(Image Credits: DC Studios)
The upcoming DC Studios movie Supergirl runtime has been confirmed by director Craig Gillespie, and has quickly become a talking point amongst fans. However, despite the somewhat shorter runtime for the next DCU entry, fans shouldn’t be too worried, and it might even end up being the right choice.
What is Supergirl’s runtime?
In a recent interview with Collider, Gillespie revealed that the Supergirl runtime is just around 1 hour and 50 minutes. While not atypical for most movies, fans were quick to note that the movie was shorter than its predecessor, James Gunn’s Superman. Superman clocked in at around 2 hours and 10 minutes long, and many fans were hoping for a bit longer entry from the next DCU entry.
Despite not being as long as Superman, though, the decision to keep Supergirl shorter could end up being the right choice for a variety of factors.
Why is Supergirl’s runtime the right choice?
While many might want a longer entry to explore more of the DCU, and especially see more of Kara Zor-El, it’s important to note the movie being shorter will be beneficial for a number of reasons. On the more practical side, the shorter the movie is, the more it can play in theaters. This means from a box office standpoint, the film could generate much more money. While Superman was a success, its box office numbers weren’t as high as some other peak superhero movies, and Warner Bros. may be hoping for a similarly successful run by Supergirl, with a shorter movie helping that.
From a storytelling standpoint, the many are worried that the movie being under the 2 hour mark could mean it will be rushed or not include as much as it should. However, the story of Supergirl is much more of an introductory one, and doesn’t seem to require as much world building as a larger, more connected film.
The movie will largely focus on Kara Zor-El trying to save her dog, Krypto, and also helping a young woman she meets along the way. With the movie’s plot much more straightforward, there likely won’t be a ton of deviating, allowing us to get right into the story. The comic that the film is adapting, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, is also on the shorter side of story runs, so fans likely won’t have to worry about the movie not covering everything in it.
Finally, from an anecdotal standpoint, plenty of comic book movies have stayed under the 2 hour mark and been highly successful. Films like 2000’s X-Men, Deadpool, the recent Fantastic Four movie, and more have all been under 2 hours and received extremely well.
