Every time a superhero movie stumbles at the box office, the conversation somehow ends up in the same place: the lead actor. It’s a pattern Hollywood refuses to break, and one that feels especially unfair when the performer is actually one of the film’s strongest elements. That’s exactly why Helen Slater’s support for Milly Alcock feels so refreshing. Slater, who became the first actress to play Supergirl on the big screen in 1984, recently praised Alcock’s performance in the new Supergirl, calling her “astonishing,” “fierce,” “strong,” and applauding her comic timing despite the film opening below Warner Bros.’ expectations. Coming from someone who has lived through the exact same experience, those words carry far more weight than another box office headline.
Ironically, history is repeating itself. Slater’s own Supergirl struggled commercially in 1984, earning just $14 million domestically and ending plans for the sequels she had already signed on for. Yet decades later, she’s remembered fondly by comic book fans and even returned as Supergirl in The Flash. Time has a funny way of changing the conversation.
We’ve seen this happen countless times. Great performances often get buried beneath disappointing ticket sales, even when problems lie elsewhere. Audiences are more selective than ever, superhero fatigue is real, marketing can make or break a release, and franchise expectations have become almost impossible to satisfy. None of those factors fall on the shoulders of a single actor.
Slater’s interview is also a reminder that superhero characters are meant to evolve. She spoke about mythology constantly being reinterpreted, arguing that these iconic heroes stay relevant because every generation gets its own version. That’s exactly what Milly Alcock represents. Rather than competing with previous Supergirls, she’s adding another chapter to a legacy that has existed for more than four decades.
Perhaps the most touching part of Slater’s story is that she never measured her career by one movie. Even after Supergirl underperformed, she continued acting, later played Clark Kent’s mother on Smallville, became the adoptive mother of Kara Danvers in the CW’s Supergirl, and even made a de-aged cameo in The Flash. Few actors get the chance to revisit the same character across generations.
Whether the new Supergirl ultimately finds a larger audience remains to be seen. But if there’s one takeaway from Helen Slater’s message, it’s that a disappointing opening weekend shouldn’t define an actor’s talent. Box office numbers change every Friday. A memorable performance lasts much longer.