Woke ‘Supergirl’ flop shows Hollywood still ignores its audience

Commentary

By Editorial Board - The Washington Times - Friday, July 10, 2026

OPINION:

The new “Supergirl” movie got hit by kryptonite.

So far, the box office has been abysmal. Apparently, Hollywood learned nothing from last year’s reboot of “Snow White.” Thumbing your nose at middle-class moviegoers is a recipe for disaster.

Between production costs and its advertising budget, “Supergirl” would need to gross $450 million to $500 million globally just to break even. So far, it is on track for a loss of up to $200 million.

Lex Luthor, the nemesis of Supergirl’s cousin, must be dancing for joy.

By contrast, the low-budget/little-marketed patriotic “Young Washington” could be the surprise hit of the summer. The producers are already planning a sequel.

In a pre-release publicity tour, “Supergirl” lead actress Milly Alcock made the usual bizarre comments designed to offend, claiming that audiences felt “ownership” of her body and that her character might be bisexual.

“Supergirl” is following the trajectory of last year’s live-action “Snow White.” Its star, Rachel Zegler, said Prince Charming of the original animated version “literally stalks” Snow White.

In the updated version, the fairy tale princess is “not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love.”

Well, beam me up, Hillary Clinton. On second thought, don’t bother.

Hollywood is still opting for indoctrination over entertainment, and it keeps losing. If moviegoers wanted woke lectures, they could watch CNN for free instead of plunking down $16 for a single movie ticket and another $12 for popcorn and a drink.

Hollywood’s problems stem from an echo-chamber effect. It assumes that the average American reflects the Trump Derangement Syndrome of Robert De Niro and Rosie O’Donnell and the worldview of George Clooney.

We’ve gone from the Oscars of the 1980s, where activist celebrities sported AIDS buttons, to today’s showbiz homage to Palestine.

Hollywood’s propaganda machine works overtime to convince us that businessmen and Republicans are evil, white racism is everywhere, and America is a force for evil in the world.

Hollywood elites would be well advised to see the 1941 Preston Sturges film “Sullivan’s Travels.” In it, a celebrated director who wants to make “message movies” decides to get in touch with humanity by traveling as a bum. He discovers that the common man wants to be entertained, not activated.