Why Supergirl Is Better On HBO Max Than In Theaters

DC Studios' second movie, Supergirl flopped at the box office, making $126 million against a budget of $170 million (or more).

That performance clouded Supergirl has made its streaming debut on HBO Max, the entire experience of watching the superhero flick changes. And in this case, it could be for the better. Supergirl is far easier to check out and enjoy now that the weight of theatrical metrics is gone.

Supergirl Is A Good Streaming Movie

Rightfully or not, there are different expectations audiences have when it comes to watching a movie on streaming versus in theaters. The latter has to convince consumers to leave their house, pay for tickets, and hope their fellow moviegoers have proper theater etiquette. A theatrical movie must make viewers feel like the time and money they've spent watching it is worth it. But a streaming movie? There's less pressure.

And that's good for Supergirl. For all the flak it got, Kara's adventure still offers an enjoyable movie experience. Alcock delivers a strong performance. Jason Momoa's Lobo is a highlight. Some of the action sequences are particularly fun, too.

For interested subscribers, Supergirl Should Be A Much Bigger Success On HBO Max

While it always made sense to release Supergirl in theaters and bet on DC fans supporting it in that format, the movie clearly didn't become a hit there. Now that it is on streaming, a whole new section of fans can be found, and a new level of success can be achieved.

HBO Max will help increase the number of people who have seen Supergirl. It should become the streamer's top movie in the near future. DC movies tend to perform quite well on the platform, with Superman topping the charts when it arrived last fall. Considering there is a smaller group of people who have already seen Supergirl's film, there is room for it to find even more viewers than Superman.

The test for Supergirl will come with how long it can maintain HBO Max subscribers' attention. Steady interest could help change the way DC and WB look at the movie and boost interest in Alcock's future with the universe. With the likelihood of Supergirl gaining more fans through streaming, its HBO Max release may deliver the results that a theatrical debut couldn't.