After Earning $4 Billion Worldwide, A Sci-Fi-Fantasy Franchise Returns In 3 Days

One of the most profitable sci-fi fantasy franchises of all time is returning with a new installment in just three days. Of course, in the modern age, there is never any guarantee that a new film will be a blockbuster. Even the old tried-and-true franchises can’t promise massive success. Still, as theaters slowly draw viewers back after years of decline, a brand new title within a familiar, larger universe is absolutely welcome. If that franchise has a history of raking in the cash, the prospect becomes even more promising.

It’s for this reason that hopes are high for DC’s Supergirl, which hits theaters on June 26, 2026. The film, starring Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El (AKA Supergirl), follows up the surprise cameo from Alcock at the end of 2025’s Superman. This sneak peek at the character naturally built up some significant anticipation, and we didn’t have to wait long for Supergirl to officially arrive in all its glory. The countdown is almost through.

The big question as we approach the big day is whether Supergirl will be a hit. The Craig Gillespie-directed movie shows a lot of promise, and the wider Superman franchise is among the most profitable in history, with the films alone claiming nearly $4 billion worldwide. Still, since this project doesn’t revolve around the Man of Steel himself, it’s difficult to say what the global box office should expect.

Can Supergirl Continue The Superman Franchise’s Box Office Legacy?

There have been several reports in the last year claiming that Supergirl is doomed. It was previously suggested that the movie had a production budget of $200 million—about the same as 2025’s Superman. This was a scary thought, since, as intriguing as a modern Supergirl movie is, it would be unlikely to hit the approximately $500 million needed globally to make a real profit. We can look at the 1984 Supergirl as evidence, since it made only $14 million compared to the $80 million of 1983’s Superman III.

Via: The Numbers

Thankfully, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has since stated that the rumored budget for Supergirl is “not even a little bit true.” While he didn’t divulge the actual figure, he implied that the project’s cost was far lower. This is great news, since over-investing in Supergirl would have been a fast way to cast an unfortunate shadow on an otherwise promising film. If the true budget is closer to about $170 million, then Supergirl could get away with coming in much lower than Superman‘s $619 million worldwide. It really just needs to be a fair hit.

Regardless Of Profit, Supergirl Is The Perfect Next Film For The DCU

DC and Warner Bros will, obviously, want to make a profit on Supergirl. However, on the consumer end of things, this project really can’t go too wrong. The new, official DCU is still in its infancy, especially compared to the MCU. It’s critical that, after years of fragmented universes, the new DCU begin to fill itself out. More of The Flash and Aquaman are sure to come eventually, but it was far more valuable to expand into relatively unexplored frontiers. There hasn’t been a Supergirl movie since 1984, so this was the perfect choice.

Release Date

June 26, 2026

Runtime

108 minutes

Director

Craig Gillespie

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  Matthias Schoenaerts

  Krem

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