supergirl 1984 movie review

Supergirl (1984) – Review

It was in the year 1984 that we saw Supergirl’s first appearance outside the pages of DC comics, which was pretty sad considering her cousin Superman had been appearing in serials, cartoons, television shows and movies dating as far back as the 1940s. Yet it wasn’t until the Christopher Reeve movies started to show diminishing returns that anyone thought to bring this comic book character to life. Now, female superheroes as a genre didn’t have much of history outside of comic books, the Linda Carter Wonder Woman series being the only notable one at the time, but with Superman III only pulling in about $60 million dollars (as opposed to the first two movies both easily clearing the $100 million dollar mark), Alexander and Ilya Salkind decided to branch out their Superman franchise and give the Girl of Steel her shot.

The movie opens in the magnificent Kryptonian community of Argo City, which kind of looks like a crystal hippie commune lit by orbiting stadium lights. Inside, we are introduced to young Kara Zor-El ( Helen Slater ) and her mentor Zaltar ( Peter O’Toole ), the genius mind behind the creation of Argo City. We find Zaltar playing around with a small orb called the Omegahedron, which he “borrowed” from the city guardians so that he could create a bizarre facsimile of a tree. Kara admonishes him for doing this because the Omegahedron is the device that provides power and air to the city, which one must admit is fairly irresponsible and leads one to ask, “How can a person just get a hold of a device that is solely responsible keeping the people of Argo City alive?” Well, for starters the entire city is made up of a series of rooms with no walls, so apparently, security is not an issue, and this comes from the fact that Argo City is viewed as a community of perfect harmony. That residents of Argo City all walk around looking as if they are in some kind of drug-induced state of ecstasy explains how such an important device could be borrowed without anyone noticing.

Argo City is brought to you by the makers of Quaaludes.

While Zaltar is discussing explorations into outer space with Kara’s mother ( Mia Farrow ), we see Kara herself screwing around with the Omegahedron, and with it, she brings to life a large dragonfly that quickly proceeds to fly around erratically until eventually puncturing a hole in the city’s exterior wall as if it was made of Saran Wrap . This causes a vacuum breach and the Omegahedron is sucked out into space, thus dooming the inhabitants of Argo City to a slow and painful death. Zaltar states that as this is all his fault — which it really is — he will venture off into space after the missing device, in a small craft that he will pilot through something called the binary chute: “a pathway from Innerspace to outer space.” But before he has a chance to explain his plan, Kara hops in the spacecraft and takes off in it herself.

In Superman: The Movie , baby Kal-El was placed in a spacecraft so that he would survive the destruction of Krypton, while in this movie we have Kara Zor-El stealing a spacecraft to flee the world she herself doomed. This is a very key difference in plot and character development between the films. Sure, her plan isn’t to abandon her people to a horrible death, a fate that she would be completely responsible for, but to retrieve the Omegahedron and return it to Argo City — regardless of her noble motives, though, this is a less than heroic way to introduce our main character. In the comics, Argo City was a surviving fragment of Krypton, and Kara’s parents sent her to Earth when the city was doomed by a meteor shower. One can understand the filmmakers not wanting to use that premise, as it’s pretty much the same origin story as Superman’s, but having her accidentally dooming the city seems to be a rather odd direction to go. Things get even stranger when she arrives on Earth – popping out of a lake in full Supergirl regalia – where she proceeds to fly around as if she doesn’t have a care in the world.

“I have a vague notion that I should be doing something important, but nevermind, time for more flying”

The Salkind Superman movies are guilty of giving Kryptonians bizarre powers – in Superman II we saw that General Zod suddenly had finger-pointing powers of levitation, and Superman himself gets that wonderful “kiss of forgetfulness” power – and in this movie, the first thing Supergirl does is pick a flower and make it bloom with her heat vision. But her most startling power is her ability to morph from her Supergirl persona to her secret identity of Linda Lee as if by magic. There is no running into a phone booth to change here, not even a quick Wonder Woman costume spin change, but instead she just calmly walks through the woods as her Supergirl costume slowly shifts into Earth attire and her hair changes from blonde to brunette. This is basically magic and not any kind of superpower, and it’s this change in to her secret identity that brings forth my biggest issue with this film, and that would be “Why in the hell does she bother with a secret identity at all?” Does going undercover at a local high school somehow aid her in the search for the Omegahedron? The answer to that is decidedly not.

Your people are dying, you colossal idiot!

Before leaving Argo City she heard her mother state that within a few days, “Our lights will grow dim and the very air we breathe, so thin.” And yet we see Supergirl’s first action on Earth – aside from flying around and looking at horses – is to enroll in Midvale all-girls school, as if she has all the time in the world. And how does she spend her time there? Well her amazing powers are used to save her new friend Lucy Lane ( Maureen Teefy ), younger sister to Lois Lane, from some bullies during a field hockey game, and later she thwarts those same bullies when they try to scald the other girls in the school showers — talk about “With great power comes moderate responsibility! ” And does any of this bring her closer to finding the Omegahedron? If we look at the origin of Superman, he arrived on Earth and was found and raised by the Kents, but he had no outlying mission other than to eventually become one of the world’s greatest heroes, and it’s his persona of Superman that’s actually his secret identity, Clark Kent is who he really is and the guy in blue tights was created to keep his loved ones safe. This is not the case here with Supergirl in this movie, as there is no reason for her to take on a second identity – other than to maybe pad the run-time – as she should be spending every waking hour searching for the Omegahedron. The filmmakers don’t seem to have a clue as to what to do with her character, they clearly don’t want her to be a carbon copy of Superman, but then they saddle her with a mild-mannered identity that serves no purpose to the story that they’re trying to tell, and because she is a female, they bizarrely thought the best introduction of a “Supergirl” would be to have her first encounter with people of Earth to be with a couple of would-be rapists.

How dumb do you have to be to attempt to rape a girl in a Superman costume?

If we were to assume that these would-be rapists thought that this was just a young woman in a Halloween costume that would be one thing, but she lifts the first asshat up by his chin and throws him through a fence, and yet his partner still proceeds with the attempted rape – he doesn’t even let the fact that she melts his knife with her heat vision phase him – and thus the audience is left wondering, “Who in the hell wrote this thing?” Of course, idiot rapists aren’t this movie’s number one threat to Supergirl – that’s just a threat to good taste – because the real “big baddie” is a power-hungry witch named Selena ( Faye Dunaway ), who while picnicking with her warlock friend Nigel ( Peter Cook ) has the Omegahedron literally fall into her lap, or to be more accurate, into her cheese fondue. The one positive thing I can say about the Supergirl movie is that it looks like Peter O’Toole and Faye Dunaway had a lot of fun with their roles, especially Dunaway with the high camp aspect of her character.

Don’t screw with Faye Dunaway.

Coming up with a proper villain wasn’t all that easy for the Salkinds, for at this point in history the character of Supergirl didn’t have much of a rogues gallery of her own – even today the likes of Silver Banshee and Bizzaro-Girl are not known outside of the most avid comic book readers – but this movie doesn’t bother to use anything from the DC canon. Instead, we get a witch who lives in an abandoned carnival, a location that screams for the Scooby Gang to investigate, and the conflict between Supergirl and Selena seems to stem more from the fact that they have the hots for the same guy, and not because Selena is in possession of the item that is required to save Supergirl’s people.

Note: The love interest is played by Hart Bochner, who played the idiot Ellis in Die Hard.

I must say it’s a shame that writers insisted on pitting a female superhero against a female supervillain, as if Supergirl would be no match for the likes of Lex Luthor or Brainiac, which is why I was pleasantly surprised that the latest Wonder Woman movie had her up against Ares the God of War, and not her more notable female antagonists like Cheetah and Circe. That Selena here is a practitioner in the dark arts does make her a credible threat, as magic is one of Superman’s key weaknesses – right up there with Kryptonite – but this element of the comic book was never really addressed in the movies, and Supergirl counters most of Selena’s spells without much effort, so not much drama to be found there. The film’s key threat to our hero is when Selena manages to conjure up supernatural beings of “darkness and shadow,” but this had me questioning how the Omegahedron works, and how exactly is Selena able to use it? We are told it is the power source that keeps Argo City alive so how exactly does that translate to working black magic and summoning dark forces?

Aside from two confrontations with mystical monsters, we don’t get much in the way of cool Supergirl action; she beats up the aforementioned rapists, saves Lucy from a nasty hit during that field hockey game, thwarts the evil bullies’ shower scheme, saves Selena’s boy toy from a magically animated bulldozer, and later rescues him from Selena-controlled bumper cars. None of this is particularly impressive, and during all of these events you can’t help but ask the question, “Why and the hell are you worrying about all this shit when everyone back in Argo City is about to die?” We count at least three different night scenes before the third act, and at least a couple of more days must go by after Selena banishes Supergirl to the Phantom Zone and takes over Midvale – don’t ask me how an amateur occultist even knows about the Phantom Zone – so if we go by Supergirl’s mother’s statement as fact, that they only had few days left before “Our lights will grow dim and the very air we breathe, so thin , “ then this means by the time Supergirl eventually defeats Selena, all of her people back in Argo City would be long dead.

But hey, at least she was able to conquer sixth-dimensional geometry.

This movie is supposed to take place in the same universe as the Christopher Reeve movies, and Reeve himself was originally set to appear in Supergirl but he wisely bowed out at the last minute, yet references to his character come across as rather odd, and they raise some rather interesting questions.

• At the beginning of the film Kara and Zaltar discuss her cousin living on Earth, but exactly how they know of his surviving Krypton’s destruction is never addressed. • Kara pops out of her trans-dimensional craft suddenly wearing the Supergirl costume. Did this little space pod have some kind of costume-manufacturing device inside it? • To enroll in the Midvale all-girl school, Kara adopts the persona of Linda Lee, forging a reference letter from her cousin Clark Kent, but how would a person from Argo City even know what a school reference letter was, let alone how to forge one? • And again how are the people in Argo City keeping tabs on Kal-El? Does Zaltar have some magical viewer that allows them all to watch the adventures of Superman? • The Phantom Zone that Supergirl is banished to is very different from what we saw in the first two Superman movies. We do see her briefly in what I call the “Queen Album Cover” where we saw General Zod and his flunkies trapped within in the previous films, but then we see her next on some desert alien landscape. If this big barren world is the Phantom Zone, why before did we only see the three Kryptonian criminals with their faces mashed up against it like a pane of glass?

The limbo-like Phantom Zone from the comics.

The queen album cover phantom zone from superman: the movie, the wasteland phantom zone from supergirl..

This was actress Helen Slater’s first movie role – an after-school special being her only other credit before this film – and she does remarkably well as the naïve young Supergirl, which considering the fact that she is facing off against the legendary Faye Dunaway is pretty damn impressive. It’s just a shame that the filmmakers didn’t quite have a handle on the character that they wanted her to depict. Is she here to save the world from an evil witch or to find her city’s lost power source and save her people? The script’s waffling of motivations keeps her character from being even remotely sympathetic, which Slater is certainly trying her best to pull off, and this is the key reason for the film doing so poorly at the box office and why we never got a sequel.

Is she a Superhero or a bloody Disney Princess?

