Things are going from bad to worse for Supergirl.
What was expected to be DC's next superhero blockbuster is now facing an uphill battle at the global box office, with industry analysts reportedly predicting the film could lose between $100 million and $120 million during its theatrical run.
The disappointing projections come just days after actress Milly Alcock found herself at the center of controversy over comments she made about online critics identifying themselves as "Christian" fathers.
According to Variety, Supergirl opened with just $38 million domestically and another $30 million internationally despite carrying a reported production budget of around $175 million, along with an estimated $75 million marketing campaign. Analysts now believe the film's worldwide theatrical total could stall at roughly $210 million, far below what would be needed to turn a profit.
The timing has reignited debate over Alcock's recent remarks during a media interview, where she dismissed many of her critics by joking that they often appeared to be anonymous social media users whose bios read, "Dad of four, Christian."
"It's from a lot of people whose profiles have no photo," Alcock said. "Or someone's name and then 'Dad of four, Christian,' which is hilarious to me. But whose opinion do you really care about? If you're pissing the right kind of people off, you're doing okay."
Those comments quickly circulated across Christian media and social platforms, with many viewers accusing the actress of mocking Christians. Others argued the backlash has been exaggerated and pointed instead to fierce summer competition and mixed audience reception as the real reasons behind the film's disappointing debut.
Supergirl entered theaters hoping to capitalize on the momentum generated by James Gunn's successful Superman reboot, but instead faces stiff competition from several major summer releases that have dominated moviegoers' attention.
The controversy has also sparked renewed discussion about Superman's long-standing connections to biblical themes. While many fans have interpreted the iconic hero as a Christ-like figure over the decades, scholars have noted that the character's Jewish creators did not intentionally set out to create a Christian allegory, even if audiences have continued to see spiritual parallels.
Whether the online controversy significantly affected ticket sales remains impossible to quantify. However, with projections suggesting one of the biggest financial disappointments in recent superhero history, Supergirl is finding itself making headlines for reasons far beyond its on-screen action.
