Anticipation for the James Gunn DCU Supergirl movie is strikingly low in China, a market pivotal for international box office success, according to newly released data. The 2026 ranking of most anticipated foreign films on China’s Douban platform shows Supergirl missing from the list entirely, raising concerns about the film’s worldwide prospects and signaling potential trouble for DC’s global ambitions.
Omission from China’s Anticipated Films Signals Trouble
A fresh list from Douban, China’s top platform for tracking movies and TV, spotlights what Chinese viewers most look forward to in 2026, but Supergirl is nowhere to be found. This omission is especially alarming given DC’s heavy dependence on overseas markets, especially China, to balance comparatively weak results at home.
Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday currently leads as the most eagerly awaited foreign film, demonstrating that international superhero appeal is still strong, just not for Gunn’s upcoming DC installment. The absence of Supergirl from this influential ranking draws attention to waning interest in DC’s new direction under Gunn, indicating that initial reception among Chinese moviegoers is lukewarm at best.
DC’s Past Success Anchored in SnyderVerse Popularity
The lack of early Chinese enthusiasm for the James Gunn DCU Supergirl movie reflects a long-standing trend: Chinese audiences have historically gravitated towards Zack Snyder’s vision for DC. Past films such as Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, Justice League, and Aquaman saw robust performance in China, frequently outperforming their American box office receipts.
Snyder’s distinct approach — a darker narrative, mythic visual style, and a more earnest tone — found deeper resonance overseas, especially when compared to Gunn’s lighter, quirkier take on the superhero genre. These differences in tone and storytelling seem to have played a decisive role in shaping international preferences for DC properties over the years.
Weak International Response to Gunn’s Superman Foreshadows Supergirl’s Fate
Warning signs for Supergirl’s reception abroad have been visible since the release of Gunn’s previous work. The director’s take on Superman failed to attract significant international interest, and figures from China and beyond confirmed a tepid response. In China alone, Gunn’s Superman grossed just $8.9 million, a stark contrast to the $63 million to $106 million range seen by Snyder’s films. Globally, Gunn’s Superman managed $262.5 million internationally, a disappointing tally compared to the hundreds of millions earned by previous SnyderVerse releases.
Conversations with international fans and immigrants echo similar sentiments; many felt that Gunn’s Superman failed to capture the hopeful, culturally universal qualities that defined Snyder’s Man of Steel. Instead, negative reactions cited perceived mockery of Asian characters, divisive American political themes, and a more cynical outlook on the immigrant hero story, all of which dulled the film’s cross-border appeal.
Supergirl Faces Backlash, Poor Word of Mouth, and Dwindling Hopes
Multiple issues now compound the Supergirl movie’s international challenges: reports of negative test screenings, social media backlash against its trailer, and the glaring absence from China’s most anticipated blockbusters. These setbacks coincide with a broader trend, as few female-led superhero films have enjoyed significant box office success in recent years. Even Captain Marvel’s box office run is often attributed to its release between massive crossover events like Infinity War and Endgame, while the lackluster performance of The Marvels underscores the risk for new entries in this genre.
With global audiences showing little interest, especially in China, and the departing SnyderVerse fanbase giving DC its past international strength, the James Gunn DCU Supergirl movie is confronting the real possibility of repeating the poor overseas performance of Gunn’s Superman. The DC studio’s reliance on international markets now faces a serious test, as a lack of early excitement from China may spell commercial disappointment for Supergirl and add to the mounting pressures on the franchise moving forward.