Director Jeannot Szwarc was mostly known for his television work and feature films like Jaws 2 and Somewhere in Time , which didn’t quite prepare him for the big superhero fantasy genre. Thus particular superhero movie ended up being a muddled mess, one that just so happens to contain a couple of fun performances.

If Szwarc had been given a decent budget and a script that made even a lick of sense, this could have spawned another franchise, but instead, we got a movie that meandered for a little over two hours and then abruptly ended. Supergirl isn’t the worst superhero movie out there, but it is certainly guilty of wasting potential and is only worth checking out for nostalgic reasons.

“Supergirl, will you stop screwing around and just find that damn Omegahedron!”

Supergirl (1984).

5/10 Movie Rank - 5/10

Supergirl is one of the big superhero movies that is now almost completely forgotten, certainly overshadowed by the Christopher Reeve movies, and now with Supergirl flying across the small screen each and every week it will most likely remain a small footnote in the history of the character.

Silver Emulsion Film Reviews

Supergirl (1984).

Directed by Jeannot Szwarc

Expectations: I’m so excited.

The opening scene of Supergirl tries its best to liken itself to the opening scene of Superman , showing us a strange, alien world inhabited by humanoids much like ourselves. But where that original scene was interesting, the one in Supergirl falls a bit short. It does ostensibly perform the same task, though: setting up the canvas on which the rest of the film will be painted. For Superman , that canvas was grand and heroic, but for Supergirl , it’s campy, over-the-top and very much in the realm of B-Movies. One of my favorite phrases to repeat to myself while watching movies like Superman , Thor or The Avengers is, “This is cosmic done right!” Supergirl is most definitely “cosmic done wrong.” That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its share of fun, but even by ’80s or B-Movie standards this is pretty lackluster.

Kara Zor-El (AKA Supergirl, AKA Linda Lee) is Superman’s cousin. She lives in a white sparkling place called Argo City, which is basically a chunk of the planet Krypton that survived the destruction of the planet. They don’t really explain it, I don’t really understand it, but that’s what it is. Oh, and apparently it’s under our ocean? That REALLY didn’t make sense to me, because they show Supergirl going through space to get to Earth and then she pops out of a lake on the studio backlot. So I guess that was supposed to be the deep, dark ocean she was going through. It did have a watery look at times. The lake part still doesn’t compute, though, especially given the film’s ending. Maybe they were trying to clumsily remind us of the adage that all streams lead to the ocean? I honestly don’t know. Anyway… Peter O’Toole steals the city’s power source (the Omegahedron!) because he’s a wascaly, wascaly wabbit, but through a bad chain of events Supergirl ends up losing the Omegahedron when it rockets out the city’s paper walls. Uh oh. So Supergirl jumps in the city’s diving pod in order to retrieve the power source, and thus our adventure begins. But, of course, the Omegahedron immediately falls into the hands of our villain, the evil witch Selena (Faye Dunaway), who uses it to quickly gain power and fulfill her dreams of world domination.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if the overall film is fun, but with Supergirl the story just isn’t there. Much of the movie drags like Superman trying to pull an anvil make of Kryptonite. Watching Hart Bochner under a love spell will only get you so far, even when you realize that it’s Harry Ellis from Die Hard , and you keep adding “Bubby” to everything he says. (I.E. “Marry me, Bubby.” “We’re from different worlds, Bubby.” or “Linda, Bubby, love makes everything possible.”) While Helen Slater performs admirably for an unknown in the role of Supergirl, everyone else in the movie is fairly annoying. Faye Dunaway does her best to ham it up something fierce, but she has no character arc and most of her scenes induce more head-shaking than those photos of Chinese dogs wearing pantyhose . So when the characters aren’t engaging, and the story is boring, even the best B-Movie thrills in the world will only raise your film up to average levels of entertainment.

Along with Superman III and Superman IV , Supergirl was one of the Superman films I saw over and over as a child. It wasn’t any conscious choice on my part, it was simply what was available to me. But for some reason, I had a hard time recalling much of the film. It would seem that even as a child who enjoyed the film, I zoned out through a lot of it. But this time around, even through all the harsh words and the hammy acting, I did enjoy a good portion of Supergirl . When it stops talking and goes into its light heroics, I found it pretty enjoyable in a B-Movie way. The ending confrontation is something that I can’t believe got past the first re-write stage of the script, but I’m glad it did because it’s the kind of batshit-crazy movie magic that could only come out of the ’80s. There’s also a fantastic scene of ’80s electricity, which, if you didn’t already know, is without a doubt the best kind of electricity.

I can’t call Supergirl a fun movie to watch, though, as it’s much more annoying and drawn-out than it needs to be. The most egregious of these scenes is the fan service section within the Phantom Zone, which probably looked a lot better on paper than it does on film. I will say that this part of the movie is chock full of lines and visual cues that are perfect fodder for sexually themed MST3K-style riffing, though, so that did provide a fair amount of enjoyment. But Supergirl is more a test of your will to sit through the boring garbage to get to something mildly enjoyable than anything else. That’s kind of the way a lot of B-Movies work, though, so if you’re already attuned to that frequency, check it out… maybe?

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Female superhero can't save this '80s clunker.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Of course it's nice to have a female superhero in

Standard comic book fights involving various weapo

Some kissing.

Occasional use of "s--t" and "Jesus" as an exclama

Wicked sorceress and her minions drink and smoke.

Positive Messages

Of course it's nice to have a female superhero in the spotlight!

Violence & Scariness

Standard comic book fights involving various weapons, but no gore.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Occasional use of "s--t" and "Jesus" as an exclamation.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this tween-appropriate film as comic book-style violence. All types of weapons are used (from knives to a nauseating amusement park ride), but there's never any blood or gore. The heroine, a high school-aged superhero, presents a good role model for tweens (and even younger girls), and the character is juxtaposed against a ruthless female villain whose minions occasionally drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes.There are some mildly scary scenes and Supergirl's mentor tragically dies in a brief non-graphic scene. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Kids say (3)

Based on 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Superman's younger cousin, Kara (aka Supergirl), travels to Earth to retrieve the Omegahedron, an object vital to the existence of her alien people that has fallen into the hands of wicked sorceress Selena ( Faye Dunaway ). On the outskirts of Metropolis, Supergirl (Helen Slater) disguises herself as a boarding school student and miraculously befriends Lois Lane's younger sister and intrepid newspaper photographer Jimmy Olsen (Marc McClure, who portrayed Olsen alongside Christopher Reeve's Superman). The fight of good vs. evil begins as soon as Selena realizes that Supergirl is in town. The wicked sorceress and her nitwit minions take on Supergirl in many non-graphic, comic book-style battles. Supergirl finds romance on planet Earth, but she will not allow her first love to distract her from her superhero duties.

Is It Any Good?

As superheroes go, Kara is a fine female role model, but Helen Slater's acting often feels wooden. Viewers of any age may find it hard to connect with the character. Screen legends Faye Dunaway and Peter O'Toole were both nominated for "worst performance" Razzie awards, but Dunaway's over-the-top turn stands out as one of the best things in this lackluster film. Some of the more complex action scenes are intense, but there are a lot of scenes that drag on far too long. Any attempt at humor and comic relief in the script falls flat.

That said, this is a fine film for tweens to watch if you're open to something that feels more like a made-for-TV movie -- that is, don't expect the same quality of the 1978 Superman .

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the themes of good vs. evil. Why and how does Supergirl present a positive role model for everyone, not just girls and women? What thoughts and actions make the sorceress such a bad egg? Families can also get into some interesting and fun research of the history of comic books and superheroes -- what year was the first Superman comic book introduced, and what was going on in the world for society to want/need such a strong, idealistic hero?

Movie Details

In theaters : January 16, 1984
On DVD or streaming : November 26, 2006
Cast : Faye Dunaway , Helen Slater , Peter O'Toole
Director : Jeannot Szwarc
Inclusion Information : Female actors
Studio : Warner Home Video
Genre : Fantasy
Topics : Superheroes , Adventures
Run time : 125 minutes
MPAA rating : PG
MPAA explanation : mild violence
Last updated : October 8, 2022

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Supergirl (USA/UK, 1984)

Supergirl holds the distinction of being the worst movie made during the Salkind Era of Superman (which began with 1978’s Superman and ended with 1987’s Superman IV: The Quest for Peace , although by then the Salkinds had sold the rights to Golan-Globus). That’s right , Supergirl achieves the seemingly impossible task of being worse that both Superman III and Superman IV. The movie was in trouble before the cameras started rolling and things didn’t get better during production. When it was released into theaters, the film hardly made a blip on the box office radar, performing poorly when it opened and fading quickly. Hopes that this might revive the Superman franchise were quickly dashed. (Although it did not end the career of Jeannot Szwarc – the Jaws 2 director moved on to Santa Claus: The Movie immediately after completing work on Supergirl . What a résumé!)

The elephant in the room is the absence of Superman. Original concepts for Supergirl were based on the expectation that Christopher Reeve would come on board in some capacity. Originally, he was supposed to play a supporting role (acting as a mentor to the title character). When Reeve indicated he wanted to reduce his participation, the Superman appearance was diluted to a cameo. However, after the actor’s relationship with Ilya Salkind soured during and after Superman III , Reeve backed out altogether (even though he had a good working relationship with Szwarc). Superman’s lack-of-presence looms large over Supergirl and, aside from a few name-drops and a photograph (accompanied by a few bars of John Williams’ iconic score), the Man of Steel is M.I.A. Adding Marc McClure’s Jimmy Olsen into the mix emphasizes how badly Reeve is missed.

On Earth, the Omegahedron comes into the possession of wannabe witch Selena (Faye Dunaway), who is the consort of the warlock Nigel (Peter Cook). Her assistant, Bianca (Brenda Vacarro), is Supergirl ’s version of Superman ’s Otis. Selena recognizes that the Omegahedron contains power; she seeks to unlock it free herself from her liaison with Nigel and gain access to true magic. As she is working to understand her new talisman, Kara arrives with the secret identity of “Linda Lee” and enrolls in an all-girls school. From there, she begins her search for the Omegahedron – a quest that leads her to an inevitable conflict with Selena. Along the way, she befriends Lucy Lane (Maureen Teefy), the younger sister of Lois Lane; falls in love with the school’s groundskeeper, Ethan (Hart Bochner, who four years later would become immortalized as the smarmy jerk in Die Hard ); and reconnects with Zaltar in the Phantom Zone.

The film’s tone has been infected by the silly comedic approach employed by Richard Lester in Superman III (Lester, when approached by the Salkinds about directing Supergirl , turned them down). The dialogue veers toward campiness and jokiness. Even during the climactic struggle, in which Supergirl fights a bad special effects monster, there’s nothing resembling suspense or tension. With a villain as over-the-top as Selena, it’s impossible to accept that the stakes are high. One wonders why the filmmakers stuck with Faye Dunaway (considering her reported Diva-like behavior) if this was the result.

It's unsurprising that Supergirl was never accorded a sequel although one was planned at the time the movie went into production. (The property would later be completely rebooted for TV as a successful series that ran for six seasons from 2015-2021. In that series, Helen Slater played the role of Kara’s adoptive mother.) The movie is so scrambled and poorly executed that it would have been a shock for it to be embraced by either comic book fans or mainstream viewers. In comparison to Superman , the godfather of the franchise, it seems almost to be a satirical offshoot – something so bad that it can’t be taken seriously. (In fairness, similar comments could be made about both Superman III and Superman IV .) The across-the-board awfulness of Supergirl disabused those who optimistically believed the Salkinds’ stewardship of the Superman series couldn’t slip lower than the disappointment of Superman III . If Superman was an eagle streaking across the sky, Supergirl is the result of that eagle’s bowel movement.

