View source for Supergirl (1984 film)



{{Infobox film
| name           = Supergirl
| image          = Supergirlposter.jpg
| alt            = Supergirl, British film poster
| caption        = British theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Jeannot Szwarc]]
| producer       = Timothy Burrill
| screenplay     = [[David Odell]]
| based_on       = {{Based on|[[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Supergirl]]|[[Otto Binder]]|[[Al Plastino]]}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist| <!--per poster billing block -->
* [[Faye Dunaway]]
* [[Helen Slater]]
* [[Hart Bochner]]
* [[Peter Cook]]
* [[Mia Farrow]]
* [[Marc McClure]]
* [[Brenda Vaccaro]]
* [[Peter O'Toole]]
}}
| music          = [[Jerry Goldsmith]]
| cinematography = [[Alan Hume]]
| editing        = Malcolm Cooke
| studio         = Pueblo Film AG Productions<ref name=":0" />
| distributor    = [[TriStar Pictures|Tri-Star Pictures]]–[[EMI Films|EMI]]–[[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Distributors]]
| released       = {{Film date|df=yes|1984|07|19|United Kingdom}}
| runtime        = 105 minutes (US theatrical cut)<br>124 minutes (international cut)<!--Theatrical runtime: 124:28--><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/supergirl-1970-2 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924130227/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/supergirl-1970-2 | url-status=dead | archive-date=24 September 2015 | title=''SUPERGIRL'' (PG) | work=[[British Board of Film Classification]] | date=17 May 1984 | access-date=7 January 2011}}</ref><br>138 minutes (director's cut)<ref>https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=1539</ref>
| country        = {{Plainlist|
* United Kingdom<ref>{{cite web|url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b6956508b |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804073912/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b6956508b |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 August 2012 |title=Supergirl (1984) |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=20 July 2014}}</ref>
}}
| language       = English
| budget         = $35 million<ref name="super">[https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/17/movies/film-view-the-salkind-heroes-wear-red-and-fly-high.html FILM VIEW; THE SALKIND HEROES WEAR RED AND FLY HIGH]. Salmans, Sandra. ''[[The New York Times]]''. 17 July 1983: A.15.</ref>
| gross          = $14.3 million<ref name="mojo" />
}}
'''''Supergirl''''' is a 1984 British [[superhero film]] directed by [[Jeannot Szwarc]] and written by [[David Odell]], based on [[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|the DC Comics character]]. It is the fourth in [[Superman in film#Salkind/Cannon film series (1978–1987)|the ''Superman'' film series]]. The film stars [[Helen Slater]] as Supergirl, along with [[Faye Dunaway]], [[Hart Bochner]], [[Peter Cook]], [[Mia Farrow]], [[Brenda Vaccaro]], and [[Peter O'Toole]], with [[Marc McClure]] reprising his role as [[Jimmy Olsen]] from the ''Superman'' films.

The film was released in the United Kingdom on 19 July 1984, to generally negative reviews from critics. It underperformed at the box office, grossing $14 million against a $35 million budget. Slater was nominated for a [[Saturn Award for Best Actress]]. The film's failure ultimately led producers [[Alexander Salkind|Alexander]] and [[Ilya Salkind]] to sell the Superman film rights to [[The Cannon Group, Inc.]] in 1986.

==Plot==
[[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Kara Zor-El]], cousin of [[Superman (1978 film series character)|Kal-El]], and [[Jor-El]]'s niece, lives in Argo City, an isolated community that survived the planet [[Krypton (comics)|Krypton]]'s destruction by being transported into a pocket of trans-dimensional space, called the "Innerspace". Zaltar, a wizard, has allowed Kara to observe a powerful item known as the "Omegahedron," which powers Argo and which he has borrowed without the knowledge of the city's government. However, a mishap leads to the Omegahedron being rocketed into space. Taking a ship, Kara follows the Omegahedron to Earth, transforming "Supergirl" in the process, to recover it and save Argo City.

On Earth, the Omegahedron is recovered by Selena, a power-hungry would-be witch assisted by the feckless Bianca, seeking to free herself from a relationship with the warlock (and school teacher) Nigel. Whilst not knowing exactly what it is, Selena quickly realizes the Omegahedron is powerful and can give her true magic. Kara arrives on Earth and is granted new powers by its environment and the radiation of its sun. While seeking the Omegahedron, she creates the cover identity "Linda Lee" and enrolls at an all-girls school where she befriends [[Lucy Lane]]. Kara also meets and becomes enamored with Ethan, a school [[Groundskeeping|groundskeeper]].

