Supergirl First Reactions: Critics Praise Alcock
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- Supergirl, directed by Craig Gillespie and opening June 26, drew early critic reactions that skew positive despite the outlet's "mixed" headline, with most reviewers praising the cast and emotional depth over flagging a bland villain (per Tessa Smith) or thin material (per John Nguyen of Nerd Reactor).
- Milly Alcock earned near-universal acclaim as Kara, with critics singling out her "aloofness and melancholy" (Erik Davis), her "humour, heart, and incredible drunk acting" (Total Film's Fay Watson), and her work in "Kara's tragic backstory" (Chris Killian of Comicbook.com).
- Jason Momoa as Lobo was repeatedly singled out as a scene-stealer — Killian said he was "having the fraggin' time of his life," Davis noted he's "used just enough that you're satisfied but also want to see more," and Smith called him one of the film's bright spots.
- David Corenswet's Superman drew "peak casting" (Killian) and "perfect choice" (Davis) praise, with Killian adding that "every time he's on screen, you can't help but smile," positioning Corenswet as a connective thread to last summer's Superman.
- Multiple critics compared Supergirl's tone to a blend of Guardians of the Galaxy, Mad Max, and (in Cangiano's case) Thor: The Dark World, with Killian also citing True Grit as a reference point for its "grimy, funny, yet surprisingly somber" space-adventure feel.
- Germain Lussier framed the film as a "perfect companion and follow-up" to Superman with "better characters and more complex relationships," while Watson called it "the film I wish I'd had as a teenager who loved superhero movies."
- The film's practical effects drew specific praise from Killian, and several critics — including Watson and Lussier — flagged its emotional weight as making the action land harder.
Why it matters: With Supergirl arriving June 26 as DC Studios' second post-Superman release, the early chorus of praise for Alcock, Momoa, and Corenswet signals the fledgling DCU is building cast-driven continuity rather than leaning on a single anchor — but the dissenting notes about a weak villain and thin material suggest the franchise still needs a stronger structural backbone to convert critical goodwill into sustained audience turnout.