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‘Supergirl’ (1984) doesn’t quite get off the ground

“Supergirl” (1984) starts in cheesy fashion on a Kryptonian outpost, with Kara Zor-El (Helen Slater) impulsively deciding to chase a doodad that she has carelessly dropped into a timewarp (or something along these lines) all the way to Earth.

Without pausing to shed a tear for the family and friends she leaves behind, she’s Supergirl – she can change costumes and hair colors with her mind, which technically makes her more powerful than Superman. And this seems like a really dumb movie out of the gates.

Kara adjusts to Earth

But as Kara adjusts to Earth, director Jeannot Szwarc’s ( “Jaws 2,” “Somewhere in Time,” and tons of TV) film almost finds a groove. It doesn’t turn out to be great by any means, but after that atrocious start, the fact that it’s watchable and sometimes fun is an outright relief.

“Supergirl” (1984)

Director: Jeannot Szwarc

Writer: David Odell

Stars: Helen Slater, Faye Dunaway, Peter O’Toole

Based on Superman’s cousin who joined the DC family in 1959, “Supergirl” is written by David Odell, who also wrote “The Dark Crystal” and “Masters of the Universe.” He likewise loads this one up with spells and sorcery via the villain, Faye Dunaway’s Selena.

She becomes a more powerful sorceress – her comic-relief/audience surrogate sidekick, Bianca (Brenda Vaccaro) is amazed – by constantly working at it. It’s similar to how Lex Luthor perpetually tries out new schemes to defeat Superman in the 1978-87 movies.

“Supergirl” slows down too much whenever it cuts to Selena, who often attacks Supergirl with magic from afar, via her looking-glass mirror. It picks up whenever we’re with Supergirl, who invents the alias Linda Lee and enrolls at Midvale (Illinois) High School, having seen how much fun the students are having playing softball.

Slater is cute and appealing, and she looks so different with dark hair and a school uniform that one could almost forgive love interest Ethan (Hart Bochner) – initially smitten with Linda thanks to Selena’s love potion – for not realizing Kara and Linda are the same person. To Ethan’s credit — and making Lois Lane seem rather dim in comparison — he actually is not tricked by the alias.

Cheesy throughout

“Supergirl” remains cheesy throughout, and the hijinks are middling, like when Linda reverses the hot water pipes on her inexplicable gym-class bullies. The big practical effects set piece is an out-of-control backhoe that Linda’s friend Lucy Lane (Maureen Teefy) tries to commandeer, only to bump her head and lose control again. This sequence goes on way too long before Supergirl naturally saves the day.

At two hours, the whole film is too long, but saving graces are peppered throughout. Namely, Slater has good chemistry with everyone. The tomboy Lucy is Linda’s kind roommate, Ethan is the sweet guy she’s crushing on, and Jimmy Olsen is on hand as a possible love interest for Lucy, coming over from the Christopher Reeve “Superman” movies. Lucy is the sister of Lois, furthering the “Superman” connection.

John’s top 40 ‘Star Wars’ books: The top 10

A newscast informs us that Superman is busy off-planet, which allows this movie to happen without Kara meeting up with her cousin. Odell does a good job of tying “Supergirl” in with the wider saga while letting Kara find confidence on her own.

For every tonally bizarre sequence – like when two truckers stop because they see Kara in the street and immediately decide to take a crack at raping her – there’s another moment where “Supergirl” flirts with being cool – or at least less cheesy.

For example, Kara ends up in the Phantom Zone, that place from “Superman” we never figured we’d see. The production design is suitably bleak – Kara escapes rocky terrain only to sink into sludge — and appealingly Eighties with its swirling tornados of color.

Stuck in the Phantom Zone

The slow pace unfortunately keeps “Supergirl” stuck in the Phantom Zone muck, so you won’t want to watch it more than once. But I can recommend one viewing to those curious about Supergirl’s screen debut. The cast is good, the special effects of Supergirl flying have aged well, and Jerry Goldsmith’s score keeps things upbeat.

At the end of the adventure, Supergirl can legitimately stand side by side with Superman, not merely as a girl version of him. I don’t mind Superman being absent from this movie, but it’s a shame Slater and Reeve couldn’t team up for at least one cinematic outing.

Click here to visit our Superhero Zone.

Movieman's Guide to the Movies

Supergirl (1984) blu-ray review.

Supergirl — Warner Archive Collection — (1984)

Genre(s): Comedy, Science Fiction Warner Bros. | PG – 125 min. – $21.99 | July 24, 2018

Date Published: 09/08/2018 | Author: The Movieman

Check out some more 1080p screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers .

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After losing a powerful orb, Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin, comes to Earth to retrieve it and instead finds herself up against a wicked witch.
After a power source for the community of Krypton survivors is accidentally whisked to earth, Kara-El, cousin to Superman and niece to Jor-El, chooses to go to earth to find it, and bring it back. Upon her arrival, she becomes just a powerful and Super as her cousin, but encounters dangerous battles and unexpected obstacles when a mean spirited woman who practices rituals of the occult takes the power source for herself, and uses it to cause destruction and attempt zenith human status. — CoachTophie
Introducing a brand new superhero--the beautiful and mighty Girl of Steel in her very first adventure. Her name is Kara, and she's Superman's cousin from Krypton. Coming to Earth on a mission to save her dying city, Supergirl has to find and recover the Omegahedron, a source of almost unlimited power. But it's fallen into the hands of an amateur witch named Selena--who intends to use it to rule the world! To get it back, Supergirl has to fight not only evil humans, but the unimaginable forces of Black Magic (including a hundred-foot monster made of pure energy), and make a perilous journey into the forbidden depths of the Phantom Zone. — Robert Lynch <[email protected]>
In this spin off from the Christopher Reeve 'Superman' franchise films, teenager Kara Zor-El (Helen Slater) lives in the isolated Kryptonian community of Argo City, which was transported into another dimension, called "inner space," when the planet Krypton exploded many years ago. The city is powered by a paper-weight-sized orb known as the "Omegahedron." Argo City resident Zaltar (Peter O'Toole) secretly borrows the Omegahedron for an art project, but a mishap hurls the orb into space. Argo City cannot survive without the Omegahedron, and Kara boards a single-passenger transport ship to retrieve it, much to the distress of her parents, Alura (Mia Farrell) and Zor-El (Simon Ward). The Omegahedron goes through a wormhole and lands on Earth where it is retrieved by Selena (Faye Dunaway), a carnival fortune teller who wants to become a witch. Selena, who has been studying magic under the warlock Nigel (Peter Cook), realizes the orb can assist her in casting spells and stores it away. She returns to the carnival where her long-suffering assistant, Bianca (Brenda Vaccaro), worries about getting the money to cover their bills, but Selena reports their financial problems are over and that she has plans for "world domination." Meanwhile, Kara is transported through the wormhole and arrives on Earth, transformed into "Supergirl," complete with a costume similar to her cousin, Superman, who is away in outer space on a peace-keeping mission. Kara discovers she has super-powers and flies around, amazed at the new world. Kara's bracelet glows whenever the Omegahedron is in use, and follows the beacon to Midvale, Illinois. There, Kara enrolls in an all-girls school, claiming to be Clark Kent's first cousin, an orphan named Linda Lee. The headmaster, Mr. Danvers (David Healy), assigns her to be roommate to Lucy Lane (Maureen Tuffy), the teenage sister of Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane. Selena and Bianca are both impressed when they notice Ethan (Hart Bochner), the hunky groundskeeper at the school. Selena concocts a love potion and slips it into Ethan's beer. Although the potion is supposed to make him fall in love with the first person he sees, instead, it makes Ethan dizzy, and he wanders through the town disoriented. With the help of the Omegahedron, Selena casts a spell causing a bulldozer to scoop Ethan up and bring him to her, but the unmanned bulldozer runs amok, wreaking havoc throughout town. Lucy Lane and her boyfriend, Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen (Marc McClure), try to stop the bulldozer, but to no avail. Kara changes into Supergirl and stops the bulldozer, then changes back to Linda Lee just as Ethan regains consciousness. He gazes at Linda and instantly falls in love with her and kisses her. Observing all of this through a magic mirror powered by the Omegahedron, Selena is angered and vows revenge, casting a spell to capture Linda. As a dark cloud comes for her, Linda changes to Supergirl, takes a street lamp post and flies into a thunderstorm where the pole is struck by lightning. This creates a lightning rod that repels Selena's dark cloud. Because Selena used the Omegahedron to create the cloud, Supergirl's bracelet glows. Changing back to Linda Lee, she goes to the carnival to investigate, but finds Ethan there with candy and flowers for her. The two chat while sitting on a stopped carnival ride, but Selena casts a spell causing the ride to race at top speed. Ethan is knocked unconscious while Linda changes into Supergirl to confront Selena. Supergirl throws poles to surround Selena in a make-shift cage, then rescues Ethan. Having freed herself, Selena asks for warlock Nigel's help to defeat Supergirl, since he is more experienced casting spells. Nigel brings her a special magic wand that, when combined with the Omegahedron, creates powerful spells. In doing so, Nigel accidentally breaks the love potion spell, causing Ethan to fall out of love with Linda. However, Ethan meets Supergirl and is soon enchanted by her. Supergirl kisses Ethan just as Selena casts a spell teleporting Ethan to her lair. Selena also casts a spell creating a mountaintop castle just outside town. Supergirl flies there and finds Ethan in chains. Selena casts a spell banishing Supergirl to the Phantom Zone, the dimension where planet Krypton sends its criminals. Although she does not have any super-powers in the Phantom Zone, Supergirl is reunited with Zaltar from Argo City, who exiled himself to the Phantom Zone as penance for losing the Omegahedron. Zaltar insists there is no way out, but Supergirl believes they must look for one. Supergirl and Zaltar are forced to scale a large cliff to find an opening, but Zalter sacrifices himself to allow Supergirl to make it to the top to escape. Meanwhile on Earth, Selena has begun her plan for world domination. She rules Midvale with armed soldiers, but faces protesters, including Lucy Lane and Jimmy Olsen, whom she takes hostage. Supergirl breaks out of the Phantom Zone through a magic mirror and comes to Selena's castle where the witch casts a spell creating a large demon to attack her. The demon is on the verge of defeating Supergirl when she hears Zaltar's voice urging her to fight on. Supergirl breaks free and Nigel tells her the only way to defeat Selena is to turn the demon against her. Supergirl complies and creates a focused whirlwind that traps Selena, who is then attacked and incapacitated by the demon as the whirlwind pulls in Bianca as well. The three are sucked through the mirror portal, which promptly reforms, trapping them all forever in the Phantom Zone. Ethan retrieves the Omegahedron and gives it to Supergirl, who he now realizes is also Linda Lee. Supergirl asks Ethan, Lucy, and Jimmy not to say anything about her existence, then tells them she must return the Omegahedron. Selena's castle disappear as Supergirl flies back to Argo City through the underwater wormhole with the Omegahedron. In the final shot, Kara returns to a darkened Argo City, which then lights up again.

