Supergirl (2025), directed by Ana Lily Amirpour, marks a fresh and empowering chapter in the DC cinematic universe. With a unique voice, a bold tone, and a breakout performance by Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, this film delivers both heartfelt emotion and thrilling action, offering audiences a female-led superhero epic that embraces legacy while forging its own path.
Set after the fall of Krypton and in the shadow of Superman's emergence, Supergirl follows Kara Zor-El—a teenage Kryptonian sent to Earth to protect her younger cousin Kal-El. But due to a twist in time and space, she arrives decades after him, lost and alone in a strange, damaged world.
Struggling with guilt, identity, and isolation, Kara hides her powers—until a catastrophic alien threat forces her into the spotlight. As a powerful AI enemy from Krypton’s past threatens to destroy Earth, Kara must step up not just as a warrior, but as a symbol of hope.
Along the way, she forms an unlikely alliance with reporter Cat Grant (played sharply by Sarah Paulson), learns to trust her instincts, and embraces her destiny—not as Superman’s cousin, but as her own hero.
Milly Alcock gives a nuanced and emotionally grounded performance as Kara. She captures both vulnerability and ferocity, showing a young woman burdened by legacy and loss, yet driven by compassion. Her journey from frightened outsider to full-fledged hero is compelling and deeply relatable.
Sarah Paulson adds gravitas and wit as a mentor figure, while Yahya Abdul-Mateen II appears in a memorable role as Brainiac’s human proxy, giving the film a chilling antagonist with a tragic twist.
Visually, Supergirl is stunning. Amirpour brings a unique visual style—blending retro-futurism with gritty realism. The flying sequences are exhilarating, often filmed in long takes that highlight Kara’s grace and power in the sky. Her heat vision, super speed, and strength are used not just for spectacle, but to emphasize her emotional state.
One standout action sequence involves a mid-air rescue above Metropolis during a collapsing satellite attack, showcasing Kara’s growth and raw heroism.
Supergirl explores themes of identity, loneliness, grief, and the pressure of legacy. It asks: what does it mean to be a hero when you weren’t meant to be the last of your kind? The film is less about perfection and more about perseverance—fitting for a younger hero finding her place in a world that didn’t expect her.
The tone strikes a delicate balance: darker and more introspective than typical superhero fare, but always grounded in hope and humanity.
Supergirl (2025) is a triumphant, emotionally charged origin story that doesn’t just retell Superman’s legacy—it redefines it. With visionary direction, powerful performances, and a deeply personal story, this film lifts the superhero genre with heart and fresh perspective.