Ethan also catches the eye of Selena, who drugs him with a love potion, which will make him fall in love with the first person he sees for a day. Ethan regains consciousness in Selena's absence and wanders out into the streets. An angry Selena uses her newfound powers to animate a construction vehicle to retrieve Ethan, causing chaos as it does so. Supergirl, in the guise of Linda, rescues Ethan, and he falls in love with her instead. Declaring that nobody gets in her way, Selena desires to seek out the student.

While trying to deal with the love-obsessed Ethan at an amusement park ride, Linda is ambushed by Selena before she turns into Supergirl and traps Selena temporarily in wires. Later on, back home, Selena enlists Nigel to teleport Ethan away in order to get Supergirl to come to them. Selena captures Ethan, then traps Supergirl and sends her to the [[Phantom Zone]], a prison dimension. Now powerless, Supergirl wanders the bleak landscape and nearly drowns in an oily bog. Eventually, she encounters Zaltar, who has exiled himself to the Phantom Zone as punishment for losing the Omegahedron and sacrifices himself to help her escape. Back on Earth, Selena uses the Omegahedron to make herself a princess, with Ethan as her lover and consort, to go along with a mountain fortress and bikers to guard against dissent.

Emerging from the Phantom Zone through a mirror, Supergirl regains her powers and confronts Selena, who uses the Omegahedron to summon a shadow demon. The demon is on the verge of defeating Supergirl when she hears Zaltar's voice urging her to fight on. Supergirl breaks free, and Nigel tells her the only way to defeat Selena is to turn the demon against her. Supergirl complies and creates a focused whirlwind that traps Selena, who is then attacked and incapacitated by the demon as the whirlwind pulls in Bianca as well. The three are sucked through the mirror portal and trapped inside. Free from Selena's spell, Ethan admits his love for Linda, knowing she and Supergirl are the same. He also understands she must save Argo City and that he may not see her again. Kara returns the Omegahedron to Argo City, which then lights up again.

==Cast==
* [[Helen Slater]] as [[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Kara Zor-El / Linda Lee / Supergirl]]<ref>{{cite news|author=Pantozzi, Jill|title=Helen Slater is Still "Super"|publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=7 December 2009|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23956|access-date=9 October 2010}}</ref>
* [[Faye Dunaway]] as Selena
* [[Peter O'Toole]] as Zaltar 
* [[Hart Bochner]] as Ethan
* [[Mia Farrow]] as [[Alura (DC Comics)|Alura In-Ze]]
* [[Brenda Vaccaro]] as Bianca
* [[Peter Cook]] as Nigel
* [[Simon Ward]] as [[Zor-El]]
* [[Marc McClure]] as [[Jimmy Olsen]]
* [[Maureen Teefy]] as [[Lucy Lane]]
* [[David Healy (actor)|David Healy]] as Mr. Danvers
* [[Sandra Dickinson]] as Pretty Young Lady
* [[Matt Frewer]] as Eddie, The Truck Driver
* [[Kelly Hunter]] as Argonian Citizen
* [[Glory Annen]] as Midvale Protester
* [[Bradley Lavelle]] as Lucy's Friend

===Cast notes===
[[Christopher Reeve]] was slated to have a [[Cameo appearance|cameo]] as [[Superman]], but bowed out early on.<ref>''You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman (Redemption)'', Warner Home Video, 2006.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/supergirl-movie-superman-christopher-reeve-cameo-rejection/|title=Why Christopher Reeve Turned Down A Supergirl Movie Cameo|first=Padraig|last=Cotter|date=December 27, 2022|website=ScreenRant}}</ref> His non-appearance in the film is explained via a news broadcast (overheard by Selena) stating that Superman has left Earth on a "peace-seeking mission" to a distant galaxy. In the Superman documentary ''You Will Believe...,'' Director Jeannot Szwarc said Reeve's involvement in this film would have given the feature higher credibility, and admitted he wished Reeve had made a contribution to the film's production. A publicity photo of him as Superman does appear as a poster in Lucy and Linda's shared dorm room.

[[Marc McClure]] makes his fourth of five appearances in the ''[[Superman in film|Superman]]''-related films; he is the only actor to appear in all four films featuring Superman and this spin-off film. [[Demi Moore]] auditioned for and was cast as Lucy Lane, but left to make the film ''[[Blame It on Rio]]''.