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Supergirl Reviews

Supergirl is a turkey of such epic proportions.

Full Review | Aug 2, 2022

If Superman was an eagle streaking across the sky, Supergirl is the result of that eagle’s bowel movement.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/4 | Mar 26, 2022

No cut of this can redeem the considerable faults in storytelling, the unmanageable script choices, and the striking lack of entertainment value.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/10 | Jun 28, 2021

While 1978's Superman remains the best superhero movie ever made, this desultory spinoff wouldn't even crack the genre's top 50 (or 60, or 70...).

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Jun 7, 2021

Supergirl could have been a contender. Instead, it felt like it was only made to make money rather than say something important or tell a compelling story.

Full Review | Original Score: 5.5/10 | Dec 22, 2020

A complete disaster in terms of production. [Full Review in Spanish]

Full Review | Feb 20, 2020

Szwarc means to create drama, effectively absorbing us in the adventures of a superhero flying in on the winds of the second wave of feminism. But his work lacks any playfulness or self-conscious humor.

Full Review | Jun 26, 2018

Movies like "Supergirl" succeed when they have fun with their material, rather than making fun of it.

Full Review | Jan 4, 2018

Even with more than thirty years of subsequent comic book movies, plenty of them just so terrible, this one still stands out for being particularly awful.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5 | Aug 30, 2017

With catastrophe rotting its marrow, "Supergirl" exemplifies the wisdom in waiting to ensure a great female superhero movie. Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel will kick down very big doors. "Supergirl" knocks itself out by heedlessly running into one.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Jan 1, 2015

A festering dump of bad ideas, corny lines and Hollywood excess.

Full Review | Original Score: D | Nov 24, 2014

Female superhero can't save this '80s clunker.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 1, 2011

Jeannot Szwarc's direction is flat and uninspired, emphasizing the jokey elements without any sense at all for the material.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/4 | Apr 17, 2007

Screenplay is filled with witty lines and enjoyable characters, but Jeannot Szwarc's direction is rather flat.

Full Review | Apr 17, 2007

This is one comic-book feature that doesn't fly.

The plain fact is that director Jeannot Szwarc turns in a movie so ludicrous and overblown that it skips right over any semblance of logic and into a self-absorbed flight of fancy.

Full Review | Jan 26, 2007

Boils down to a sexist catfight between two fairly powerful women for the affections of a fashionably unshaven landscaper.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Jan 1, 2007

The tagline -- "Her first great adventure." -- is wrong in at least three ways.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Dec 10, 2006

So silly it can't even be lumped in the 'so bad it's good' category.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Sep 1, 2006

Most delightful of the Super-series for its good-natured disregard of narrative considerations.

Full Review | Feb 9, 2006

Supergirl (1984)

Supergirl is a disjointed, nonsensical, and misguided mess partially redeemed by an earnest lead actress in the form of Helen Slater, whose magical moments of flight accompanied by a sweeping score by the late Jerry Goldsmith were more than enough to make me a genuine fan (especially as an 18-year old kid whose devotion to the Christopher Reeve Superman movies knew no bounds). If you feel the same way I did and do, then this Blu-ray, which looks and sounds better than all previous home video releases, is strongly recommended. The rest of you can give it a polite pass. For Fans Only.

Ilya and Alexander Salkind continue to bring the lore and legend behind the World's Greatest Super Hero to the big screen in this follow up to the beloved Christopher Reeve series of Superman films, starring Helen Slater (in her screen debut) as the sensational Supergirl! While Superman grew up believing himself "The Last Son of Krypton" another part of his home planet survived, Argo City, home of his uncle Zor-El (Simon Ward) and his wife Alura (Mia Farrow). Saved by the wizardry of Zaltar (Peter O'Toole) and the Omegahedron, Kara comes of age as a Kryptonian when a disaster whisks the Omegahedron to her cousin's planet, Earth. Dispatched to rescue it from the clutches of the evil sorceress Selena (Faye Dunaway), Kara must tackle a steep learning curve so that she can pass the test as both mild-mannered school girl Linda Lee and the Maid of Might, Supergirl!

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Supergirl begins with a rousing main title theme and stylized opening credits flying towards the viewer, recalling the first Superman movie . It's all downhill from here. Suddenly, somewhere, in what appears to be deep outer space, an ivory structure appears, grounded on a floating island, and covered by a protective sheet like cellophane wrap on a cake. This place turns out to be Argo City, populated by people in hippie garb and living together like some religious commune in a psychedelic playground. The movie introduces us to a wide-eyed, winsome blonde named Kara, who is having intellectual conversations with the wise and eccentric Zaltar (Peter O'Toole). They, along with the other Argo City residents, are survivors of the planet Krypton. How this community managed to survive Krypton's explosion is never explained. Why Argo City doesn't resemble the John Barry-designed Krypton architecture seen in the Superman movies remains a mystery. The closest we come to any background at all is when Zaltar mentions that Earth ("where my cousin went!?" points out Kara) is in outer space, while they are in inner space. The physical differences between "outer" and "inner" is left unresolved.

The citizens of Argo City are apparently able to survive thanks to a power source called the Omegahedron, a spinning globe which Zaltar has "borrowed" for his own creative amusement. He employs a wand powered by the globe to create solid objects, including a bracelet for Kara which becomes a tracking device for the Omegahedron. Kara's mom Alura (played by Mia Farrow) is introduced, and has a talk with Zaltar, while the young blonde uses the wand to create a mechanical butterfly which is brought to life by the Omegahedron (kicked over to her by Zaltar for some reason). The butterfly buzzes around, then makes a bee-line towards the outside, breaching the barrier like a baseball through a screen door.

Both the Omegahedron and Kara are flung towards the hole as if the entire city was being depressurized, even though no one else seems to be affected by the vacuum. The globe rockets out through inner-space (finding its way to Earth coincidentally enough), but Kara manages to hold on to dear life. Somehow, she is pulled away from the draft, and Zaltar basically seals it shut using his wand like a soldering iron. Kara's father Zor-El (brother to Jor-El and played by Simon Ward) makes an appearance, and roundly scolds Zaltar for endangering their city ("Our lights will grow dim and the very air we breathe so thin" exclaims Alura). Meanwhile, Kara climbs aboard the "traveler" (basically a rocket shaped like a globe) in order to chase the power ball, as if it were some unruly puppy running into traffic. How Argo City managed to survive in inner-space when their protective covering can be so easily pierced is never addressed. Why no one in Argo City has any superpowers is likewise never explained. (At the end of the movie, Kara is able to fly back to her home in inner space without any problems).

The Omegahedron lands in the town of Midvale (apparently near Chicago, which is featured prominently during the flying scenes) and is taken by Selina (Faye Dunaway) who uses it to exploit her powers as a witch of some sort. Accompanying our villainess is her sidekick Bianca (Brenda Vaccaro) whose primary role is to tell bad jokes, and make vacuous observations ("I think I recognize the costume"), and Nigel (Petter Cook) a high school teacher who is there to flirt and mock Selina for no apparent purpose. Kara finally reaches Earth, emerges from a lake in full costume and makes her first appearance as Supergirl.

After that interlude, it's back to the main plot, which devolves into an even bigger mess. Selina falls in love with a hunky gardener named (Hart Bochner) and uses her powers to attract him. In the meantime, Kara enrolls into an all-girl's school, passing herself off as an orphan and cousin to Clark Kent. (It is explained earlier that Superman is off into space on some peace-preserving mission, presumably one that entails ridding Earth of all its nuclear weapons.) Calling herself Linda Lee, Kara becomes the roommate of Lucy Lane (Maureen Teefy) who happens to be the younger sister of Lois Lane (I always thought that Lois's sister was someone who had "three kids, two cats and one mortgage"). It also turns out that Lucy's boyfriend is Jimmy Olsen, and he is due for a visit to Midvale which would allow him to meet Clark's cousin and thus establish a connection to the Superman Universe.

Selena lures Ethan to her lair, and seduces him with a potion which will make him fall in love with the first person he sees once he awakens from a drugged-induce state. (Imagine the uproar if the the female/male roles were reversed in this day and age.) Instead, he ends up stumbling into town, and all hell breaks loose when Selena commands a tractor to literally scoop him up. Lucy becomes injured when trying to take control of the runaway vehicle, prompting Supergirl to make her public debut. After saving Midvale from a minor disaster, Supergirl turns back to Linda Lee and Ethan ends up falling in love with her, causing Selina to go nuts. The rest of the movie focuses on Selena trying to strike back at Linda (who for some reason is dubbed "the wimp" just because she's out of costume). Incidentally, the whereabouts of the Omegahedron take a backseat to this love triangle (actually a "love quadrilateral" when you consider Supergirl's involvement), but I guess that's Argo City's problem. After a few minor squables, Selena manages to banish Supergirl to the Phantom Zone, leaving Selena free to rule the world and to keep the young gardener all to herself. As it turns out, the Phantom Zone isn't just a piece of glass, but rather a transport to another dimension which looks likes some desolate planet. (Never mind that this contradicts what was originally portrayed in the first two Superman films, and never mind that there are visual continuity errors galore when we see Kara being carried off in the two-dimensional plane.) Fortunately, Supergirl finds a familiar face in the Phantom Zone, and the two work together to escape the prison so that Maid of Might may save the day.

Make no mistake about it: Supergirl is a borderline incompetent movie, fully deserving of its status as a box office bomb and a critical disaster. However I cannot muster the kind of revulsion most people have for the film (I am far more aghast at disasters like Batman and Robin , the last Fantastic Four , and some parts of Justice League ). My fascination with Supergirl traces back to its development in 1983 by producer Ilya Salkind, who was responsible for bringing the Man of Steel to the silver screen five years earlier. Supergirl was released not too long after the second (and presumed final) Superman sequel co-starring Richard Pryor, which proved to be such a disappointment that I was anxious for another Salkind production to get the bad taste out of my mouth.

The movie also happened to make its US debut at my place of employment (and the best job I ever had, second of course to writing for www.highdefdigest.com), namely a once popular, but now non-existent mall-based movie theatre in San Jose, California. With few exceptions, our six screen offerings were basically second-run films and second-rate releases like Weird Science , Blame It On Rio , Cannon productions, and so forth. Supergirl's premiere at "my" lowly movie theatre should have been a big hint as to its quality and the studio's faith in the final product, but back then, we didn't have the internet to give us minute-by-minute updates on its current word-of-mouth. It was a bad omen when Tri-Star picked it up after Warner Bros dropped it, and it was an even worse omen that the original one-sheet featured a mistakenly reversed image of the Statute of Liberty (or maybe it was rebuilt incorrectly after the events of Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut ). I later learned that Supergirl had opened months earlier in Japan, with fair-to-middling results, and had already been pirated on VHS and laserdisc in the US. Still, it sold out on two-screens on opening day, which was enough to convince me that it would be a smash hit and a welcome addition to the Superman lore. That same weekend, I stayed after work to see it for myself. Before it was over, my brain deflated and my heart sank.

