9 Years Ago Today, This Zack Snyder Era Movie Made DCEU History

Despite all the controversies and criticism surrounding Zack Snyder’s tenure in the DCEU, it is undeniable that it delivered a film that was monumental not only for the franchise but also for the superhero genre as a whole. Directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot, with support from industry legends such as Robin Wright, Chris Pine, and David Thewlis, Wonder Woman (2017) made cinematic history with its theatrical debut on June 2, 2017, and the legendary run it enjoyed.

With Supergirl set to release in less than a month, DC is once again returning to the female-led superhero space for the first time since the Jenkins-Gadot outing, Wonder Woman 1984, which failed to impress the critics. Despite the mixed track record of the IP, it is undeniable that Wonder Woman set the stage for films like Black Widow, Captain Marvel, and even the upcoming DCU entry Supergirl, starring Milly Alcock of House of the Dragon fame.

Wonder Woman	Details
Directed by	Patty Jenkins
Starring	Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen, Elena Anaya
IMDb rating (As of June 1, 2026)	7.3/10
RT score (As of June 1, 2026)	93% | 83%

Wonder Woman Made DCEU and Superhero History With Its Success

Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman was a triumph for DC in many ways. For one, its chief rival, the MCU, had yet to produce a successful female-led film. In fact, despite all of its success, the franchise had not even made a serious attempt at launching a female-led superhero movie at the box office. When Wonder Woman hit theaters, it shattered expectations, earning $823 million against a $149 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). This helped studios envision female-led superhero films as capable of reaching the same box office heights as male-led entries like Man of Steel, Captain America, and Iron Man.

Despite the disappointments that followed in the form of Wonder Woman 1984 and Birds of Prey, it is undeniable that Wonder Woman helped pave the way for studios to experiment more proactively with female-led superhero films. That momentum was further reinforced by the arrival of the first Captain Marvel, which went on to earn well over $1 billion at the box office.

However, the successes of these films have often been offset by notable failures, raising the question of how audiences will respond to the DCU’s upcoming project, Supergirl.

Can Supergirl Expect A Similar Audience Response To Wonder Woman?

Supergirl continues DC’s tradition of giving its female heroes the spotlight early. While Captain Marvel arrived only after several MCU phases had already passed, Wonder Woman was released when the DCEU was still only a few films old under Zack Snyder’s vision. James Gunn now seems to be carrying that approach forward, with Supergirl set to become only the second film in the DCU, following the critical and commercial success of Superman.

Helmed by Craig Gillespie, the film is set to adapt Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. The comic received widespread critical acclaim, and fans also seemed to respond positively to Supergirl’s brief cameo in Superman. Although Gunn is not directing the film, Supergirl has been described as a space opera epic, and comparisons to his Guardians of the Galaxy run in the MCU have already begun following the release of its first trailer.

Do you think Supergirl will join Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel as another successful female superhero film? Let us know in the comments!

Supergirl will fly into theaters on June 26, 2026.