Supergirl's Test Screenings Revealed Alternate Scene Reactions

WHO:

Coming Soon - The film "Supergirl" is directed by Craig Gillespie.

Kotaku - Milly Alcock plays the role of Kara in "Supergirl."

Kotaku - James Gunn is associated with the DC Universe and involved in the production of "Supergirl."

WHAT:

Coming Soon - The final version of "Supergirl" was released in June and has been described as a flop at the box office.

Kotaku - The studio's version of "Supergirl" scored about two points higher in test screenings compared to Gillespie's cut.

Kotaku - The final movie features a cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle,” which has been widely criticized.

Coming Soon - "Supergirl" was released to mixed reviews from critics and audiences.

Kotaku - "Supergirl" has flopped at the box office and received middling reviews.

Kotaku - Test screenings for "Supergirl" included two different cuts: one from Gillespie and another from the studio.

Kotaku - Test scores for "Supergirl" never exceeded the 60-70 range on a 100-point scale.

Kotaku - The final version of "Supergirl" is about 11 minutes shorter than Gillespie's Director's Cut.

WHERE:

Kotaku - The test screenings and production decisions were made by DC Studios.

WHEN:

Kotaku - A sequel to Superman is slated for 2027.

Kotaku - Filming for "Supergirl" wrapped in May of 2025.

Kotaku - A screen test for "Supergirl" took place in December.

WHY:

Kotaku - The decision to release a shorter cut of "Supergirl" was influenced by the mixed reception of the initial screenings.

Kotaku - The mixed reception of "Supergirl" may stem from an internal creative struggle between director Craig Gillespie and DC Studios.

Kotaku - The decision to have two different cuts for test screenings was due to a lack of creative alignment between Gillespie and Gunn.

HOW:

Kotaku - DC Studios took charge of post-production and made its own cut of "Supergirl" after the initial screen test was poorly received.

Kotaku - Jeremy Slater, writer for "Mortal Kombat II," was brought in for revisions, though the extent of his involvement is unclear.

Kotaku - The final movie used a cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle,” while Gunn preferred a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

(UPDATED July 6, 2026 21:26 UTC)

The final version of "Supergirl," which was released in June, has been labeled a box office flop, despite scoring about two points higher in test screenings than the earlier cut by Gillespie. The movie features a cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle,” but this choice has faced significant criticism. Looking ahead, a sequel to Superman is set to be released in 2027.

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(UPDATED July 6, 2026 19:34 UTC)

The film "Supergirl," directed by Craig Gillespie and featuring Milly Alcock as Kara, has been released to mixed reviews and has struggled at the box office. Test screenings revealed a lack of creative alignment between Gillespie and DC Studios, leading to the decision to produce two different cuts, with the final version being about 11 minutes shorter than Gillespie's Director's Cut. Additionally, Jeremy Slater was brought in for revisions after the initial screen test received poor feedback, and the final movie features a cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle,” despite James Gunn's preference for a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”