There are so many obvious technical and creative faults with the picture that to enumerate them all would be an exhausting and depressing endeavor. The most glaring problem is the story, which cannot sustain interest in the viewer due to needless distractions and subplots which are neither dramatic nor funny. It is hard to believe that this was the best script writer David Odell ( The Dark Crystal ) could muster. However, Director Jeannot Szwarc must take the majority of the blame in delivering a final product that limps awkwardly whenever the main character is not flying literally. There is a distinct lack of energy and urgency throughout the film, and whatever excitement is generated is greatly due to Jerry Goldsmith's music. His heartfelt main title and love theme are undisputed highlights, and it is a shame that his work is wasted on such poor cinematic results.

Along with the score, the other saving grace of the movie is its featured starlet, Helen Slater, an unknown young actress whose obvious appeal was not lost on teens such as myself. Her innocence, sense of wonder, and ability to slip into that familiar costume convincingly were an irresistible combination (remember, this was before Catwoman, Black Widow, Wonder Woman, and Storm would make it to the big screen). Even though there was a degree of sexism in the treatment of her character (gals fighting for the affection of a single guy; misplaced bras, cuddly bunny rabbits, pierced ears "which makes all the guys go crazy" (?!?), and girl's softball rivalry all distracting Supergirl from her mission; and even more bizarre, Supergirl letting two would-be rapists get off easy even after they make their intentions clear), and occasional moments where her earnestness and innocence goes a little too far (the Argo City scenes in particular), Miss Slater maintains her dignity despite the screenplay and direction. Like Reeve, she approaches the larger-than-life role with a down-to-earth manner which prevents the character from falling into an abyss of ridicule.

However, the same cannot be said for Faye Dunaway and Brenda Vacarro as the campy villainesses, who are as uninteresting and as uncharismatic as a B-movie can get. Faye simply cannot stop overacting for the cameras, and Brenda is flat as her comedic sidekick. Peter O'Toole as Zaltar hams it up a bit when he's at his most enthusiastic, but his behavior is otherwise in line with the Kryptonian elders scene in the Superman movies. Maureen O' Teefy is good as Kara's friend and roommate, but Marc McClure is not given enough to do as Jimmy Olsen. Speaking of the Man of Steel, a simple yet memorable "cameo" takes place when Kara discovers a Superman poster in Lucy's room, "Do you know him?" she asks. "Superman? Sure! My sister's got something going with the big guy." Goldsmith captures the moment nicely by juxtaposing the Superman main theme with Supergirl's using a combination of subdued horns and gentle strings. It's a sweet moment in a movie desperately in need of charm.

In addition to its lack of emotion, the movie further suffers from too many scenes which clearly don't make sense or are logistical failures. Towards the climax, Supergirl is seemingly trapped by hellfire bursting out from under tile floors, forcing her to a crawl around for a while. Why doesn't she simply fly away? Supergirl flies through a water tower, causing a flood to flow through the entry side of the hole, but not through the exit. Chain-suspended cages imprisoning Jimmy, Lucy, and Nigel come tumbling down the floor, where obvious dummies bounce around before the cutaway. Kara doesnt know what a tree is, but she knows how to use a typewriter. The high-definition picture also reveals some of the wires suspending Helen Slater during several flying scenes, which break the otherwise well-executed illusion. Finally, two main actions scenes lose all their tension thanks to poor imagination and technical incompetence. An invisible storm monster goes head to head with Supergirl, and she gets knocked around like some over-zealous mime. She finally defeats him by brandishing an electrified pole, and we barely get to see what the creature looks like. The whole scene is a cheat, and a lifeless one at that. (Exactly where did the budget go in this film?) A similar monster reappears for the finale, taking Supergirl in its grips, and twisting and turning her body like a rag doll. However, the whole torture scene looks unforgivably amateurish and baffling in the visual distortion. (Is her body really being distended like some funhouse mirror?) For those who care not about comic book heroes nor their movies, Supergirl is a deserving target for groans, snickers, and mockery. For those who had higher hopes, Supergirl is simply a downer.

Interestingly, the original U.S. cut of Supergirl has never been released on the digital format, but is unlikely to be missed at all. The International Version (1:24:32) and the Director's Cut (1:38:36) are a bit longer and provide additional exposition, but do no tell a more coherent story or provide more rousing action. Most of the additional footage comprises of extended moments or additional dialogue of otherwise inconsequential scenes which should have remained on the cutting room floor. For example, when Ethan first meets Linda, he recites a poem which is meant to be cute, but just comes off as flat and embarrassing. Verbal exchanges and personal interaction among Selena, Bianca and Nigel only emphasize that none of these characters are worth the screen time (in general, these three have even less wit and chemistry than the quartet of antagonists found in Superman III ). If there was any hope that such restored footage would have made for a better film, then the Director's Cut proves that less is more. Fortunately for the most detail-oriented among us, there are many websites which provide comparisons among all the video releases on a second-by-second and frame-by-frame basis. However, first-time viewers will probably have the better experience enjoying the high definition presentation with surround sound with the International Version .

To me, the best thing about these longer versions is the completion of a sequence truncated by the US theatrical cut, and described on the original movie soundtrack as "Arrival on Earth/Flying Ballet." Here, Kara lands on Earth for the first time, and takes a few minutes to take in her surroundings and explore her powers. Composer Goldsmith orchestrates a nuanced, yet panoramic musical suite as Supergirl flies through a lake and stumbles on the shore. She crushes a rock into dust, uses heat vision to make a flower blossom, and floats in the air. She then takes a graceful and majestic flight for several minutes amidst clouds, mountains and waterfalls, before landing back on shore to watch the sunset. In its theatrically edited form, it was an effective introduction to Supergirl in full costume. But the longer version is a more touching presentation of the film's one true magical moment. It's really a shame that the remainder of the movie could not rise up (pun intended) to the level of this five-minute segment, which would have easily turned Supergirl into something worth watching.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray

Almost 35 years after its original theatrical release, and more than 10 years after its last DVD presentation, Supergirl is finally given the gift of high definition flight on this simply packaged Blu-ray release. The BD50 disc contains the International Version of the movie, while an accompanying single DVD holds the Director's Cut . There is no booklet or any other printed material.

The box cover art features Helen Slater in full costume against the familiar big red "S" with a newly designed title logo on top. The back of the cover features a summary of the movie, a critical blurb apparently praising the film (taken out of context?), and a description of the discs' contents.

Video Review

The Blu-ray disc carrying the International Version is encoded in 1080/AVC MPEG-4, and letterboxed in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. Watching this disc isn't an eye-popping, visual revelation, but the improvements are definitely noticeable. When I first saw the International Version on DVD (as released by Anchor Bay in 2002), I felt that the picture looked a little "off." It appeared too tightly cropped on the sides and bottom as compared to the Director's Cut DVD and when referencing my full-screen laserdisc. With this Blu-ray, it appears that all the "zooming in" has been corrected as the movie looks less cramped than its original digital release, and even better than the Director's Cut . Limbs are no longer cut off awkwardly and objects appear more properly centered. (Please note that I do not own nor have I ever seen the 2006 DVD release from Warner Bros.)

As a result of the new Blu-ray transfer, we can see more of Supergirl in flight without the noticeable congestion and the visual composition is less distracting. The brighter and more vibrant colors especially during the special effects scenes, which deserve more a more detailed picture. The Director's Cut looks brighter, but the International Version looks more natural.

Above: International Version Blu-ray

Below: Director's Cut DVD

Even more interesting is the fact that some scenes look like they sourced from an alternate take, or else altered in the Director's Cut . This is obvious in the shot where Zaltar repairs Argo City's breach: the color timing and framing look completely different, not to mention the absence of certain special effects such as the outside lighting in the background.

When it comes to the Blu-ray, the overall picture quality often varies from scene to scene. The visuals suffer most during flying scenes where chroma keyed background footage is used. Once in awhile, grain suddenly appears like a sandstorm, and the colors shift sometimes randomly. On the other hand, literal down-to-earth moments appear solid, well-detailed and display any overt faults. The high definition remaster is a true improvement over what has been previously released to home video. This isn't reference-quality material, but it is the best Supergirl has ever looked.

Audio Review

Back in the mid-1980s, the Dolby Pro-Logic version of Supergirl was actually quite a home theatre show-stopper, especially coming from the Japanese-imported laserdisc. In 2002, the film was released on DVD and the 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack sounded even better, with clearer stereo and surround separation and increased dynamics.

Presently, the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track may be a sonic improvement over any previous home video version, but it also shows the age and limitations of the original source. While channel separation is well defined, the music score is more compressed than I had originally noticed, and low bass is heard infrequently. Rear channel activity is often present, but likewise reserved and often limited to a monophonic signal, even during busier scenes with crowds and ongoing commotion during the action scenes. However, I appreciate what has been done to this dated soundtrack, and can confirm that I've haven't heard Supergirl sound this dynamic and detailed in years.

The audio commentary is well-recorded and nicely accompanies the main soundtrack, which is presented in stereo and fluctuates in volume as necessary to accompany the voiceovers.

Special Features

This Blu-ray carriers over the same supplements found in Warner Bros 2006 DVD, including a commentary provided by Director Jeannot Szwarc and Special Project Consultant Scott Michael Bosco, a made-for-TV documentary, and a trailer.

Audio Commentary - This secondary soundtrack first appeared along with other materials in the Anchor Bay release from 2002, but now certain edits have been made which reference the Anchor Bay studio. This is unnecessary since the company is no longer in business (or rather, has been folded into a larger media conglomerate) and because the original release is no longer in print. Strangely enough, the commentary is done for the International Version but not the Director's Cut , which has a few more minutes of footage which might have been worth discussing (or maybe not). Still, both Mr. Bosco and Mr. Szwarc provide a surprisingly detailed and fascinating discussion throughout the film. It is clear that the director is enthusiastic and downright proud about his final product, even when Bosco politely questions some of the creative decisions put to life onscreen and inquires about clear continuity errors. Amusingly, Szwarc is apparently oblivious to the film's faults, or else doesn't believe that any exist. At one point, Mr. Bosco asks whether it was ever revealed in the script how Kara acquired her costume upon arriving on earth, and the director admits that no explanation existed, but contends incoherently (and verbatim): "What we really saying is part of changing from one world to the other is the combination of changing worlds and having the Omegahedron." It is almost amusing that such basic concepts were apparently not given any thought by the man-in-charge of production. Szwarc does point out that the flying is supposed to be more graceful than what has been seen before, and to that extent, the director had succeeded. He also explains how some of the special effects were completed, including using a life-size photograph of Supergirl being pulled out of the water for her first appearance so that her hair would not be wet. It may not be genius, but it is practical (though not very convincing, for the record).

Supergirl The Making of the Movie (49:48) - This "vintage documentary" is presented in standard definition with what sounds like a mono soundtrack. This featurette is a surprisingly in-depth look at the production of the movie, featuring interviews with the director and a few of the cast members along with accompanying behind the scenes footage. It avoids the slick and sugar-coated packaging of most documentaries covering fantasy films, by simply explaining just how much hard work went into producing another follow-up to the Superman films. Whenever the camera turns to Miss Slater, it is clear that her charm is genuine and that her enchanting portrayal of the main character is sincere. (Did I mention in this review how smitten I was with her?) There are a few unintended chuckles to be had, particularly when actor Simon Ward (who portrays Zor-El) expresses his confidence in the box office success of this film. Also, a lot of time and attention is paid to a few of the action set-pieces (particularly the runaway tractor in Midvale and the Phantom Zone scenes) which would turn out to be less than impressive in the final edit. Still, I appreciate a documentary which is not afraid to be rough and raw when it comes to production instead of the fawningly superficial drivel that covers the films of today.

