Although the Salkinds financed the film completely on their own budget, Warner Bros. Pictures 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. Warners only had a July 1984 slot open for "Supergirl", but the producers insisted on opening it during the holiday season. That conflict, along with the disappointing critical and financial performance of "Superman III", prompted the studio to relinquish its distribution rights of "Supergirl" to the Salkinds. The film proceeded to be released overseas, however, and received a Royal Film Premiere in the United Kingdom in July 1984.