Supergirl Parent Guide
Non-stop violence and heavy alcohol use make this gloomy superhero movie unsuitable for younger viewers.
Parent Movie Review
Kara (Milly Alcock) is Superman’s (David Corenswet) cousin, but unlike the Man of Steel, Supergirl has never felt at home on earth. Her grief over the loss of her family and planet never faded and she is trying to drown her feelings with an intergalactic pub crawl. Then a thirteen-year-old girl walks into a bar…
Ruthye (Eve Ridley) is seeking vengeance for the murder of her family. Her target? Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts), leader of the Brigands. This group of villains are elaborately pierced, shredded biker-types who travel the galaxy on a quest for women they can abduct as sex slaves/breeding stock for their male-only society. Kara doesn’t want to get involved in Ruthye’s obviously doomed obsession, but when Krem poisons her dog, the matter gets personal.
Fans of the TV series should be aware that this iteration of Krypton’s female superhero has a completely different provenance, based instead on the comic book series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. This isn’t a cheery, everything’s-coming-up-roses kind of story. It’s gritty and dark, and given its themes of sex trafficking and planetary destruction, that’s not a surprise.
Supergirl is almost two hours of non-stop violence as the two main characters power through the galaxy on their quest. There are extended scenes of personal combat and people are shot at, stabbed with bladed weapons, hijacked and robbed, thrown from great heights, blasted with lasers, and poisoned. There are also numerous explosions and fiery scenes. This is not a quiet, tame movie, but has so many action scenes that they overwhelm the rest of the film. That’s unfortunate because the flashbacks to Kara’s Krypton childhood are more interesting than the endless punch-em-ups and provide the movie’s true emotional core.
Although most PG-13 superhero movies restrict their negative content to violence, Supergirl goes further. Kara’s alcoholism is clearly visible, but the issue isn’t properly addressed and Kara doesn’t get close to treating her addiction. Parents will want to keep this in mind when considering the film for teens. This film has another weird issue, one that I normally only see in kids’ movies: potty humor. There are two scenes of people urinating (with no anatomical detail) and a deeply strange scene involving people eating alien feces (we even see the small alien excreting the poop that is scooped up and eaten). That kind of gross out moment feels geared at nine-to-eleven-olds; not a mass audience.
I went into the theater with low expectations and there were no surprises. This show isn’t an exhilarating thrill ride, which is odd given that it moves fast and the villain is suitably detestable. Maybe the problem is having a waif-like tween protagonist? Honestly, every time Ruthye started up her vengeance spiel, all I could hear was the lines from The Princess Bride – “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” That cult classic is a comedy, but Inigo Montoya is at least a credible antagonist for an evil murderer. Ruthye may be a plucky, driven thirteen-year-old, but she is simply too vulnerable a character for the space she needs to fill in the story. That’s the root of the movie’s problem: despite the evils the characters fight, the story somehow feels hollow. It’s not super or stellar; just gloomy and strangely empty.
Directed by Craig Gillespie. Starring Milly Alcock, Eve Ridley, Matthias Schoenaerts, Jason Momoa. Running time: 107 minutes. Theatrical release June 26, 2026. Updated July 2, 2026Watch the trailer for Supergirl
Supergirl
Rating & Content Info
Why is Supergirl rated PG-13? Supergirl is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sequences of strong violence, action, language, and smoking
Violence: There are frequent, lengthy violent scenes, although little blood or even injuries are visible on screen. People are frequently attacked with bladed weapons and shot at with sci-fi firearms, darts (sometimes poisoned), and arrows. There are numerous scenes of physical combat featuring punching, kicking, throwing people against walls, throwing people from heights, and choking. A house and spaceship are set on fire and there are frequent explosions throughout the film. People are killed in cold blood. A dog bites an assailant in the crotch. A man is dragged behind a motorbike. A woman breaks a man’s wrist/arm. A character’s laser-firing eyes are used as a threat and as a weapon. Hijackers rob people and use a drone-type device to kill those who don’t cooperate. A child is struck and abducted. A dog is poisoned and paralyzed as a result. There are scenes of people suffering from radiation poisoning: they are later seen in hospital and in a casket. A planet disintegrates.
Sexual Content: A significant plot point involves the abduction of women, referred to as “brides” who are intended as sex slaves/breeding stock for a male-only society.
Profanity: The script contains approximately ten scatological curses, and a few minor profanities, including terms of deity and anatomical terms. Crude terms for women and illegitimacy are used. A person makes a sexual hand gesture.
Alcohol / Drug Use: A main character is frequently seen intoxicated or hung over and her dwelling holds numerous empty bottles. A dog is poisoned, nearly lethally. A main character is poisoned, but eliminates the drug by vomiting. Alien smoke unknown substances in a couple of scenes.
Other: There are scenes of people urinating. There is a gag about people eating alien feces. There are scenes of a human and an alien vomiting.
Page last updated July 2, 2026
Supergirl Parents' Guide
Kara has a significant alcohol abuse disorder. What is at the root of her drinking problem? What is she trying to mask with alcohol? How does her alcohol addiction affect her life? What healthier strategies could she use to cope with her emotional challenges?
The Brigands are trafficking women, which is a contemporary problem in our world. If you’re concerned about human trafficking, you can learn how to recognize the signs from these links:
National Human Trafficking Hotline: Recognizing the Signs
Royal Canadian Mounted Police: Know the signs of human trafficking
Home Video
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