Trailer (2:34) - This preview pretty much summarizes the entire film in a linear fashion, focusing on the stunts and special effects and allowing Faye Dunaway's character to do most of the talking. The clip is obviously unrestored and presented in standard definition widescreen with a mono soundtrack. Missing from this Blu-ray package are other supplements contained in the original two-disc DVD release, including television spots, photo gallery, trailers created for the foreign market, storyboards, and talent bios, and a 16-page booklet. The absence of these materials is unfortunate for collectors wanting to replace their Anchor Bay "Limited Edition" release with a definitive HD package.

Final Thoughts

What can one say about any movie which holds an irrationally forgiving place in your heart, despite its multiple faults and failures? For fans of any fantasy genre, disappointment is all too familiar when it comes to a movie adaptation which fails to meet its potential, and disgust is a certainty when it doesn't meet even the lowest of expectations. Supergirl was just one more nail in the coffin when it came to possibly invigorating the Superman franchise in specific, and expanding the potential of superhero films in general.

And yet, despite all its problems, I've always felt compelled to point out its creative merits, to defend its artistic intent, and to refrain from dismissing it with such disdain. It hasn't been easy defending the nearly indefensible. (Although I do have one or two critics on my side, with special acknowledgement to the well-expressed opinions of comics journalist Dwight Decker). But reviewing this long-awaited Blu-ray release reminds me that while Melissa Benoist may be this generation's Supergirl, my personal Maid of Might will always be Helen Slater. For this reason, I can recommend this Blu-ray, but to hardcore fans only.

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ScreenAge Wasteland

Welcome to the wasteland, ‘supergirl’ (1984) review.

Posted on April 18, 2023 March 23, 2024

‘Supergirl’ (1984) starred Helen Slater as The Girl of Steel. It was released on 19 July 1984 in the UK and November 21 1984 in the US. It was critically panned as it failed to impress critics and audiences alike and would became a box office bomb only grossing $14.3M on a $35M budget.

Introduction

We all know the story of Superman. Kal-El, as a baby, His parents sent him to Earth in a rocket ship upon a natural cataclysm that destroys his home planet of Krypton. After his arrival on Earth, he was found and raised by Johnathan and Martha Kent. He ultimately grows up believing that he is the last — and only — survivor of a dead planet.

But even though Supergirl (1984) wasn’t received with critical acclaim, the film was able to achieve a type of notoriety of its very own. Not only that of a box office bomb, — but that of a trail blazer. Long before the days of Buffy the Vampire Slayer ( Sarah Michelle Gellar ) and Xena: Warrior Princess ( Lucy Lawless ), there, up in the sky, was Supergirl ( Helen Slater ). Never before was there the likes of a teenage super-powered heroine such as Supergirl on either the big or small screen, which made her very presence nothing shy of a revelation.

Plot Summary

The movie seemingly starts off with Krypton having already been destroyed for that of an undetermined amount of time. Kara is living with her parents Alura In-Ze ( Mia Farrow ) and Zor-El ( Simon Ward ) as well as a large majority of Kryptonian’s in a place known as Argo City — an isolated Kryptonian community that survived the planet’s destruction — which has a very similar look and feel to that of an extremally gated community type of thing.

While on Argo City, Kara meets up with a much older Kyptonian named Zaltar ( Peter O’Toole ). They seem to be friendly and they both seem to share a sense of curiosity. Zaltar is mucking about with something called the Omegahedron — a classic example of what Alfred Hitchcock would call a “McGuffin” — a round circular object that powers Argo City.

While Zaltar is distracting Kara’s mother, the McGuffin — err — the Omegahedron ends up in Kara’s hands and as she beings to much about with it for a few moments, she ultimately ends up losing it. It springs to life all on its own and shoots out of a plastic wall that is encasing Argo City, and flies its way to freedom. This begins to worry the residents as it is the source of power and without it — they shall surely die! While everybody is arguing, Kara sneaks away onto a ship and decides that she will be the one to set out in search of it.

The Omegahedron ends up on Earth, landing in the presence of a woman named Selena ( Faye Dunaway ), a witch — or a faux sorceress — who studies the mystic arts. It’s unclear as to what exactly Selena plans to do with it, as it’s an alien object that she isn’t able to control nor does she know exactly how it works. Kara arrives on Earth shortly after, (already in her Supergirl attire), she immediately begins to track down the Omegahedron.

… and this’s basically the essential plot.

There is, of course, a lot of character moments that happen with Kara and Selena in their own right, both individually and with their own supporting cast of characters. But nothing that is too important before Kara is finally able to track the Omegahedron to Selena’s whereabouts and demanding that it be returned — which Selena refuses to comply with.

Supergirl is ultimately sent to The Phantom Zone by Selena after she is able to figure out how to use the Omegahedron to her advantage. Kara meets up with a familiar face: Zaltar. Considering he was the one who had initially stole the Omegahedron on Argo City, his punishment is his imprisonment. Zaltar helps Supergirl escape from The Phantom Zone.

Supergirl then confronts Selena, but this time ready for whatever she can throw at her and ultimately prevails, which is no surprise. That’s how these types of movies work; good guy fights bad guy, second act looks like the bad guy it about win, but the good guy prevails in the end. If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen ’em all and the story structure here is no different.

Description

Considering this movie was made in the 80’s, there is a lot that you have to forgive while watching it, especially when it comes to the special effects. You can tell when Supergirl is being pulled around on wires when she flies, you can instantly notice when any of the characters are in front of a green screen and even though the music tries it’s best, the score is nowhere near as iconic as the Superman March from the Christopher Reeves movies.

Superman brings her to an orphanage so that she has a place to live.

You’d wonder why he wouldn’t bring her to live with Johnathan and Martha at their farm, but having Kara, — or Linda Lee, rather — living in a different environment gives her the opportunity to have adventures of her very own. In Supergirl (1984) , instead of an orphanage, “Linda” attends an all girls school where she gets bunked up with none other than Lucy Lane ( Maureen Teefy ), Lois Lane’s little sister. How convenient is that.

… but these aren’t big changes and certainly nothing to criticize nor claim that this is what truly ruined the movie, because it isn’t. Some of these changes actually make a lot of sense and you have to give credit to the writer’s for doing their homework on the character.

The real Supergirl wouldn’t make a reappearance for another 20 years, getting brought back in 2005 and this time she would get treated with respect. She was given her own comic as well as the writers putting her through her own journey of self discovery and even though she may have started out as a female version of Superman, she has very much come into her own as a character. Still, one has to wonder if the failure of Supergirl (1984) had a helping hand in the decision to kill off the character in the comics all those years ago.

There’s not too much about Supergirl that I would criticize but that could be due to my love for the character and wanting to forgive the odd choices that she makes for the sake of wanting to enjoy her for what she is rather than what I expect her to be. Kara doesn’t seem to show too much emotion and the failure in providing to give Kara some type of emotional or personal connection to that of anything and because of that, it fails to give the audience an opportunity to relate to the character. Whether that be on the surface or on some type of deep down, profound spiritual level. Which isn’t something that I blame on Helen Slater ‘s performance, but rather something that falls more so on that of the writers and director.

It’s a bit of a bizarre plot point and has nothing to do with Supergirl being the hero nor Selena being a villain. At one point, it felt that Selena was going to use the Omegahedron to enslave humanity, the movie suddenly becomes about this weird love triangle with Selena turning into character without any type of real ambition, motivation or inspiration.

This movie reminds me of a combination of The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Alice in Wonderland (1951) . Whereas both Dorothy and Alice wanted to leave the muddiness of their ordinary lives and found themselves in places of complete chaos, Kara finds herself on planet Earth.

Even though this world is familiar to us, the audience, it can be quite the quite the crazy and cooky place to somebody who has grown up as sheltered as Kara has. Of course, it doesn’t take her long to find out just how cruel the world can really be. Upon her arrival, she gets confronted by a couple of truckers who seem to want to have their way with her. It seems that this type of plot point goes hand in hand with being a female protagonist. But because we have come to know what Superman is capable of, we know that Supergirl can handle herself in the same way, it comes as no surprise that she is never in any type of real danger.

Once Supergirl reacquires the Omegahedron from Selena, that’s it! She’s back off to Argo City, leaving Earth behind as if it meant nothing to her … which it probably didn’t. Unlike Clark who grew up on Earth since he was a baby and made it his home, Kara is a teenager who has no connection to the planet … so it’s hard to blame her decision to leave, I guess

Maybe she found the adventure that she was looking for, or maybe she realized that the mundaneness of her ordinary life wasn’t so boring after all … and much like Dorothy who put on the ruby slippers and clicked her heels three times and awakened from the dream; both Kara and the Omegahedron learned a valuable lesson: there’s no place like home.

All in all, even with a run-time of 2 hours there is really no filler in this movie. Perhaps some of the scenes go on for a little longer than they should but everything either serves the a purpose for either the story or some character development. Sure, the acting can be a little campy and laughably over the top at times but the performances aren’t the criticism here.

That said, perhaps the one good thing that came out of her time as Kara Zor-El this is that Helen Slater was able to form a legacy of her very own with the Superman mythos that followed this one single performance. She appeared as Lara Zor-El, Clark’s birth mother, in Smallville and she played a recurring role as Eliza Danvers — the adopted mother of Kara Danvers — in the Supergirl TV show starring Melissa Benoist as the titular character.

It’s a fun movie but it’s story is one that ultimately lacks any real depth or meaning that delves beyond the surface on a deep down profound spiritual level. It doesn’t make you think, it doesn’t teach you anything and the worst part about it is that there is no universal message or moral to Kara’s journey that teaches her a lesson as to what makes a hero.

Maybe this movie deserved the criticism that it received upon its release, maybe it didn’t. Everything is there in making it a good movie but somehow, it fails to make you feel anything besides slightly drowsy. Maybe some humor would’ve helped to liven up both the characters and the script as it’s a movie that’s good for one watch … but that’s about it.

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Supergirl’s $14.3m Box Office Bomb Makes The DCU Reboot Even More Important

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow set to revitalize DCU and Kara Zor-El's cinematic legacy with cosmic adventure.
Milly Alcock's casting as Supergirl receives widespread approval, signaling a positive start for the character's DCU debut.
Movie inspired by offbeat comic plot where Supergirl journeys into space, hinting at a cosmic adventure and unique storytelling.

With filming for 2025's Superman well underway, the DCU reboot is poised to reinvigorate enthusiasm for DC's most popular characters - which is particularly important for Supergirl in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow . The DCU's release slate has confirmed that Kara Zor-El, AKA Supergirl, will be debuting in her own solo movie following her cousin's debut in Superman . The movie is titled after a comic book that sees Kara Zor-El embroiled in a cosmic adventure of vengeance and self-discovery, though details surrounding the exact plot of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow are still to be confirmed.

What is confirmed, however, is that Milly Alcock has been cast in the titular role, which has garnered widespread approval. This is a positive start for the character's DCU debut and hopefully precedes a series of positive decisions that will help to rectify the character's cinematic legacy. The last time Supergirl appeared on film was as a supporting character in The Flash as portrayed by Sasha Calle - but the last time she starred in her own movie was not so well-received.

