Grant Morrison Slams Jason Momoa’s Lobo in Supergirl: ‘One of the Worst Performances I’ve Ever Seen

Comic book legend Grant Morrison has thrown his weight behind the Supergirl movie’s critics — and delivered one of the harshest critiques yet aimed at Jason Momoa’s Lobo. Writing on his Substack publication Xanaduum, Morrison, whose acclaimed All-Star Superman series helped shape James Gunn’s blockbuster Superman film, offered a mixed verdict on the DC Studios release, praising Millie Alcock’s lead performance while singling out the anti-hero bounty hunter as a glaring misstep. The comments arrive as the film’s disappointing box office continues to cast a shadow over the broader DC Universe.

Morrison’s assessment was measured at first, describing Supergirl as “wasn’t terrible but wasn’t especially great either,” before heaped genuine praise on Alcock for delivering a “credible job” with Kara Zor-El. But the tone shifted sharply when the veteran writer turned his attention to Momoa’s supporting turn as the irreverent, wisecracking Lobo. In what many are calling the most stinging line of the piece, Morrison branded the performance “one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen in a film and quite baffling.” The remark is particularly notable given Momoa’s own insistence that he was the perfect fit for the role.

A Supporting Role Overshadowed by Marketing

The criticism lands with extra weight when considered against the film’s promotional strategy. Lobo, the boisterous bounty hunter, was featured prominently in Supergirl’s marketing campaign in the run-up to its release, yet he ultimately appears only in a supporting capacity within the film itself. That disconnect has fueled speculation among fans that his inclusion felt forced rather than organic. As one critic noted in IGN’s Supergirl review:

IGN

Morrison expanded on his concerns, arguing that the film “falls apart in the second act” and that its plot fails to hold together coherently. For a franchise built on interconnected storytelling, such structural weaknesses represent a meaningful setback for the DCU’s ambitions.

Box Office Disappointment and the Road Ahead

The timing of Morrison’s remarks cannot be overstated. Supergirl suffered a disastrous box office run, grossing just $126 million from theaters globally — a stark contrast to the commercial success of Gunn’s Superman. The underperformance left some questioning the future direction of the DCU, even as leadership has publicly reaffirmed its confidence in the slate.

DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran addressed the film’s commercial shortfall in an interview with The New York Times, framing it as a single data point within a larger strategy. “While Supergirl didn’t meet our box office expectations, it’s just one component of a broader, long-term strategy at DC Studios that we remain confident in,” he said. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. boss David Zaslav told investors in August that Gunn remained “focused on Man of Tomorrow,” the Superman sequel, which is set to release next year with Alcock reprising her role as Kara Zor-El.

The DCU’s near-term plans also include the final two episodes of the well-received HBO series Lanterns, as well as the body horror film Clayface. Zaslav insisted the current slate “feels very good,” signaling that the studio intends to press forward despite the recent stumble.

Looking Ahead

As the industry digests Morrison’s scathing assessment, one question remains: what becomes of Lobo himself? Momoa has been clear about his vision for the character, insisting that any solo film must carry an R rating. “It’s all I want and I promise, I do not have any interest in making a PG-13 Lobo movie,” Momoa told Collider in June. He added that he remains open to appearing in other projects, but drew a firm line on a standalone film: “If I make a solo movie, I’m not doing it unless it’s rated R.”

Whether Morrison’s critique reflects a broader consensus or simply the opinion of one influential voice remains to be seen. But as Supergirl’s box office echoes and the DCU charts its next course, the conversation around the franchise’s creative direction is very much alive.