Supergirl falters at box office, overshadowed by Toy Story 5

DC Studios' latest offering, "Supergirl," has stumbled at the North American box office, opening a distant second to Pixar's "Toy Story 5." The superhero spinoff, directed by Craig Gillespie, garnered a disappointing $38 million in U.S. and Canadian theaters over the weekend. This opening is a significant setback for Warner Bros.' revamped DC movie operations, especially considering the film's $170 million production budget.

"Toy Story 5" dominated the box office, earning $70 million domestically and continuing its global success with a worldwide total of $585 million in just two weeks. In contrast, "Supergirl" added only $30 million from overseas markets, bringing its global debut to a lackluster $68 million. This performance places it behind other underperforming DC films like "The Flash" and "The Green Lantern," and barely ahead of "Joker: Folie à Deux."

Adding to the disappointment, "Supergirl" has been met with poor reviews from critics and a "B-" CinemaScore from audiences. The film reportedly underwent significant trimming after test screenings, impacting its reception. This critical and commercial failure underscores a broader trend noted by industry analysts: superhero movies, in general, are no longer the box office juggernauts they once were, with the genre's annual revenue down significantly from its pre-pandemic peak.

David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm FranchiseRe, pointed out that while the audience's interest may have waned, the sudden and complete decline, particularly for female superheroes after strong starts, remains a puzzle. This stumble for "Supergirl" occurs as Warner Bros. Discovery's parent company is preparing for an acquisition by Paramount Skydance, adding another layer of uncertainty to the studio's future.

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Yes, they did. But no one has been able to explain why it happened so suddenly and so completely. Why female superheroes in particular, after their sensational starts? We don’t understand it either.