All 11 Announced DCU Movies & Shows, Ranked By Our Excitement

The dcu needs to redeem the last live-action supergirl movie, supergirl was released in 1984.

Following the success of Christopher Reeves' Superman movies, a Supergirl spin-off was released in 1984 starring Helen Slater in the titular role. It pits Kara Zor-El against the witch Selena, a villain that was created specifically for the movie, who came into possession of the Omegahedron - an item that powers Kara's home city. The movie's climax sees Kara fighting an invisible shadow demon after Selena declares herself " Princess of Earth " before being trapped in the Phantom Zone by Supergirl. Suffice it to say, the movie was exceptionally hammy and did not land very well with audiences.

Despite drawing the ire of some critics, Helen Slater was nominated for a Saturn Award for her role while two of her co-stars, Peter O'Toole and Faye Dunaway, earned Razzie nominations for theirs.

Supergirl preceded the lambasted Superman IV: The Quest for Peace by three years and did not fare any better critically. The movie bombed at the worldwide box office , earning just $14.3m, and boasts a paltry 8% score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the worst-rated superhero movies of all time . Detractors took aim at the movie's overly campy tone, with Helen Slater's animated performance as Kara Zor-El rubbing some critics the wrong way. This is, at least, something that Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is poised to contrast with its presumed plot.

Supergirl (1984)

Supergirl is a 1984 DC movie starring Helen Slater as the titular character. The movie acted as a spinoff of Christopher Reeve's Superman movies, which ran from 1978 to 1987. Reeve decided not to appear in this spinoff, and Supergirl was unfortunately critically panned upon release. The plot revolves around Kara Zor-El coming to Earth to collect a powerful orb but ending up in a battle against a wicked witch.

Director Jeannot Szwarc

Release Date November 21, 1984

Cast Simon Ward, Peter Cook, Helen Slater, Marc McClure, Mia Farrow, Peter O'Toole, Faye Dunaway, Brenda Vaccaro

Runtime 124 Minutes

Why DCU's Supergirl Is Already Set To Be Promising

The comic run after which Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is named depicts Kara Zor-El's coming-of-age story in a decidedly off-the-wall setting.

Milly Alcock, who rose to prominence after portraying a young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO's House of the Dragon , is an exceptionally popular pick for the titular role in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow . Her tenure in the Game of Thrones spin-off series demonstrated her ability to portray a nuanced character who is full of life and fiercely independent. This should marry well with Supergirl's first solo outing in the DCU , especially if the movie follows the same plot as its comic book namesake, as it flies in the face of Slater's happy-go-lucky portrayal.

The comic run after which Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is named depicts Kara Zor-El's coming-of-age story in a decidedly off-the-wall setting. Instead of confining Supergirl to Earth, the comic sees her journey into space in search of a red sun that would reduce her powers enough to experience inebriation. James Gunn's proven capacity to tell cosmic stories with offbeat alien characters - whom Supergirl teams up with in the comics - is a promising sign for the movie should it depict the same storyline as its namesake. Story details are likely to remain under wraps for a while yet, however.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is one of many DC movies being released by Warner Bros. under the supervision of DC co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow was officially confirmed in January 2023 alongside other DC titles, including Superman: Legacy, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and Swamp Thing.

Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast Milly Alcock

Rating Not Yet Rated

Genres Superhero

Franchise(s) DC Universe

Key Release Dates

Superman (2025), the batman part ii.

Supergirl’s $14.3m Box Office Bomb Makes The DCU Reboot Even More Important

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Cruella Director in Talks to Helm Supergirl Movie for DC Studios, New Title Revealed

The DCU's new movie based on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow may have just found its director.

Supergirl is in the early works at DC Studios following the casting of Milly Alcock as the titular superhero. It was previously revealed that the film would be written by Ana Nogueira , and now, a new report reveals who may be the director to take the helm on the anticipated feature film.

Per Deadline , filmmaker Craig Gillespie is now in talks to direct Supergirl . Gillespie has previously garnered acclaim for directing the female-led films I, Tonya with Margot Robbie and Cruella with Emma Stone. He also directed Ryan Gosling's quirky dramedy Lars and the Real Girl , Anton Yelchin's Fright Night remake, and, more recently, Paul Dano's 2023 film Dumb Money .

Smallville's Supergirl Actor Hopes to Join DCU, James Gunn Reacts

The new Deadline report noted that the film is titled Supergirl . The film was originally announced with the title Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow , taking inspiration from the comic book series of the same name by Tom King and Bilquis Evely. This suggests that the film has an updated title, now simply called Supergirl . This may be due to DC Studios sticking with the theme established by 2025's Superman , which was originally titled Superman: Legacy .

Reportedly, DC Studios co-CEOS James Gunn and Peter Safran are producing Supergirl . Previously, it was announced that House of the Dragon star Milly Alcock would be leading the cast as the titular "Woman of Tomorrow." While the Supergirl film is still in early development, Alcock's casting was already put into place as there are plans to first introduce the character in a separate DCU project before she leads her own film. However, it remains unclear if said project will be Gunn's Superman movie, or another DCU film or TV series.

'Passing the Cape': Supergirl Star Helen Slater Reacts to Milly Alcock's DCU Casting

"Strangely, Milly was the FIRST person I brought up to Peter [Safran] for this role, well over a year ago, when I had only read the comics," Gunn would later state about casting Alcock in a social media post. "I was watching House of the Dragon & thought she might have the edge, grace & authenticity we needed for the DCU’s Supergirl. And now here we are. Life is wild sometimes ."

A New Supergirl Movie Is in the Works

A previous movie, released in 1984, held the title Supergirl . That film starred Helen Slater in the role. It remains the only live-action feature film to be made about Supergirl, though Sasha Calle was featured as a version of the character in 2023's The Flash . On the small screen, Melissa Benoist played the superhero in the CW series Supergirl . Laura Vandervoort previously played a live-action Supergirl in the prequel series Smallville .

Supergirl does not yet have a release date.

Source: Deadline

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #1

Screen Rant

Every dc movie max just removed from its streaming service.

The Max streaming service is implementing content rotation for DC movies, and the latest turn means 31 fewer projects to watch in April.

DC movies removed from Max this month may return soon, part of Warner Bros.' rotating content strategy.
Iconic Batman movies like Mask of the Phantasm have been removed, but DCEU and Nolan's Batman films remain.
Ryan Reynolds' Green Lantern and Halle Berry's Catwoman among live-action movies off Max, may return elsewhere.

Max (formerly HBO Max) is the default home for DC movies and TV shows , but the service has just removed 31 projects as of April 1. Marvel and DC are still the two big names in the superhero media industry, and each is tied to some degree to one streaming service. Marvel movies and TV shows can be found on Disney+ with very few exceptions, and Warner Bros. is behind both Max and DC. However, while the streaming era makes watching more content easier than ever, it also has caveats.

While Disney+ has remained relatively consistent with its Marvel offerings, Max is employing a different approach. At the start of April, 31 animated and live-action DC movies have been removed from the program. They'll almost definitely be back at some point, but when that is (and if they can be watched in the meantime elsewhere) is yet to be seen.

Every DCEU Movie Ranked From Worst To Best

31 dc movies are no longer available to stream on max.

There doesn't seem to be any particular rhyme or reason for which DC movies were removed from Max this month. However, a few franchises are safe in their entirety. Of note is that the movies of the DCEU, the Christopher Nolan Batman films, the Burton Batman movies and their sequels, and the Reeves Batman films are all still intact (sans the Supergirl s spinn-off) on the service. With a few exceptions, at least one movie has been removed from most years between 2004 and 2023.

While the full list of removals can be seen above, it's worth pointing out a few outliers. While the majority of the movies are animated DC projects , Ryan Reynolds' and Halle Berry's infamous live-action Green Lantern and Catwoman movies are out, as is Keanu Reeves' cult classic Constantine . The documentary Batkid: The Wish Heard Around The World is also no longer available.

Animated features have taken a bigger hit (particular Batman-related movies). Spanning several continuities, audiences will have to look elsewhere for iconic stories like Batman: Mask of the Phantasm , The Dark Knight Returns - Part 1 and 2 , and Batman: Under the Red Hood. Of course, given DC's prolific animation output over the years, plenty of other animated films remain on Max.

Why DC Movies Have Been Removed From Max

While it may be disappointing for some viewers that they can no longer watch certain DC movies on Max (at least for the time being), the move first in with the streaming service's content strategy. Despite Max being owned by Warner Bros, who also owns DC, the platform uses a rotating content strategy that frequently seems movies and TV shows enter and exit availability. Usually, this is to license content out to other streaming services on limited contract.

So, it seems likely that most - if not all - the removed Max content will soon be available on other services. While that may not allay disappointment from those looking for their DC fix to stay under one roof, the above movies certainly aren't gone for good. It is currently unclear when DC 's removed movies will return to

Key Release Dates

Superman (2025), the batman part ii.

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‘supergirl’ movie finds director with craig gillespie.

The 'I, Tonya' and 'Cruella' helmer will handle duties on the DC project.

By Borys Kit , Aaron Couch April 3, 2024 12:36pm

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It’s up, up and away for director Craig Gillespie, who is in talks to helm Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow .

The filmmaker joins James Gunn ( Superman ) and Andy Muschietti (the Batman feature The Brave and the Bold ) among the filmmakers building out the slate of projects for DC Studios, the Warner Bros. division led by Gunn and Peter Safran.

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George miller talks ‘furiosa’ & why he’s still making ‘mad max’ movies: “they’re very addictive” – cinemacon, craig gillespie in talks to direct ‘supergirl’ for dc studios.

By Anthony D'Alessandro , Justin Kroll

Craig Gillespie and the Supergirl comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

EXCLUSIVE: Cruella and I, Tonya filmmaker Craig Gillespie is in talks to direct Supergirl for Warner Bros’ DC Studios , we can tell you first.

The plan is for DC to shoot the movie for Q4 after they’ve completed James Gunn’s Superman , which is shooting in Georgia for a July 11, 2025 theatrical release. DC bosses Gunn and Peter Safran are producing. DC EVP Chantal Nong is executive producing, we hear.

‘Supergirl’: New Woman Of Steel Is ‘House Of The Dragon’s Milly Alcock

James Gunn Starts Filming ‘Superman’ In Norway & Teases Scene With Hero Fleeing To The Fortress Of Solitude

Supergirl is based on Tom King’s 2022 comic book series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow , which Bilquis Evely illustrated. Ana Nogueira adapted the comic book for the big screen. If you want to know how hot a comic book it is, you’ll find it upfront at the Barnes & Noble at The Grove for purchase.

Gunn said at a DC Studios presser early last year that in their Supergirl “we see the difference between Superman who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents from the time he was an infant, versus Supergirl who was raised on a rock, a chip off Krypton, and watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life, and then came to Earth when she was a young girl. She’s much more hardcore; she’s not exactly the Supergirl we’re used to seeing.”

