The Supergirl movie is set to stream on HBO Max beginning Thursday, September 10. An American Sign Language (ASL) version of the film will also be available at the same time. The movie will make its linear television debut on HBO on September 11 at 8 p.m. ET.
Milly Alcock stars as Kara Zor-El in the film, which follows James Gunn's Superman as the second major release in the new DC Universe. Despite a reported budget between $170 and $185 million, Supergirl did not meet box office expectations, earning just over $126 million globally. This performance contrasts sharply with its predecessor, Superman, which surpassed $600 million worldwide.
Critical reception for Supergirl has also been mixed, with the film holding a 53% score on Rotten Tomatoes. IGN critic Clint Gage noted that "Milly Alcock’s great take on Kara Zor-El gets lost in the spare parts from other movies used to assemble her story."
The streaming release follows the film's availability on digital platforms earlier this month and a DVD release, including a limited edition 4K steelbook, on September 8.
DC Studios co-head Peter Safran acknowledged the box office performance, stating in an interview with The New York Times that "While Supergirl didn’t meet our box office expectations, it’s just one component of a broader, long-term strategy at DC Studios that we remain confident in." Reports have also surfaced regarding competing cuts of the movie, potentially stemming from creative differences between Gunn and director Craig Gillespie.
Supergirl's financial performance places added importance on subsequent DC projects. The live-action series Lanterns is currently airing new episodes on HBO Max, and the film Clayface, a body horror take on the Batman villain, is scheduled for theatrical release in October. A teaser for Matt Reeves' Batman sequel has also been released.