Box Office Struggles Haunt Sony's Spider-Man Universe Films
Sony's latest ventures, 'Kraven the Hunter' and 'Madame Web', are hitting some heavy snags with audiences and critics alike, raising serious concerns about the future of the studio's Spider-Man slice of the cinematic universe.
For the duration of its first action set-piece, set on a snow-covered highway followed by an assassination in a fortified prison, 'Kraven the Hunter' — God-willing, the last of Sony’s Spider-Man universe spin-off films — pulls off a neat little magic trick. It's a sleight of hand, fooling viewers momentarily to think this might not be such a bad film after all. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who takes on the titular role, fits the part physically and acts with professionalism, yet the story quickly unravels.
The magic starts to diminish as the plot evolves, introducing complicated backstories involving Kraven’s father, played by Russell Crowe, and his two sons. Sergei's childhood, marked by trauma and transformation after being attacked by a mythical lion, lays the groundwork for his character. Yet, the film struggles to find its footing. Critics are torn, noting the lack of energy as one of the movie's major flaws.
Despite the engaging beginning, 'Kraven the Hunter' stumbles due to amateurishly woven plot threads surrounding family dysfunction, poaching, and villainy, feeling hastily constructed and poorly executed. Reviewers point out how the screenplay by Richard Wenk and his cohorts fails to build on the intriguing premise, leaving audiences detached.
Unlike some early films from the Spider-Man Universe—which include 'Venom' and 'Morbius'—these new releases are struggling to make any significant box office impact. While the franchise had its share of hits, such as the Tom Hardy-led 'Venom: The Last Dance', both 'Kraven the Hunter' and 'Madame Web' have not fared well financially. Critics have savaged 'Madame Web' for its paltry 11 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, with 'Kraven' only slightly doing worse at 17 percent, leading to questions about their commercial viability.
Sony Pictures CEO Tony Vinciquerra expressed his concerns about the films' reception, asserting, "Madame Web underperformed because the press just crucified it. It was not a bad film, and it did great on Netflix. For some reason, the press decided they didn’t want us making these films out of Kraven and Madame Web, and the critics just destroyed them." His comments reflect mounting frustrations within Sony over the unrelenting scrutiny these films face and how it contributes to their downfall.
He did not shy away from acknowledging the less-than-stellar performances, stating, "I do think we need to rethink it, just because it’s snake-bitten. If we put another one out, it’s going to get destroyed, no matter how good or bad it is." This admission highlights the precarious situation the franchise finds itself entrenched within, as it grapples with diminishing returns and poor audience engagement.
The film 'Kraven the Hunter', exploring themes of vengeance through its lead character's complex relationship with his father, has struggled to connect with audiences. Ariana DeBose co-stars as Calypso, Kraven’s love interest, adding yet another layer of complexity to the storyline. Despite these elements, critics have pointed to the direction, editing, and screenplay as points of failure.
Ben Davis' cinematography manages to give 'Kraven' the look of legitimate production but holds no weight against the overwhelming negatives stemming from its convoluted screenplay and meandering pacing. The film’s music score, described as sparse and ineffectively utilized, fails to heighten the storytelling experience.
Compounding the negative reception, Dakota Johnson, star of 'Madame Web', remarked on her experience with the film, stating she was “not surprised” at its backlash. She emphasized the difficulty of creating art relying solely on numbers and algorithms, positioning the film’s fate squarely within the industry's trends rather than pure creativity.
The mounting criticism faced by these projects signals potential turbulence for Sony's future endeavors within this franchise. While attempts to diversify the offerings through introducing new characters and directions are evident, the growing backlash against such films raises questions about whether the audience is ready to embrace them.
With 'Kraven the Hunter' and 'Madame Web' both receiving scathing reviews and poor box office returns, the future of Sony's Spider-Man Universe hangs in the balance. It's unclear how the studio will pivot moving forward as it hopes to reignite audience enthusiasm.