The CAA-repped Gillespie has a specialty when delivering female-driven projects: I, Tonya scored an Oscar win for Allison Janney as Best Supporting Actress, and also notched a total of three Oscar noms including for Margot Robbie in the Best Actress category. His Cruella , a solo spinoff starring Emma Stone based on the 101 Dalmatians villain, was a big pandemic Disney+ and box office hit combined, grossing more than $233 million worldwide; the movie won an Oscar for Costume Design. Let’s also not forget Gillespie’s other female-driven TV series, Hulu’s Pam and Tommy, on which he received a Primetime Emmy nom for Outstanding Limited and Anthology Series.

Australian filmmaker Gillespie is also repped by Rumble Media and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.

DC did not respond to request for comment.

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Craig Gillespie in Talks to Direct DC Studios’ ‘Supergirl’

By Katcy Stephan

Katcy Stephan

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“I, Tonya” director Craig Gillespie is in talks to direct the upcoming “ Supergirl ” film at Warner Bros.’ DC Studios.

The film, titled “ Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow ,” is based on the DC comics run of the same name by Tom King and Bilquis Evely. It’s set to shoot later this year, after James Gunn’s “Superman” wraps filming. “House of the Dragon” breakout Milly Alcock will star in the titular role.

Alcock won the role after an extensive casting process during which Gunn and co-CEO Peter Safran flew multiple actors, including Meg Donnelly, to Atlanta for onscreen auditions on the “Superman: Legacy” set.

Gunn has previously teased that the new take on the superhero will be “much more hardcore” than previous interpretations of the character. “She’s not exactly the Supergirl we’re used to seeing,” he explained in 2023 when presenting the first 10 titles in the new DCU slate .

In the new iteration, Supergirl travels across the galaxy to celebrate her 21st birthday with Krypto the Superdog. Along the way, she meets a young woman named Ruthye and winds up on a murderous quest for revenge.

Gunn and Safran are producing. DC EVP Chantal Nong is executive producing. Ana Nogueira (“The Vampire Diaries”) is writing the screenplay.

Gillespie’s directing credits include “Cruella,” “The Finest Hours,” “Lars and the Real Girl,” and, most recently, “Dumb Money.” He is represented by CAA, Rumble Media and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.

Deadline was first to report the news.

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Supergirl (1984)
Supergirl (1984) - Review. It was in the year 1984 that we saw Supergirl's first appearance outside the pages of DC comics, which was pretty sad considering her cousin Superman had been appearing in serials, cartoons, television shows and movies dating as far back as the 1940s. Yet it wasn't until the Christopher Reeve movies started to ...
Supergirl (1984)
Supergirl: Directed by Jeannot Szwarc. With Faye Dunaway, Helen Slater, Peter O'Toole, Mia Farrow. After losing a powerful orb, Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin, comes to Earth to retrieve it and instead finds herself up against a wicked witch.
Supergirl
Szwarc means to create drama, effectively absorbing us in the adventures of a superhero flying in on the winds of the second wave of feminism. But his work lacks any playfulness or self-conscious ...
Supergirl (1984 film)
Supergirl is a 1984 superhero film directed by Jeannot Szwarc from a screenplay by David Odell based on the DC Comics character of the same name. It is the fourth film in the Superman film series, set after the events of Superman III (1983) and serving as a spin-off of the series. The film stars Helen Slater as Supergirl, along with Faye Dunaway, Hart Bochner, Peter Cook, Mia Farrow, Brenda ...
ErikLundegaard.com
Movie Review: Supergirl (1984) WARNING: SPOILERS. Near the end of "Supergirl," after Selena the Witch (Faye Dunaway) has been defeated and the Omegahedron, which powers Argo City, the bubbled asteroid of Krypton, is back in Supergirl's hands, Supergirl (Helen Slater) turns to her new friends, Lucy Lane (Maureen Teefy) and Jimmy Olsen ...
Supergirl
Mixed or Average Based on 13 Critic Reviews. 41. 15% Positive 2 Reviews. 46% Mixed 6 Reviews. ... Supergirl glitters, she glows. [23 Nov 1984, p.27] Read More By Rita Kempley FULL REVIEW. 60. Time Out Most delightful of the Super-series for its good-natured disregard of narrative considerations. ... Une distribution de premier plan pour ce film ...
Supergirl (1984) -- Silver Emulsion Film Reviews
The opening scene of Supergirl tries its best to liken itself to the opening scene of Superman, showing us a strange, alien world inhabited by humanoids much like ourselves.But where that original scene was interesting, the one in Supergirl falls a bit short. It does ostensibly perform the same task, though: setting up the canvas on which the rest of the film will be painted.
Supergirl (1984) Featured, Reviews Film Threat
It all leads to a battle between Supergirl versus magic. The two weaknesses of Supergirl is its story and that it's a truly lame spin-off of Superman. The movie is the fourth installment of the Superman Cinematic Universe (SCU), but it's clearly a rip-off funded by the studio that brought us the original. Continue.
Supergirl Movie Review
Wicked sorceress and her minions drink and smoke. Parents need to know that this tween-appropriate film as comic book-style violence. All types of weapons are used (from knives to a nauseating amusement park ride), but there's never any blood or gore. The heroine, a high school-aged superhero, presents a good role model for tweens (and even ...
SUPERGIRL (1984) Revisited
After the relative failure of Superman III at the box office, Christopher Reeve was understandably reluctant to continue with a franchise that has seemingly ...
Supergirl (1984)
This they signally failed to do, and when Supergirl opened in July 1984 in the UK and November 1984 in the USA, it was to hostile indifference. The film, which cost only a hair less than Superman III, lost a considerable sum of money, and the chastened Salkinds sold the rights off to Cannon Films. There, perhaps eager to prove that a worse film ...
Supergirl
A movie review by James Berardinelli. Supergirl holds the distinction of being the worst movie made during the Salkind Era of Superman (which began with 1978's Superman and ended with 1987's Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, although by then the Salkinds had sold the rights to Golan-Globus). That's right, Supergirl achieves the seemingly ...
'Supergirl' (1984) doesn't quite get off the ground
November 2, 2019May 1, 2023 John Hansen. "Supergirl" (1984) starts in cheesy fashion on a Kryptonian outpost, with Kara Zor-El (Helen Slater) impulsively deciding to chase a doodad that she has carelessly dropped into a timewarp (or something along these lines) all the way to Earth. Without pausing to shed a tear for the family and friends ...
Supergirl (1984) Blu-ray Review
Supergirl might not be some misunderstood movies of the 1980s and indeed it is at times pretty awful, particularly in terms of the cheap production design, bad dialogue and nonsensical moments, and yet the movie has its charms, most notably Helen Slater.. Supergirl — Warner Archive Collection — (1984) Genre(s): Comedy, Science Fiction Warner Bros. | PG - 125 min. - $21.99 | July 24, 2018
Supergirl (1984)
The headmaster, Mr. Danvers (David Healy), assigns her to be roommate to Lucy Lane (Maureen Tuffy), the teenage sister of Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane. Selena and Bianca are both impressed when they notice Ethan (Hart Bochner), the hunky groundskeeper at the school. Selena concocts a love potion and slips it into Ethan's beer.
Supergirl
Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5 | Aug 30, 2017. With catastrophe rotting its marrow, "Supergirl" exemplifies the wisdom in waiting to ensure a great female superhero movie. Wonder Woman and ...
Supergirl (1984) Revisited
January 10th 2022, 11:00am. SUPERGIRL (1984) Revisited - Superhero Movie Review. Watch on. After the relative failure of Superman III at the box office, Christopher Reeve was understandably ...
Blu-ray News and Reviews
Supergirl (1984) Overview - Supergirl is a disjointed, nonsensical, and misguided mess partially redeemed by an earnest lead actress in the form of Helen Slater, whose magical moments of flight accompanied by a sweeping score by the late Jerry Goldsmith were more than enough to make me a genuine fan (especially as an 18-year old kid whose devotion to the Christopher Reeve Superman movies knew ...
'Supergirl' (1984) Review
'Supergirl' (1984) Review. by Jinxy; Posted on April 18, 2023 April 24, 2023 'Supergirl' (1984) starred Helen Slater as The Girl of Steel. It was released on 19 July 1984 in the UK and November 21 1984 in the US. ... Supergirl (1984) is far from the best superhero movie that has ever been made but as far as I'm concerned, it's also ...
Supergirl (1984) Revisited
Supergirl (1984) Revisited - Superhero Movie Review. joblo. This thread is archived New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast Related Topics Supergirl Comedy-Drama Television comments sorted by ... SUPERGIRL (1984) Revisited - Superhero Movie Review.
Supergirl's $14.3m Box Office Bomb Makes The DCU Reboot Even ...
Supergirl (1984) Supergirl is a 1984 DC movie starring Helen Slater as the titular character. The movie acted as a spinoff of Christopher Reeve's Superman movies, which ran from 1978 to 1987.
Supergirl 1984 Extended Cut : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming
Supergirl 1984 Extended Cut. Publication date. 1984. Topics. Fantasy, adventures, super, comic book, hero. Dc. When the power system that keeps Argo city safe is lost, Kara zor-el embarks on a quest to find it. It's discoved by a dark sorceress who taps into it's power, making her more powererfull. Now supergirl must stop her from enslaving the ...
Cruella Director in Talks to Helm Supergirl Movie for DC Studios ...
A New Supergirl Movie Is in the Works A previous movie, released in 1984, held the title Supergirl. That film starred Helen Slater in the role. It remains the only live-action feature film to be made about Supergirl, though Sasha Calle was featured as a version of the character in 2023's The Flash.
Every DC Movie Max Just Removed From Its Streaming Service
Max (formerly HBO Max) is the default home for DC movies and TV shows, but the service has just removed 31 projects as of April 1. Marvel and DC are still the two big names in the superhero media industry, and each is tied to some degree to one streaming service. Marvel movies and TV shows can be found on Disney+ with very few exceptions, and ...
'Supergirl' Movie Finds Director with Craig Gillespie
Supergirl stars House of the Dragon's Milly Alcock, who will play Kara Zor-El, the cousin of Superman.The feature is inspired by the Tom King and Bilquis Evely comic and will depart from the ...
'Supergirl': Craig Gillespie In Talks to Direct DC Movie
EXCLUSIVE: Cruella and I, Tonya filmmaker Craig Gillespie is in talks to direct Supergirl for Warner Bros' DC Studios, we can tell you first. The plan is for DC to shoot the movie for Q4 after ...
Supergirl Director: Craig Gillespie in Talks to Helm DC Studios Movie
By Katcy Stephan. Getty Images. "I, Tonya" director Craig Gillespie is in talks to direct the upcoming " Supergirl " film at Warner Bros.' DC Studios. The film, titled " Supergirl ...

Supergirl (1984) – Review

Argo City is brought to you by the makers of Quaaludes.

“I have a vague notion that I should be doing something important, but nevermind, time for more flying”

Your people are dying, you colossal idiot!

How dumb do you have to be to attempt to rape a girl in a Superman costume?

Don’t screw with Faye Dunaway.

Note: The love interest is played by Hart Bochner, who played the idiot Ellis in Die Hard.

But hey, at least she was able to conquer sixth-dimensional geometry.

The limbo-like Phantom Zone from the comics.

Is she a Superhero or a bloody Disney Princess?

“Supergirl, will you stop screwing around and just find that damn Omegahedron!”

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‘Supergirl’ (1984) doesn’t quite get off the ground

Kara adjusts to Earth

Cheesy throughout

Stuck in the Phantom Zone

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