Early reviews for the latest Marvel film have slammed “Madame Web” as the “worst comic book movie” yet, as Sony’s effort to flesh out its own Marvel Universe separate from the ultra-successful Disney franchises continues to flounder.
Critics have wasted no time panning the film with commentary ranging from “hilariously bad” (Daily Beast) to “depressingly internet” (Hollywood Reporter) and having “none of the charm you expect from even the most basic superhero movie” (Variety).
The film so far has only a dismal 25% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Madame Web” is expected to make $30 million to $35 million after its Wednesday release and have the lowest-ever domestic opening for a Sony Spider-Man movie.
“‘Madame Web'” isn’t as bad as you’ve heard,” wrote Rolling Stone reviewer David Fear. “It’s so much worse.”
“Madame Web” — starring Sydney Sweeney, Dakota Johnson, Emma Roberts and Isabela Merced — is poised to be the latest flop in Sony’s efforts to build a world using side characters and villains from Marvel’s Spider-Man comic books, but without the webbed hero himself. Dubbed the Sony Spider-Man Universe, or SSU for short, the Sony franchise is built around characters commonly associated with Spider-Man but the title character has been lent to Disney for its own Marvel productions, and Tom Holland has starred as the superhero in “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Endgame,” among other ultra-popular films. Movies included in Sony’s SSU are “Venom,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” and “Morbius.” On the whole, the films have been panned by critics. The second “Venom” film was the most well received with a 57% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Lovers of Marvel movies will have little choice but to buy into Sony’s Spider-Man universe this year. Outside of Disney’s “Deadpool 3” this July, Sony’s “Madame Web,” “Kraven the Hunter” and “Venom 3” are the only Marvel movies slated to hit theaters after the 2023 actors and writers strike wreaked havoc on the release schedule. The next release in Disney’s Avengers-based Marvel Cinematic Universe will be “Captain America: Brave New World,” now slated for a Valentine’s Day release in 2025. DC will also release “Joker: Folie à Deux” in October.
$500.9 million. That’s how much the first three movies in the Sony Spider-Man Universe made at the domestic box office. By comparison, the first three Marvel films for Disney (“Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2”) made $766.3 million.
It’s not just Sony that is struggling with its superhero films. Warner Bros.’ DC Studios and Disney’s Marvel Studios both produced flops last year that drummed up conversation around the idea of “superhero fatigue.” For DC Comics, 2023 saw “The Flash,” “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” “Blue Beetle” and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” all tank at the box office. Disney’s “The Marvels” became the lowest-earning installment in the MCU and earlier this year CEO Bob Iger said the company will slow down its production of original series and movies for Disney+ and specifically mentioned “reduced output” for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
