DC Studios is coming to terms with the reality that having a progressive female leader doesn’t always equate to success. In the lead-up to the opening weekend of “Supergirl,” actress Millie Alcock stirred online discussions with her interviews, particularly highlighting the film’s “LGBT” themes. She suggested that her character might be bisexual, but that revelation didn’t seem to resonate as intended.
Clip Goes Viral
As the film struggled during its opening weekend, one of Alcock’s earlier comments—a clip from a lesser-known fan event in Brazil—went viral. In the footage, Alcock tackled a fan theory about Supergirl being a queer icon, which seemed to be a frequent topic during interviews and red carpet events.
“I have a lot of queer friends, so I’m honored to be honest about this,” Alcock stated, adding her characteristic laugh. “It’s really because she transcends what we traditionally think a woman should be, which is what makes her unique.”
While Alcock may feel she breaks down boundaries, the harsh reality of Hollywood is that it often operates in a hit-or-miss fashion. “Supergirl” appears to be heading towards the latter, generating disappointing results. It opened domestically to just $38 million, a far cry from its hefty $170 million budget. In comparison, “Toy Story 5” brought in $70 million in its second weekend alone.
No Focus on Romance
Alcock explained that her take on the Kryptonian superhero would revolve around her own choices regarding sexuality, adding to a narrative that might not sit well with certain audiences, particularly fans who expected a more traditional storyline. During the film’s New York City premiere, she remarked on how the movie doesn’t revolve around “love or romance” but rather how deeply fans can relate to her character. She emphasized that “Supergirl” represents a modern woman beautifully.
In London, the 26-year-old emphasized it was “beautiful” that the story avoided being “centered on men” or romantic themes altogether. She further stated that the character “will probably go both ways,” implying that Supergirl is indeed bisexual.
Additionally, Alcock mentioned that her most significant online detractors were often fathers who felt threatened by her portrayal.
Disappointing Numbers
Female-led superhero films have faced setbacks at the box office recently, with “Supergirl” marking one of the lowest openings of the decade. This isn’t the first such failure; films like “The Eternals” and “The Marvels” performed better with openings of $71 million and $46 million, respectively. Yet “Supergirl” outperformed “Madame Web,” which earned only $15 million.
In contrast, the 2020 film “Wonder Woman 1984” managed $16 million, despite being released during stringent COVID-19 restrictions. Meanwhile, “Birds of Prey,” featuring Harley Quinn, grossed $33 million—though it offers no excuse for underperformance.
