With Warner Bros. Discovery increasing its marketing efforts for Supergirl internationally, initial signs from China indicate the film might struggle in a key overseas market, which is very important for Hollywood.
A new ranking from the popular Chinese platform Douban, which tracks interest in upcoming foreign films, doesn’t include the movie Supergirl in its top 10 for 2026. This is surprising, considering Supergirl is a key part of DC Studios’ plans and the studio is increasingly depending on international ticket sales to make up for lower earnings in the US.
China Is Still Excited About Hollywood — Just Not Supergirl
The fact that Supergirl wasn’t included on Douban’s list doesn’t seem to be because Chinese audiences are tired of superhero movies. Other big superhero films, like Avengers: Doomsday (ranked #1) and Spider-Man: Brand New Day (ranked #6), did very well on the same list, showing that Chinese viewers still enjoy these kinds of films.
Looking ahead to 2026, several major Western films are planned, including Dune: Part Three, Toy Story 5, Project Hail Mary, and Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. These films all share a sense of being large-scale, serious in tone, and backed by well-known brands. This is an area where the upcoming Supergirl movie has already received some doubt, following the reaction to its first trailer.
Asian Advertising Push Signals a Course Correction
Douban’s ranking releases happened around the same time as the start of Supergirl’s advertising campaign in Asia. A shorter commercial, originally made for Japan and then shared more widely, uses clips from the existing trailer but highlights different parts.
As a big DC fan, I’ve been following the updates on this movie closely, and it sounds like the international version is quite different! Apparently, they’ve taken out some of the sillier bits that people weren’t loving – things like the longer scenes of Supergirl having a lonely drink and that joke with Krypto. Instead, they’re really focusing on the action, the fights, and the overall spectacle. It seems like DC Studios is already tweaking how they’re showing the film to audiences outside of the US, which is interesting.
Although the updated approach seems intended to attract a wider global audience, it hasn’t yet generated significant excitement in China.
Overseas Performance Is Not Optional for DC Studios
It’s worrying that China didn’t seem to prepare for the release, especially considering how recent DC films have performed. James Gunn’s Superman relied heavily on international audiences, earning $262.6 million outside of the US – about 42
As a movie critic, I’m watching Supergirl‘s international performance closely. If it doesn’t do well overseas – especially in a key market like China – it could create real financial problems for DC Studios as they try to get their new DC Universe off the ground. A weak showing there would really pile on the pressure.
Gunn’s International Narrative Faces Contradictions
I found James Gunn’s recent comments a little puzzling. He seemed to imply that some negative feelings towards America affected how well Superman did internationally. But it’s hard to square that with the fact that China is really looking forward to Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 – and they’re specifically excited about Captain America’s return! It just doesn’t quite add up to me.
This difference in reaction makes us wonder if the problem is actually about international politics, or if Chinese viewers are just reacting to how something is presented – its style, delivery, and how assured it seems.
A Familiar Pattern in the Chinese Market
It’s not the first time DC’s creative choices haven’t quite matched what Chinese audiences want. Previous reports indicate that DC films made during Zack Snyder’s time were generally more successful in China than the recent Superman movie, implying that Chinese viewers prefer a darker, more realistic style.
Unlike other shows, the initial marketing for Supergirl used a lot of irony, cynicism, and a playful attitude – all things James Gunn is known for in his work. While some critics in Western countries liked this approach, it might not work as well in international markets where audiences prefer grand, epic stories and a consistent tone.
A Warning Sign, Not a Verdict
Just because Supergirl isn’t currently popular on Douban, a key Chinese platform, doesn’t mean it’s destined to fail in China, or that interest won’t grow with more marketing. However, the fact that competing films are already ranking highly on Douban’s anticipation lists is a worrying sign that DC Studios needs to address quickly.
With Supergirl scheduled to come out on June 26, 2026, the next few months will show if DC can successfully appeal to audiences outside of the US. It will also reveal whether the difficulties DC is having internationally are simply due to a poor marketing strategy, or if there are more significant underlying problems.
China’s lack of interest is a significant sign for the studio, which is still working to prove to international viewers that this new version of the franchise is worth watching.
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2025-12-30 16:57