==Production==
After gaining the film rights for ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman: The Movie]]'' in the 1970s, [[Alexander Salkind]] and his son [[Ilya Salkind|Ilya]] also purchased the rights to the character of Supergirl, should any [[sequel]] or spin-off occur.<ref>{{cite news|date=10 August 2000|title=Supergirl: She looks Super! Thanks for asking!|publisher=IGN|url=http://uk.dvd.ign.com/articles/037/037315p1.html|access-date=12 October 2010}}</ref> Supergirl was originally slated to debut in ''[[Superman III]]'' in a plot line intended to set up a standalone film, but her character was ultimately removed.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Supergirl |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/57219-SUPERGIRL?sid=8c0b6fb0-fc78-40e4-8806-e51e7d61f6bd&sr=10.684605&cp=1&pos=0 |access-date=8 June 2021 |website=AFI Catalog}}</ref> The Salkinds announced the Supergirl film in April 1982, before production began on ''Superman III''.<ref name=":0" /> After the critical disappointment of that film, the Salkinds opted to use the Supergirl movie to freshen the franchise. Ilya later recounted, "[It was] something different, to an extent. I thought it was a very different area to explore."<ref name="supes">Rossen, Jake (2008). ''Superman Vs. Hollywood'' (pp. 145–157). [[Chicago Review Press]].</ref> Originally, the plot was to center on Supergirl rescuing [[Superman (1978 film series character)|Superman]], who would be portrayed as her cousin and mentor, but the film was heavily rewritten after Reeve chose not to be involved.<ref name=":0" />

The producers attempted, and failed, to get the services of [[Richard Lester]], who had directed ''Superman III'' and had completed the second film after their dismissal of original director [[Richard Donner]].<ref name="supes" /> [[Robert Wise]] also turned down the director's chair. But French filmmaker [[Jeannot Szwarc]], who was best known at that time for his work in television and for directing ''[[Jaws 2]]'', was chosen after a meeting with Christopher Reeve, who had complimented him.<ref name="supes" /> Szwarc sought advice from Donner over some technical aspects of the production.<ref name="supes" />

Hundreds of actresses tested for the role of Supergirl/Linda, among them [[Demi Moore]] and [[Brooke Shields]].<ref name="supes" /> Shields and Moore were rejected by both Ilya and Szwarc, who wanted an unknown actress, and they instead signed Helen Slater, who was paid $75,000 in a three-picture deal. Slater had four months of physical training to prepare for the role.<ref name=":0" /> Additionally, [[Dolly Parton]] reportedly turned down the role of Selena before it was offered to Dunaway.

Principal photography began at [[Pinewood Studios]] near London on 18 April 1983, and wrapped on 11 August 1983.<ref name=":0" /> Although the Salkinds financed the film completely on their own budget, [[Warner Bros.]] was still involved in the production since the studio owned the distribution rights to the film, and its parent company, [[Warner Communications]], was also the parent company of DC Comics, owners of all "Superman and Superman family" copyrights. The entire film was shot, edited, and overseen under the supervision of Warner Bros. and originally scheduled to be released in July 1984. However, the relationship between the studio and the partnership was strained after the critical and commercial underperformance of ''Superman III'' in June 1983, during the production of the film.<ref name="supes" /> The Salkinds insisted on moving the opening date from the summer to the holiday season to avoid competition with other major films and the [[1984 Summer Olympics]] in [[Los Angeles]]. The studio claimed it could not provide a holiday slot and relinquished its distribution rights of ''Supergirl'' to the Salkinds, who gave the distribution rights to [[TriStar Pictures|Tri-Star Pictures]].<ref name="supes" /><ref name=":0" /> The film proceeded to be released overseas, however, and received a Royal Film Premiere in the [[United Kingdom]] in 1 July.

==Music==
{{Infobox album
| name         = Supergirl: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| type         = [[Film score]]
| artist       = [[Jerry Goldsmith]]
| cover        = 
| caption      = 
| alt          = Supergirl soundtrack cover
| released     = 1985
| recorded     = 1984
| venue        = 
| studio       = 
| genre        = [[Soundtrack]]
| length       = 39:35 ([[Varèse Sarabande]])<br />77:37 (Silva Screen)
| label        = 
| producer     = 
| prev_title   = 
| prev_year    = 
| next_title   = 
| next_year    = 
}}

{{Music ratings
| rev1      = [[Allmusic]]
| rev1Score =  {{Rating|4.5|5}} [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r119786|pure_url=yes}} link]
| rev2      = [[Filmtracks.com|Filmtracks]]
| rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}} [http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/supergirl.html link]
}}

