining and nowhere near the level of superhero films they genuinely disliked.
For DC Studios, the coming weekend will be important. If Supergirl manages to avoid a steep drop, it may still find some stability at the box office. But if the movie falls heavily, it could become one of the DCU's first major financial disappointments.
Supergirl is now playing in theaters.
