Why Supergirl Is Better On HBO Max Than In Theaters

Published Sep 10, 2026, 12:15 PM EDT

Cooper Hood is the Associate Editor for all new movie releases, in theaters and on streaming. In addition to writing articles about these titles and upcoming releases, he also oversees content planning for each, ensuring that ScreenRant continues to cover major releases for months after their release.

He has written various reviews for ScreenRant that appear on Rotten Tomatoes, coordinated Oscars and San Diego Comic-Con coverage, appeared on CNN to talk about Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and done select interviews with talent over the years.

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DC Studios' second movie, Supergirl, is now on HBO Max after a poor performance in theaters, and its streaming home makes for a better experience. Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, the solo film for Milly Alcock's Kara Zor-El was made to be seen on the big screen first. DC and Warner Bros. gave Supergirl a prime summer June 26, 2026, release date with the expectation it would be another win after 2025's Superman.

This was not Supergirl's destiny. The movie was met with a mixed reception that skewed more negative, giving it a 53% on Rotten Tomatoes with critics. Audiences were also more split, with it scoring 72% on the Popcornmeter. Without a wave of positivity and strong word of mouth, Supergirl flopped at the box office, making $126 million against a budget of $170 million (or more).

That performance clouded Supergirl in negativity. Discussions about the movie primarily focused on its disappointing figures and what went wrong, rather than focusing on any of its good elements or trying to encourage those who haven't seen it yet to take the time and money necessary to experience the film in theaters.

Now that Supergirl has made its streaming debut on HBO Max, the entire experience of watching the superhero flick changes. And in this case, it could be for the better. Supergirl is far easier to check out and enjoy now that the weight of theatrical metrics is gone.

Supergirl Is A Good Streaming Movie

Via MovieStillsDB

Rightfully or not, there are different expectations audiences have when it comes to watching a movie on streaming versus in theaters. The latter has to convince consumers to leave their house, pay for tickets, and hope their fellow moviegoers have proper theater etiquette. A theatrical movie must make viewers feel like the time and money they've spent watching it is worth it. But a streaming movie? There's less pressure.

And that's good for Supergirl. For all the flak it got, Kara's adventure still offers an enjoyable movie experience. Alcock delivers a strong performance. Jason Momoa's Lobo is a highlight. Some of the action sequences are particularly fun, too. Supergirl has issues, but many will be easier for viewers to overlook or miss on streaming. It's more common for people to "turn their brains off" while watching something on streaming.

For interested subscribers, Supergirl can be enjoyed on streaming with its box office results behind it. Nothing can change how it did in theaters now, but people who finally tune in or rewatch it on HBO Max can have a good time. A rewatch can be especially helpful and improve the experience after developing a greater sense of what the movie is and where it goes.

Supergirl Should Be A Much Bigger Success On HBO Max

Credit: MovieStillsDB

While it always made sense to release Supergirl in theaters and bet on DC fans supporting it in that format, the movie clearly didn't become a hit there. Now that it is on streaming, a whole new section of fans can be found, and a new level of success can be achieved.

HBO Max will help increase the number of people who have seen Supergirl. It should become the streamer's top movie in the near future. DC movies tend to perform quite well on the platform, with Superman topping the charts when it arrived last fall. Considering there is a smaller group of people who have already seen Supergirl's film, there is room for it to find even more viewers than Superman​​​​​.

The test for Supergirl will come with how long it can maintain HBO Max subscribers' attention. Steady interest could help change the way DC and WB look at the movie and boost interest in Alcock's future with the universe. With the likelihood of Supergirl gaining more fans through streaming, its HBO Max release may deliver the results that a theatrical debut couldn't.