The [[film score]] for ''Supergirl'' was composed and conducted by [[Jerry Goldsmith]], who had been the initial interest of director [[Richard Donner]] to compose for the first ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman]]'' film.<ref name=Ilya>Ilya Salkind, [[Pierre Spengler]], ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman]]'' DVD [[audio commentary]], 2006, [[Warner Home Video]]</ref> Goldsmith used several techniques to identify the music to the film, such as synthesizers simulating the sounds of take-off during the main theme.<ref>[http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/supergirl.html ''Supergirl'' soundtrack review]. ''[[Filmtracks.com]]''. Retrieved 4 December 2011.</ref> The soundtrack has been released twice, through [[Varèse Sarabande]] in 1985 and an extended version through Silva Screen in 1993. It has also been referred to by critics as one of the only redeeming qualities of the movie.<ref>[http://www.filmmusicsite.com/soundtracks.cgi?id=3022&view=9300&lang=en ''Supergirl'' soundtrack review]. ''Film Music Site''. Retrieved 4 December 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/supergirl-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-r119786 ''Supergirl'' soundtrack review]. ''[[AllMusic]]''. Retrieved 4 December 2011.</ref>

"The Superman Poster", included on the 1993 release, incorporates [[John Williams]]'s ''Superman'' theme.

'''1985 Varèse Sarabande Album'''
# "Main Title" (3:12)
# "'Where Is She?'" (1:05)
# "Black Magic" (4:06)
# "First Flight" (4:14)
# "The Butterfly" (1:34)
# "'Where Is Linda?'" (1:14)
# "The Monster Tractor" (7:26)
# "The Bracelet" (1:24)
# "Monster Storm" (2:55)
# "A New School" (2:08)
# "The Flying Car" (1:25)
# "The Map" (1:10)
# "9M-3" (1:41)
# "End Title" (6:05)

'''1993 Silva Screen Album'''
# "Overture" (6:07)
# "Main Title & Argo City" (3:15)
# "Argo City Mall" (0:56)
# "The Butterfly" (1:36)
# "The Journey Begins" (1:12)
# "Arrival on Earth/Flying Ballet" (5:36)
# "Chicago Lights/Street Attack" (2:23)
# "The Superman Poster" (0:52)
# "A New School" (2:13)
# "The Map" (1:10)
# "Ethan Spellbound" (2:13)
# "The Monster Tractor" (7:34)
# "Flying Ballet - Alternate Version" (2:13)
# "The Map - Alternate Version" (1:13)
# "The Bracelet" (1:44)
# "First Kiss/The Monster Storm" (4:35)
# "'Where Is She'/The Monster Bumper Cars" (2:57)
# "The Flying Bumper Car" (1:28)
# "'Where's Linda?'" (1:21)
# "Black Magic" (4:08)
# "The Phantom Zone" (3:42)
# "The Vortex/The End of Zaltar" (5:49)
# "The Final Showdown & Victory/End Title - Short Version" (12:10)

