‘Supergirl’ reported to get July digital release after box office struggles

Warner Bros has yet to confirm the reported July 28 home release as industry reports point to an early digital debut

Supergirl could be heading to digital platforms much sooner than expected, with multiple industry reports claiming the DC Studios film will be released on premium video on demand on July 28. While Warner Bros has not officially confirmed the date, the reported move comes less than a month after the superhero adventure opened in cinemas.

Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, Supergirl is the second feature film in the rebooted DC Universe overseen by James Gunn and Peter Safran. The film stars Milly Alcock as Kara Zor El, alongside Eve Ridley as Ruthye Marye Knoll, Matthias Schoenaerts as Krem, David Krumholtz as Zor El, Emily Beecham as Alura In Ze and Jason Momoa as the intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo.

Based on Tom King's acclaimed comic series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the film follows Kara as she reluctantly joins Ruthye on a dangerous journey across space after tragedy sets the young girl on a path of revenge. The story presents a more hardened version of Supergirl than audiences have previously seen on screen, while remaining faithful to the emotional themes explored in the original comic.

Despite considerable anticipation ahead of its release, Supergirl has struggled to gain momentum at the global box office. According to industry figures, the film has earned around $100m worldwide against a reported production budget of approximately $170m, placing it well below expectations for a major superhero release.

Its opening weekend generated a respectable start, but ticket sales declined sharply during the second weekend. Reports indicate the film experienced a drop of more than 70%, making it increasingly difficult to recover its production costs through theatrical exhibition alone. Such performance has fuelled speculation that Warner Bros is accelerating its home entertainment plans to reach audiences who may have skipped the cinema release.

Critical response has also been divided. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes shows critics offering mixed opinions, while audience scores have been noticeably stronger. Many reviewers praised Milly Alcock's performance as Kara Zor El, highlighting her emotional portrayal and screen presence even among those who expressed reservations about other aspects of the film.

Alcock's future within the DC Universe remains secure despite the film's commercial performance. DC Studios has already confirmed that she is expected to reprise the role in James Gunn's upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, scheduled for release in 2027. The studio continues to position Supergirl as an important character within its long term cinematic plans.

Warner Bros has not publicly announced a digital release schedule, and the reported July 28 date remains unconfirmed. If accurate, however, the move would continue a growing trend in Hollywood, where studios shorten the gap between theatrical and home releases for films that underperform at the box office. An earlier digital debut could give Supergirl a fresh opportunity to find a wider audience beyond cinemas while building interest in the evolving DC Universe