Alternate versions

In the US advanced screening version, there was more dialog between Selena and Supergirl. Selena tells Supergirl she will make her name known all over the world, and that she herself, should fear. Supergirl replies to this, saying she will only bow to truth and justice, and Selena shows some black magic.

Other scenes not included in the director's cut include:

• Supergirl cuts her hair with laser vision.
• Linda Lee and Lucy Lane talk about guys, about Linda fitting in, and about Lucy borrowing a shirt that belongs to Linda.
• Nigel asks Linda Lee if she has plans for the three day weekend(right before "the map" sequence)
• Supergirl tells Selena she will only bow to truth and justice(During the showdown at Selena's home.)
• During the midvale protest scene, the young woman who stands up to Selena is killed. After standing in front of the car, Selena turns her into an ice statue, and the whole crowd cowers, except for Lucy Lane.
• More miscellaneous dialog throughout the film with Selena and the omegahedron, more footage of Supergirl showing her strength, etc.

ABC edited 30 minutes from this film for its 1987 network television premiere.

Although the original UK cinema release was the full international version most video releases featured the much shorter U.S print. DVD versions feature the original UK (International) cinema print.

Theatrical versions and the U.S.A. Home Video version add two additional credits after the closing credits, one for the film's international sales consultant, and another giving special thanks to Pierre Spengler, who produced the first three Superman films. Those credits were removed from current home video releases.

There were U.K. prints of the film, which ran slightly shorter than the commonly seen European cut. This version is officially known as the "Shorter U.K. Cut" (as printed on the film reel sides) and were manufactured directly from Rank Film Laboratories. This version, which runs roughly 121 minutes, is for the most part identical to the 124 minute version, with slight edits that were made to the U.S. version sewn in. The prints begin with the 'Thorn EMI" logo. Among the included cuts are:

• The shorter scene with Selena arriving home and meeting with Bianca, as in the U.S. version.
• The shorter scene where Nigel talks to Selena about the Omegahedron, as in the U.S. version.
• The 'Monster Tractor" scene is the shortened U.S. version
• The moment where Supergirl is caught by the dorm manager (who is drunk) is missing, as in the U.S. version.
• The dialogue when Bianca suggests that Selena call upon Nigel for help is missing, as in the U.S. version.

-The End Credits are time sped up, cutting their time by 1/3 of the other versions (including the U.S. credits). It's most notable as portions of Jerry Goldsmith's end title are missing, and remaining segments are over-layered to cover the truncation.

The 5.1 audio remix used for Anchor Bay's DVD release of the international cut (and carried over to the later DVD and Blu-ray releases from Warner) contains at least two sections that seem to have used elements from the shorter US theatrical cut.

• During Supergirl's first flight sequence after arriving on Earth, a brief section from the alternate music cue used in the US cut replaces what was originally heard in the international cut.
• When Supergirl is flying out of the Phantom Zone near the end, there is a jump in the music where the US cut had inserted the additional flying shot, and the cue ends earlier than it did in the original mix for the international cut.

Original European version runs 20 minutes longer and has been released on Japanese imported LaserDisc.

Original US Version ran 105m; International Version ran 124m; newly unearthed 'Director's Cut' clocks in at 138m (DVD only)

Broadcast version has 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.

Another broadcast-only scene: After Supergirl flies off to return to Argo City, Ethan gets into his truck. He stops to say goodbye to Lucy and Jimmy.

Syndicated TV versions, though said to be the American theatrical version, includes the full "flying ballet" sequence from the international version.

Upon discovering the newly unearthed "Director's Cut" of "Supergirl" these new scenes are added:

• A longer opening of argo city mall. This shows Kara walking through and disrupting a class of younger children, apologizing, and moving on. Also, later on in the scene, there is more dialogue between Kara and Zaltar about inner space among other things.
• More Conversation between Nigel and Selena discussing certain magic spells and powers, and development showing that they have been together for a long time and have gotten nowhere.
• In the scene which Bianca is first introduced, there is more dialogue concerning Bianca's plan to start a coven, and then goes on to show Selena and Bianca experimenting with the omegahedron, catching a frozen turkey on fire, then realizing they need a little practice.
• Longer party for the minions scene, in which Selena tells Nigel that all the people who mocked her and pittied her will pay for what they did, for now she has the power. Then there is more dialogue between Bianca and Selena in which Bianca tells Selena to slow down with her magic and Selena replies "No one gets a warning anymore!"
• More dialogue between Linda Lee and Lucy Lane talking about why Linda is an "orphan."
• A new scene in which Myra, the bully insults Linda Lee(Supergirl) in front of all the other girls and Lucy Lane sticks up for her.
• A new scene in the shower room after Myra has tripped Lucy, in which Lucy tells Linda that Myra is gunning for her next.
• More dialogue between Selena and Bianca when the moster tractor has failed to bring Ethan to Selena, in which they discuss more what they know about "The one that flies!"
• More dialogue between Nigel, Selena, and Bianca concering the barundi wand, right before they bring Ethan to the fortress.
• More footage to the phantom zone scene in which Zaltar and Supergirl discuss how evil Selena is, Zaltar having self pity, and the hope to save the world from Selena.
• A new scene has been added with Lucy and Jimmy trapped in Selena's cages, in which they admit to eachtother that they have always been in love with eachother since they first met.
• An extra character has been added in the protest scene involving a young man asking Selena to turn the phone lines on so he can contact his ailing wife.
• More footage of Supergirl getting obstacles thrown at her in the final showdown.
• The famous broadcast scene in which Nigel takes the coffer of shadows and keeps it as a memento. This scene is also extended as Nigle runs into the lady he met at Selena's and goes off with her.
• Also the other broadcast scene in which Ethan tells Jimmy and lucy goodbye and to take care has also been restored.
• Also, some dialogue is spoken differently, like Ethan saying softly a goodbye to Supergirl as she flies off back to argo city.
• The end credit music is different than the cue heard on the U.S. version and the international version.

In the USA version, when Supergirl is flying out of the phantom zone, an extra shot of her flying from the side, exposing starry atmosphere is inserted right before she busts out of the mirror. This was not seen in any other version or format.