==Release==

===Home media===
[[International Video Entertainment]] paid $3.2 million for North American [[home video]] rights, one of the largest deals at the time,<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Daily Variety]]|title=IVE Pays $2 Mil For Homevideo Rights To '1984'|page=1|date=21 December 1984|last=Bierbaum|first=Tom}}</ref> and released the Tri-Star-edited 105-minute U.S. version in 1985.<ref>{{cite news|author=Carter, R.J.|title=DVD Review: Supergirl|publisher=The Trades|date=4 December 2006|url=http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=5025|access-date=12 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321192609/http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=5025|archive-date=21 March 2012}}</ref> The film has since been released several times on VHS, Betamax, laserdisc, and DVD. In 1990, the same 105-minute U.S. cut was re-released on [[VHS]] by Avid Home Entertainment. By the mid-1990s, the rights to the film were acquired by Pueblo Film Licensing (successor-in-interest to the Salkind production company<ref>{{cite news|last=Barron|first=James|title=BOLDFACE NAMES|date=26 June 2002|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/26/nyregion/boldface-names-715620.html|access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Superman's studio isn't invincible|date=26 June 2002|publisher=[[The Nevada Daily Mail]]|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1908&dat=20020626&id=QtwfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WNkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4824,5659434&hl=en|access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Demandan a Warner Bros. por el DVD de Superman|date=26 June 2002|newspaper=[[El Universal (Mexico City)|El Mexico]]|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/espectaculos/38382.html|access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref>) and French production company [[StudioCanal]]. By this time, [[Anchor Bay Entertainment]] had assumed the video rights, where it was reissued on VHS in 1998 as the "114-minute cut" under the ''Anchor Bay Entertainment Family Movies'' label. Its first [[DVD]] release was by the independent home video company [[Anchor Bay Entertainment]] in 2000, under license from the then-rights holder [[StudioCanal]]. [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] acquired the rights to the film and reissued it on DVD late in 2006 to coincide with the release of ''[[Superman Returns]]''. Although it is [[Canon (fiction)|canon]] with the [[Christopher Reeve]] ''Superman'' films, it was often not included in any of the ''Superman'' DVD or [[Blu-ray]] box sets by Warner Bros. Pictures until the release of the 100th Anniversary Blu-ray Boxset - Action, Adventure, and Fantasy version, where it was bundled with other DC Comics films which included the Christopher Reeve Superman films, to celebrate Warner’s 100th Anniversary.<ref>https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Warner-Bros-WB-100th-25-Film-Collection-Vol-Three-Fantasy-Action-and-Adventure-Blu-ray/332627/</ref> For their DVD release on 8 August 2000, two versions were issued. The first of these was a 2-disc "Limited Edition" set (limited to 50,000 copies only) featuring the 124-minute "International Version" (never seen in the United States, which was digitally mastered by [[THX]] for this DVD release), along with a 138-minute "director's cut", which had been discovered in StudioCanal's archives. The second version was a single-disc version featuring the 124-minute "International Version", with many bonus features: a 16-page full color booklet; Audio Commentary with Director Jeannot Szwarc and Special Project Consultant Scott Michael Bosco; "The Making of Supergirl" Featurette; U.S. & Foreign Theatrical Trailers; U.S. TV Spots; Original Storyboards; Still & Poster Galleries; and Talent Bios (these extra features were also available on the 2-disc "Limited Edition" set). Anchor Bay reissued a new VHS release once again, this time the 124-minute "International Version" coinciding with the DVD release, both a separate fullscreen and [[widescreen]] editions (widescreen version labeled as the "Collector's Edition") under different packaging artwork and digitally mastered by [[THX]]. The "Director's Cut" DVD was made from the last print known to exist of the cut, which was apparently prepared for possible television broadcast before the film was edited into its various versions. This longer version was never broadcast on network television in the United States, though it is believed to have been distributed in [[television syndication|syndication]] worldwide.

In 2002, Anchor Bay reissued the 138-minute "Director's Cut" separately.<ref>{{cite news|title=Supergirl Limited Edition|publisher=[[DVD Talk]]|date=25 August 2000|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/972/supergirl-limited-edition/|access-date=12 October 2010}}</ref> In November 2006, coinciding with the home video release of ''[[Superman Returns]]'', [[Warner Home Video]], now owning the rights to the film through their parent company [[Warner Bros.]], released a single-disc DVD featuring the 124-minute "International Version" cut of the film, with only some extra material being carried over from the former out-of-print Anchor Bay releases, a commentary by director Jeannot Szwarc and Special Project Consultant Scott Bosco, and the theatrical trailer. This Warner Bros. release includes an edited version of the audio commentary from the Anchor Bay release. All comments about Anchor Bay are edited out.

It was reissued on 17 July 2018, under the Warner Archive Collection label as a two–disc set, with the International Cut on Blu-ray (in a new 1080p HD remaster), and the "Director's Cut" on DVD, mastered in SD as the only surviving element of the longer version is from the same StudioCanal print used for the previous Anchor Bay release. The commentary from the 2000 video release, "The Making of Supergirl" Featurette, and a theatrical trailer were carried over to WAC's latest issue.

===Deleted material===
[[File:SuperGirlAltCostume.jpg|thumb|right|[[Prototype]] costume based on the actual 1984 comic book costume at the time, used only for camera test shoots and lighting|alt=Prototype costume]]
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2013}}
Material that was cut for the 105-minute version of the film included the Argo City opening, which was originally longer.

Another cut scene from the U.S. release is known as the "flying ballet", though included in the International Cut. As Supergirl arrives on Earth, she is surprised to find herself capable of almost anything, especially flying. She can use her super-strength to crack rocks into dust, and use her heat-ray vision to help flowers grow.

