Overview
- Supergirl opened to about $37.1 million domestically on release, a result far below its roughly $170–180 million production cost and large marketing outlays that together create substantial projected theatrical losses.
- The film's post-production became contentious when director Craig Gillespie and DC Studios co-head James Gunn clashed over editing, music and tone, prompting the studio to intervene in the cut.
- Multiple test screenings scored poorly in the 60s with only brief improvement into the low 70s, and those audience results drove a decision to assemble two competing versions for side-by-side testing.
- The studio's version narrowly outscored Gillespie’s by about two points in the bakeoff and was chosen for release after the studio added a second editor and changed high-profile needle-drop song choices.
- The commercial failure has sharpened scrutiny of James Gunn and DC Studios' strategy and raises questions about budget discipline and the rollout of lower-cost projects on the studio's planned slate.