The first reactions are in for Supergirl, and they single out Milly Alcock as the perfect Kara Zor-El while declaring Jason Momoa born to play Lobo.
Supergirl: First Reactions Overview
Mike Ryan wrote, "SUPERGIRL is not at all what I was expecting. I, too, assumed ‘superhero space movie with needle drops’ would have a similar tone to GOTG or even Superman. Instead it looks and plays more like a Mad Max movie, with dirty worlds, gross villains and a self destructive hero." That tonal framing—repeated across early responses—positions Craig Gillespie's film as a darker, grittier follow-up to last year’s Superman under James Gunn, and it gives DC Studios early qualitative data on audience appetite for a rougher aesthetic.
Milly Alcock: Early Praise
Gizmodo said, "Supergirl is highly enjoyable. It doesn’t quite have the resonance of Superman, but it acts as both a perfect companion and follow-up to that movie with better characters and more complex relationships. It’s also incredibly emotional, which makes the action hit even harder." Den of Geek added, "Supergirl is the superhero movie I’ve missed: a straightforward, poignant story with lots of emotion, especially when we see Kara through little Ruthye’s eyes. Luckily that’s every action scene. Milly Alcock absolutely owns the role and will change our idea of Supergirl forever." Those consecutive performance endorsements from outlets signal that Milly Alcock’s casting is delivering the kind of early goodwill studios measure when projecting downstream merchandising and shared-universe casting choices.
Jason Momoa: Lobo Debut Notes
That Hollywood Show wrote, "#Supergirl SOARS! Milly Alcock is the perfect Kara. This film is filled with gorgeous set pieces and dazzling action sequences. Momoa IS LOBO, but I wanted more of him. The scenes with Clark are priceless. Third act is F’N fun. The future is bright with this Supergirl." The specific line "Momoa IS LOBO, but I wanted more of him" functions as an informal signal about screen time: when early viewers praise an actor yet ask for more, industry practice suggests the appearance is a high-impact, limited slot—the kind of cameo or concentrated role that can be marketed heavily without requiring a full supporting-actor arc. That interpretation maps to a timeline where Momoa’s Lobo arrival serves as a promotional hook and a platform for future crossovers rather than a lead-level commitment in this installment.
The Mary Sue said, "SUPERGIRL is everything I wanted it to be. Girls can be messy and that rules! Kara isn’t her cousin and I really loved how this movie makes that clear. She’s a different kind of hero and perfect in every way." CineXpress added that "SUPERGIRL is a solid follow-up to last summer’s Superman. More serious and emotionally heavier in tone, it delivers a cool intergalactic road trip that evokes Guardians of the Galaxy, with a dash of Mad Max: Fury Road and a bit of Thor: The Dark World." Those outlet-level reactions—consistent praise for Alcock and repeated references to Mad Max-style worldbuilding—give DC Studios early creative validation but must be read against the usual bias of advance screening samples.
The Direct said, "Milly Alcock is a Kryptonian powerhouse and the perfect Kara Zor-El. The film has a strong heart, giving an interesting and complex character journey for Kara. Jason Momoa is clearly born to play Lobo, and the DCU is only better with those two now in it." Given the volume and uniformity of positive takes across outlets and commentators, the most defensible conclusion for DC Studios stakeholders is that these early responses materially increase the probability the film sustains the creative momentum established by Superman; the praise for Alcock supplies a clear casting win and Momoa’s reception provides a marketable character insertion that the studio can exploit in marketing and future slate planning.