Scenes concerning Selena, Bianca, and Nigel were also trimmed. In the U.S. version, Selena's introduction was merely a few lines long when the Omegahedron lands on Earth, and Selena takes it for the use of its magic. The full introduction establishes Selena as an impatient [[Witchcraft|witch]] who is sick of her mentor and lover Nigel, who is himself a [[warlock]]. Later scenes not seen before the 2000 D.V.D. release from Anchor Bay Entertainment include Selena using the Omegahedron for the first time and realizing that she has no control over herself when under its influence, namely the "Roast Chicken" sequence. Selena later throws a party for all her followers, and deleted material shows Nigel insulting Selena after being dismissed. Nigel then gets friendly with another party member, on whom Selena pulls a vicious magical prank.

Other scenes involve Linda Lee making a temporary home in the city of Midvale, Illinois, and an extended version of the tractor sequence in which the possessed machine runs amok on the Midvale streets and kills a civilian. This alleged death scene does not appear in either the International or the 2000 Director's Cut. Another cut scene shows Supergirl unable to find the Omegahedron because Selena keeps it in a [[lead]] box, demonstrating that Supergirl's limitations are similar to those of her cousin. The [[Phantom Zone]] scenes are also longer.

The 2006 D.V.D. release and current Blu-ray reissue by [[Warner Home Video]], whose parent company, Warner Bros., is the current rights holder to the Superman movies, contains the International Edition, also called the "European Theatrical Edition". The latter release also features the Director's Cut.

Much of the deleted material appeared in DC Comics' [[One-shot (comics)|one-shot]] comic book adaptation of the film, primarily the scenes that fleshed out Selena's character.

====Broadcast television version====
The American theatrical cut of ''Supergirl'' ran at 105 minutes. ''Supergirl'' originally ran at 124 minutes in its European version. When it aired on network television in 1987, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] added numerous scenes from the International theatrical version as well as sequences not contained in any other edit. Shown in a two-hour slot, this 92-minute version was essentially a cut-down version of the Director's Cut, otherwise resembling the U.S. edit, with "offensive" dialogue dubbed over for TV. This same 92-minute version was also seen in [[Broadcast syndication|syndication]] on most stations (as well as [[superstation]]s such as [[TBS (U.S. TV channel)|TBS]] and [[WGN-TV|WGN]]) by [[Viacom (1971–2005)|Viacom]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.supermancinema.co.uk/superman_cinema/faq.htm | title = Superman CINEMA > F.A.Q. | author = GandalfDC, Hiphats | publisher = Supermancinema | access-date = 21 July 2010 }}</ref>

Some broadcast television versions have a scene not seen in either [[laserdisc]] edition: After Selena's defeat, Nigel is standing on the street. He bends over to pick up the Coffer of Shadows, now restored to its original, small size, and decides to keep it as a memento. In another broadcast-only scene, after Supergirl flies off to return to Argo City, Ethan gets into his truck. He then stops to say goodbye to [[Lucy Lane|Lucy]] and [[Jimmy Olsen|Jimmy]]. Both scenes can be found in the Director's Cut.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gerald Wurm |url=http://movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=1539 |title=Supergirl (Comparison: International Version - Director's Cut) |publisher=Movie-Censorship.com |date=5 February 2011 |access-date=14 April 2012}}</ref>

As mentioned, the full, longer version has never been broadcast on U.S. network television.

==Reception==
===Box office===
In the United States, ''Supergirl'' was picked up by [[Tri-Star Pictures]] for release on 21 November 1984. Test audiences found the film overlong, and the film was edited from 135 minutes to 105 minutes for its North American release.<ref name="supes"/> Critical reviews in the United States were poor, and although the film took the #1 slot at the North American box-office during its opening weekend,<ref>{{cite news|title='Supergirl' 1st at Box Office|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=28 November 1984|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/28/movies/supergirl-1st-at-box-office.html|access-date=9 October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=1984&wknd=47&p=.htm | title = November 23–25, 1984 – Weekend | website = [[Box Office Mojo]] | access-date = 9 January 2009 }}</ref> it is widely considered to be a [[box office bomb]] after making only $14.3 million in North America.<ref name="mojo">{{cite web | url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=supergirl.htm | title=Supergirl (1984) | work=[[Box Office Mojo]] | publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]] | date=28 January 1985 | access-date=29 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Stecklow, Steve|title=Box Office Bombs May Turn Into Skyrockets On Videotape|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=19 April 1985|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/04/19/box-office-bombs-may-turn-into-skyrockets-on-videotape/|access-date=12 October 2010}}</ref>

