Supergirl

Name: Supergirl
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Romance
Released: November 21, 1984
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 41
Cast: Brenda Vaccaro, Faye Dunaway, Hart Bochner, Helen Slater, Marc McClure

1984

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Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Ratings

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4.5	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Ratings

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Supergirl

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Movie Details & Credits

TriStar Pictures | Release Date: November 21, 1984 | PG

Starring: Brenda Vaccaro, Faye Dunaway, Hart Bochner, Helen Slater, Marc McClure, Maureen Teefy, Mia Farrow, Peter Cook, Peter O'Toole, Simon Ward

Summary: After losing a powerful orb, Kara, Superman's cousin, comes to Earth to retrieve it and instead finds herself up against a wicked witch.

Director: Jeannot Szwarc

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Romance

Rating: PG

Runtime: 105 min

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Critic Reviews

Rita Kempley

It is a wonderfully wacko work, sparked with Cook's oomph, Dunaway's cackle and the superstar power of the sensational Slater. What a face! As long as people prevail over effects, Supergirl glitters, she glows. [23 Nov 1984, p.27]

Paul Attanasio

Director Jeannot Szwarc could have done more with the action scenes, but he has a snappy sense of pace and comic timing. Blond, blue-eyed Slater brings an engaging sweetness to Supergirl; and she plays Linda with an awkward, gawky girlishness, subtly different from her Supergirl role. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Helen Slater is a find: blonde as Supergirl, dark-haired as Linda Lee, she’s an appealing young heroine in either guise. Screenplay is filled with witty lines and enjoyable characters, but Jeannot Szwarc’s direction is rather flat. Read full review

Janet Maslin

Supergirl arouses some initial curiosity about the differences between the two cousins; for instance, that Supergirl can't change in phone booths and is much the better flier of the two. However the film, as directed by Jeannot Szwarc and written by David Odell, quickly loses its novelty. Read full review

David Ansen

Though Helen Slater makes a bad first impression, she's not a bad Supergirl by the end, being likably straightforward, guileless and sweet. And unlike Reeve, who looks exactly the same whether he's Clark Kent or Superman, Slater makes you believe that people wouldn't know brunette Linda Lee was actually blond Supergirl. That may not be a major cinematic achievement, but it's about the best that Supergirl has to offer. [26 Nov 1984, p.119]

Keith Phipps

Slater not only makes for a dull Supergirl, but she's stuck in a clumsy, silly film that tries for the light touch of Richard Lester's Superman II and fails decisively. Read full review

Dave Kehr

Queasily suspended between drag theatrics (Faye Dunaway and Brenda Vaccaro camping it up on a soundstage replica of a carnival spook house) and Spielbergian wholesomeness (Canadian Helen Slater as a toothy, Aryan Ubermadchen), this is one comic-book feature that doesn't fly. Read full review

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User Reviews

Mr-Monster

Oct 22, 2019

I love this movie (joking). it has one of the best special effects of all time. even better than marvel's amusement park movies (someone is making me to write these things). it's the best, and it deserves more. i don't know why critics do not like this movie. (pls help me...).

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

omegahedron

May 29, 2020

Not perfect, but still an enjoyable concoction of Silver Age comic styling in an early 80s fantasy "girl in another world" story. There's more to redeem this than you would often be led to believe. Embrace the camp and nonsense and you will find a charming and surprisingly stylish tale of aNot perfect, but still an enjoyable concoction of Silver Age comic styling in an early 80s fantasy "girl in another world" story. There's more to redeem this than you would often be led to believe. Embrace the camp and nonsense and you will find a charming and surprisingly stylish tale of a young women discovering what she is capable of.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

alerikanderson

Apr 24, 2023

It's poorly made, sure. But it gave me some good fun. The story is dumb, but was adventurous. And the actress was the highlight.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Onlyclassicvg1

Jan 12, 2021

Mr-MonsterOct 22, 2019
I love this movie (joking). it has one of the best special effects of all time. even better than marvel's amusement park movies (someone is making me to write these things). it's the best, and it deserves more. i don't know why critics do no

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Broyax

Nov 4, 2019

Une distribution de premier plan pour ce film "Supergirl" même si les vedettes n'y font que cabotiner et se ridiculiser éhontément... et pour la gamelle sans doute ! mais tout de même... il y a des limites à tout. Le film n'est en tout cas rien moins qu'un épouvantable nanar qui cumuleUne distribution de premier plan pour ce film "Supergirl" même si les vedettes n'y font que cabotiner et se ridiculiser éhontément... et pour la gamelle sans doute ! mais tout de même... il y a des limites à tout. Le film n'est en tout cas rien moins qu'un épouvantable nanar qui cumule bêtise, maladresse et premier degré inexpugnable : impossible donc d'en rire (ou d'en sous-rire, même en soldes).

Il faut dire que si la cousine de Superman est une blonde absolument ravissante, elle n'en reste pas moins écervelée, tellement écervelée qu'elle pourrait jouer dans une télé-réalité. Quoi qu'il en soit, elle est venue nous faire un petit coucou imprévu parce que là d'où elle vient, c'est tous des branques cousins consanguins de Régis, Rainman (l'autre super héros) et Forrest, Forrest Gump (encore un super héros). Du coup, il ne faut point s'étonner de ce qu'elle trimballe, la pauvre... mais sur Terre, elle a trouvé d'autres débiles à qui parler : tout s'arrange !

Evidemment, à l'origine, il ne s'agissait pas d'un navet mais bel et bien d'une grosse production... cependant, elle a bien mal vieilli et cette baudruche de film atteint les confins du ridicule très ridicule, les repousse même, toujours plus loin... Pensez à l'inviter à dîner un mercredi, ça pourrait être intéressant.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

alexandrea

Nov 29, 2021

Easily the worst movie i have ever seen in my entire life. This is what torture feels like.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

PeterParker2479

Jan 1, 2020

Supergirl is the worst comic book movie I’ve ever seen. I’m not surprised that this was trash since it’s an 80s movie about Supergirl, but this was worse than it should’ve been. It should’ve been laughably bad, but this is just an unwatchable cringefest with awful acting and dull characters.Supergirl is the worst comic book movie I’ve ever seen. I’m not surprised that this was trash since it’s an 80s movie about Supergirl, but this was worse than it should’ve been. It should’ve been laughably bad, but this is just an unwatchable cringefest with awful acting and dull characters. Avoid at all costs if you’re a Superman fan.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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