The film Supergirl, directed by Craig Gillespie, faced significant challenges after its March 2025 test screenings revealed disappointing scores. With a budget between $170 million and $180 million, the film, starring Milly Alcock, grossed only $37.1 million on its opening weekend, falling short of expectations.
Creative Differences Impacting Supergirl's Success
According to multiple insiders, the creative differences between James Gunn, Peter Safran, and Gillespie hindered the film's progress. The test scores, which never exceeded the 60s, indicated a disconnect in vision. One insider noted, "'They were not creatively aligned' is the polite way of describing things." However, others asserted that the friction was typical in filmmaking.
Filming wrapped in May 2025, but by fall, it was evident to the studio that the film was not performing well. A December test screening yielded mediocre results, prompting the studio to take control of post-production. They enlisted writer Jeremy Slater to assist, leading to additional photography.
Test Screenings Reveal Mixed Results
The film underwent at least four test screenings from December 2025 to March 2026. Although initial scores improved to the low 70s, a bakeoff was conducted between Gillespie's cut and a studio version. Surprisingly, both versions scored poorly, with the studio's cut edging out Gillespie's by only two points.