===Critical response===
[[Colin Greenland]] reviewed ''Supergirl'' for ''[[Imagine (game magazine)|Imagine]]'' magazine, and stated that "I may be old-fashioned, but I can't help wishing today's film-makers thought it worthwhile including a little logic In their fantasies, instead of having characters whose motivations, abilities and weaknesses change all the time, with no explanation whatever. A fun film, in a vacuous sort of way."<ref name="Imagine19">{{cite journal | last = Greenland|first = Colin |author-link=Colin Greenland| title =Fantasy Media | type = review | journal = [[Imagine (AD&D magazine)|Imagine]] | issue = 19| pages =47 | publisher = TSR Hobbies (UK), Ltd. |date=October 1984| issn = }}</ref> 

John Nubbin reviewed ''Supergirl'' for ''[[Different Worlds]]'' magazine and stated that "Although the similarities between ''Superman I'' and ''Supergirl'' are striking, this is a new picture, with a new feel. It is good, solid work, the kind nobody ever gets enough of, but which we haven't even been getting the usual quote for a long time. The film has its problems; some scenes are a bit too campy [...] some of the acting is a tad thick - but all in all, ''Supergirl'' is just the kind of boost the American theater scene needs after the dull showing of the past summer."<ref name="dw38">{{cite journal | last = Nubbin |first = John | title = Film Reviews | journal = [[Different Worlds]] | issue = 38 | pages =45, 37 |date=January-February 1985}}</ref>

[[Janet Maslin]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' expressed "some initial curiosity" about the differences between Superman and Supergirl, but that the film "quickly loses its novelty."<ref name="Maslin">{{cite news | last=Maslin |first= Janet |author-link=Janet Maslin |title=The Screen: Helen Slater as 'Supergirl' |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=22 November 1984 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/22/movies/the-screen-helen-slater-as-supergirl.html |access-date=9 October 2010 }}</ref>

[[James Lowder]] reviewed ''Supergirl'' in ''[[White Wolf Inphobia]]'' #57 (July 1995), rating it a 1 1/2 out of 5 and stated that "The movie's special effects vary in quality. A few of the flying sequences come close to capturing the magic of Reeve's first solo as Superman. Both the shadow monster that Dunaway conjures at the film's climax and the invisible stalker that she sends after Supergirl are well crafted [...] Unfortunately, a few good effects can't make ''Supergirl'' anything more than a mildly interesting but derivative superhero flick."<ref name="WW57">{{Cite magazine |last=Lowder |first=James |authorlink=James Lowder |date=July 1995|title=Into the Dark |magazine= [[White Wolf Inphobia]] |number=57 |page=58 |url=https://imgur.com/a/BTotdzA}}</ref>

[[Red Letter Media|RedLetterMedia]] included ''Supergirl'' in a 2014 episode of their [[Best of the Worst (web series)|''Best Of The Worst'']] review series. The panel offered praise for ''Supergirl''<nowiki/>'s production quality, special effects, and individual performances, but criticized the film's plotting, scripting, treatment of the Supergirl character, and choice to center the conflict on the character of Ethan. Summarizing the film, reviewer Rich Evans likened ''Supergirl'' to "someone taking [[filet mignon]] and somehow making [[Ramen|ramen noodles]]", while reviewer Jack Packard suggested that, "[the viewer] should watch this to know how not to write a lady."<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-O_RzwrZPw |title=Best of the Worst: Supergirl, Captain America (1990), and Roger Corman's Fantastic Four |date=2014-03-14 |last=RedLetterMedia |access-date=2025-10-02 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

''Supergirl'' holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} and has an average rating of {{RT data|average}} on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on {{RT data|count}} reviews. Many of the reviews were negative, with Dunaway's campy performance especially reviled. The consensus reads: "The effects are cheesy, the story is aimless, and ''Supergirl's'' wide-eyed, cheery heroine simply isn't interesting."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/supergirl |title=Supergirl (1984) |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]] |access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]] the film has a rating of 41 out of 100, indicating "mixed or average reviews" from 13 professional reviewers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/supergirl |title=Supergirl |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=1 January 2024 }}</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' referred to the film as "intermittently enjoyable spectacle" and described "some well-staged effects highlights, notably a violent storm that threatens the school and the climax which Supergirl and Selena confront each other in the latter's mountain-top castle."{{sfn|Willis|1985|p=451-452|ps=: "Review is from July 18, 1984"}}<ref>{{cite web |date=1 January 1984 |author1=Staff Variety |title=Supergirl |url=https://variety.com/1983/film/reviews/supergirl-1200425961/ |website=Variety }}</ref>

