The 1984 Supergirl film was a box office bomb that nearly ended the franchise.

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Intended to revitalize the Superman series, the 1984 Supergirl film instead became a critical and commercial disappointment. Despite a high-profile cast and a $35 million budget, the project struggled to find its footing, ultimately grossing only $14 million and forcing the Salkind producers to sell their rights to The Cannon Group.

The production of Supergirl was fraught with challenges from the outset. Originally conceived as a spin-off to be introduced in Superman III, the character was removed from that film's plot. Producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind announced the standalone project in April 1982, hoping to freshen the franchise after the lackluster performance of the third Superman installment. The film was initially designed to feature Christopher Reeve as a mentor to Supergirl, but the script underwent heavy revisions after Reeve declined to participate, leaving the story to center on the heroine's quest to recover a powerful item called the Omegahedron.

Casting for the title role was extensive, with hundreds of actresses testing for the part before Helen Slater was selected. While Slater received praise for her performance—with critics like Roger Ebert noting her ability to wear the costume without looking ridiculous—the film's overall reception was largely negative. Critics frequently cited the campy tone, aimless plotting, and the decision to focus the narrative on the character of Ethan as major flaws. The film's special effects were described as inconsistent, ranging from impressive flying sequences to a shadow demon that some reviewers found derivative.

The film's troubled history is further reflected in its multiple versions. Test audiences in the United States found the original 135-minute cut overlong, leading to a 105-minute theatrical release. Over the following decades, various edits—including an International Version and a Director's Cut—surfaced on home video, restoring scenes that fleshed out the antagonist Selena's character and the opening in Argo City. Despite these efforts to provide a more complete experience, the film remains a curiosity, often excluded from official Superman box sets until Warner Bros. bundled it for their 100th-anniversary celebration.

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