‘Supergirl’ Reviews Have Some Writing Off James Gunn’s DCU Already

Key Points:

• Supergirl, the second film in the new DC Universe (DCU), has received a disappointing 57% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, significantly lower than Superman's 83% and placing it among the few poorly rated superhero movies in a competitive market.
• Box office projections for Supergirl are weak, with expectations around $300 million, roughly half of what Superman earned, raising concerns about the film's commercial viability in the genre.
• James Gunn, the DCU's creative lead, has a strong track record with high critic scores on projects he directed or wrote, but Supergirl is his first supervised film without his direct involvement, leading to questions about his oversight and project choices.
• Criticism has emerged over Gunn's decision to have Supergirl's writer Ana Nogueira also pen Teen Titans and Wonder Woman, and his past praise of poorly received films like The Flash, which may indicate potential misjudgments in project endorsements.
• Despite the concerns, industry observers suggest it's too early to judge the DCU's future based on two films, emphasizing upcoming projects like HBO Max's Lanterns series and Gunn's Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, as critical tests for the franchise's direction.