The film 'Kraven the Hunter' is proving to be far from the apex predator it aimed to be, with its box office performance indicating it may not claw its way back to financial viability. The sixth and seemingly final entry in Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU), it stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the titular antihero. After multiple delays, the movie debuted to lackluster ticket sales, easily overshadowed by holdovers and competitors like 'Wicked' and 'Moana 2'.
Despite being positioned as the foundation of more Spider-Man spin-offs, 'Kraven the Hunter' has failed to find its footing. According to Deadline, the film dropped 72% during its second weekend, landing the seventh spot at the box office with only $3.1 million earned over three days. This steep decline is even more pronounced when contrasted with other recent superhero films, making it apparent just how poorly the film is faring.
Through ten days since its release, 'Kraven the Hunter' has managed to pull only $17.4 million domestically, significantly underperforming compared to its peers like 'Madame Web', which had reached $28 million within the same timeframe. Globally, the film has earned $42.8 million, far from covering its reported $130 million budget. With dwindling prospects, 'Kraven the Hunter' might soon claim the title of the lowest-grossing film centered on a Spider-Man character, surpassing its predecessor, 'Madame Web'.
This dismal performance caps off what has been reported as a challenging year for superhero films, with only 'Deadpool & Wolverine' proving successful at the box office, raking in $1.3 billion worldwide. Highlighting the broader issues, 'Kraven the Hunter' seems likely to become the lowest-grossing comic book film of the year, potentially bringing down the reputation of one of Spider-Man's formidable foes.
When discussing the narrative direction of 'Kraven the Hunter', some expected it to reference iconic moments from previous Spider-Man films or create connections to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Instead, the film surprisingly channels influences from 'The Beastmaster', originating from the 1980s. Despite its lackluster initial reception, 'The Beastmaster' has developed a cult following over the years.
At its core, 'Kraven the Hunter' shares thematic and narrative similarities with 'The Beastmaster', particularly through the character development exhibited by Taylor-Johnson's portrayal of Kraven. Much like the film's Dar, who had the prophesied ability to communicate with animals and combat evil, Kraven too derives powers through supernatural means, finding himself spiritually connected with the animal kingdom.
Kraven's backstory is one of tragedy and transformation, akin to Dar's own narrative where he overcomes evil forces to become a preserved spirit of the natural world. While Dar from 'The Beastmaster' employed compassion and protection silently, Kraven’s style is thicker with blood and action, embodying the darker side of heroism influenced by his tumultuous life.
The unflinching attitude and intense fragility portrayed by both characters resonate through their individual quests of self-discovery and sacrifice for the greater good. Kraven, once again, attempts to purify his world, positioning himself against poachers and the black-market trade, similar to Dar's own motivations for battling malevolent figures.
Despite these heroics, it remains clear the film is failing to entice audiences. While many have come to appreciate how campy 'Madame Web' could be, 'Kraven the Hunter' simply appears to lack the draw to captivate viewers. This disconnect between the film’s intentions and its reception may follow Kraven’s legacy through the ages.
With the superhero genre teetering at this precarious point, the focus shifts to future releases aimed to restore audiences’ love for comic book narratives. Films slated for 2025 such as 'Superman' and 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' offer hope for replenishing belief within superhero films once more. Rather than uplifting the narrative, 'Kraven the Hunter' appears to lower the bar considerably.
Despite the glimmers of potential within the character of Kraven, his association with this failure might shadow him for quite some time. Looking at the overall lethargic response, one cannot help but wonder if this film ever stood much chance against the weight of expectations and the allure of other recent releases.
Audiences are left to reflect on how Kraven the Hunter's character could have been integrated more successfully within the Spider-Man universe, perhaps clarifying his image through conflict with the famed web-slinger instead of standing alone. Nevertheless, as the credits roll on this project, the fate of the character remains uncertain, relegated to what may be one of the biggest flops to date.