Both Rita Kempley and [[Paul Attanasio]] of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' gave it positive marks. [[John Grant (author)|John Grant]], writing in ''[[The Encyclopedia of Fantasy]]'', was more positive about the film, describing Slater as "an exceptionally charming Supergirl" and wrote that ''Supergirl'' had some "excellent—and excellently realised—flights of imagination."<ref name="eof">[[John Clute|Clute, John]] and Grant, John. ''The Encyclopedia of Fantasy.'' London: Orbit, 1997. {{ISBN|1857233689}} (p. 907).</ref> Grant criticised the "inconsistent" characterization of Slater and Dunaway's characters.<ref name="eof" /> In conclusion, he stated that while ''Supergirl'' "was less than the sum of its parts, not all of those parts are insignificant."<ref name="eof" />

===Accolades===
The film was nominated for two [[Razzie Awards]], including [[Razzie Award for Worst Actor|Worst Actor]] for Peter O'Toole and [[Razzie Award for Worst Actress|Worst Actress]] for Faye Dunaway.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=John|title=The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywood's Worst |year=2005|publisher=Grand Central Publishing|isbn=0-446-69334-0}}</ref> Helen Slater was nominated for a [[Saturn Award for Best Actress]].

===Legacy===
Years after her single appearance as Supergirl, Helen Slater took on the recurring role of [[Lara (character)|Lara]], biological mother of [[Clark Kent]], on the TV series ''[[Smallville]]'' (2001–2011),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/helen-slater-is-still-super/|title=Helen Slater Is Still "Super"|first=Jill|last=Pantozzi|date=December 7, 2009|website=CBR}}</ref> and later played the recurring character of Eliza Danvers, the adopted mother of the titular character in the TV series ''[[Supergirl (TV series)|Supergirl]]'' (2015–2021).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://supergirl.tv/eliza-danvers|title=Eliza Danvers|website=supergirl.tv}}</ref> A CGI version of the character makes a cameo in the 2023 [[DC Studios]] film [[The Flash (film)|''The Flash'']], alongside a CGI version of Christopher Reeve's Superman.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/the-flash-supergirl-helen-slater-christopher-reeve/|title=The Flash Finally Unites a Familiar Supergirl and Superman|first=Timothy Blake|last=Donohoo|date=June 18, 2023|website=CBR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/the-flash-christopher-reeve-superman-cameo-family-comment/|title=Christopher Reeve’s Family Comment On The Flash's Controversial Superman Cameo|first=Andy|last=Behbakht|date=January 22, 2024|website=ScreenRant}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Other media}}

==Novelization==
A [[novelization]] was written by [[Norma Fox Mazer]] and released in paperback form in 1984.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mazer |first1=Norma Fox |title=Supergirl |date=1984 |publisher=Sphere Books |location=London |isbn=9780722158289|oclc=29768140}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book|editor-last=Willis|editor-first=Donald|title=Variety's Complete Science Fiction Reviews|publisher=Garland Publishing Inc.|isbn=978-0-8240-6263-7|year=1985}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{external links|date=May 2020}}

* {{IMDb title|0088206|Supergirl}}
* {{TCMDb title|3521|Supergirl}}
* {{Mojo title|id=supergirl}}
* [https://maidofmight.net/film/ SUPERGIRL the Movie] at [https://maidofmight.net Supergirl: Maid of Might]
* [http://www.supermanhomepage.com/movies/movies.php?topic=m-supergirl Superman Homepage: Supergirl – Movie Synopsis/Review/Critique]
* [http://www.supermansupersite.com/movie5.html The Superman Super Site - Super Girl] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909005515/http://www.supermansupersite.com/movie5.html |date=9 September 2018 }}

{{Supergirl}}
{{Christopher Reeve's/Brandon Routh's Superman}}
{{DC Comics films}}
{{Jeannot Szwarc}}


[[Category:1984 films]]
[[Category:1984 fantasy films]]
[[Category:1980s fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:1984 adventure films]]
[[Category:1980s science fiction adventure films]]
[[Category:British fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:British science fiction films]]
[[Category:Science fantasy films]]
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[[Category:Supergirl films]]
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[[Category:Film spinoffs]]
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[[Category:TriStar Pictures films]]
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[[Category:Films directed by Jeannot Szwarc]]
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[[Category:1980s superhero films]]
[[Category:Superman (1978 film series)]]
[[Category:1984 English-language films]]
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[[Category:English-language fantasy adventure films]]
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[[Category:Saturn Award–winning films]]




{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Supergirl (1984 film)|access_date=2026-03-06}}