‘Supergirl’: Over Eight Test Screenings So Far, Three Different Composers, Multiple Endings and More Superman

Test screenings often give an early look at a film, but the version audiences see in theaters can be very different. Take Ryan Coogler’s Sinners in late 2024: the cut shown then ran nearly three hours, lacked the opening expositional monologue, skipped Sammie’s return to the church, relied heavily on voice-over, and featured a much less prominent score. Many early scenes were later trimmed or removed entirely, which, according to some I spoke to, improved pacing and tightened the first half of the film when they watched it again upon release.

So, with all that in mind, what exactly is going on with “Supergirl”? I’ve been hesitant to dive into the test-screening chatter for this one. The film has been screening for months now, and from what I’ve been hearing, it continues to evolve with each new cut.

“Supergirl” has reportedly test screened at least eight times — more than I can recall for any other studio film this decade. There have been three different endings shown, with the latest attached to last week’s California screening. That cut reportedly runs around 1 hour and 50 minutes and includes additional Clark Kent/Superman scenes.

The film has also gone through three composers, with Tom Holkenborg (Junkie XL) no longer attached and Claudia Sarne taking over scoring duties just three months before the film’s release. The musical carousel began in December 2025, when Ramin Djawadi was originally announced.

You want the truth? Reactions so far have been mixed — not disastrous, but not glowing either. Milly Alcock’s performance as Kara/Supergirl keeps being singled out as a major highlight. On the other hand, several sources mention that the action sequences don’t quite land — director Craig Gillespie doesn’t seem to have a full grasp on them — and that the main villain, Krem, feels underwhelming. Reports, from multiple screenings, do indicate Jason  Momoa’s Lobo making a strong impression, despite the limited screentime.

The story follows Supergirl as a jaded, hard-drinking hero drifting through space after Krypton’s destruction. She meets Ruthye Marye Knoll, a young girl seeking revenge on the space criminal who killed her father. Kara reluctantly agrees to help, and the film turns into a darker cosmic road trip, with the two traveling across multiple planets hunting down Krem.

Tonally, the movie is said to be darker and more character-driven than traditional superhero fare, leaning heavily into Kara’s emotional trauma and moral ambiguity rather than lighthearted heroics. She’s described as jaded and at times reckless. The use of music and needle drops has been described as very reminiscent of “Guardians of the Galaxy.”Additionally, the editing reportedly leans into a more episodic, planet-hopping structure. It plays almost like a “space western.”

Listen, this film has tested over eight times, so I imagine it’s either not good, or Warner Bros is really reworking it for the perfect version. Or maybe the truth lies somewhere in the middle. It’s very hard to tell because the the edit keeps changing from screening to screenings .