The Sony Spider-Man Universe has often been criticized for its Spider-Man villain spin-offs, not including the web-slinger. Moreover, the latest entry in Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man spinoff universe, is shaping up to be another disappointing chapter for the studio.
‘Kraven The Hunter’, with a projected opening weekend gross between $13 million and $15 million, on a $110 million budget is on its way to disappointing performance. This would mark yet another failure in a cinematic universe that has struggled to connect with audiences, especially without Spider-Man himself at the center.
Sony’s Spider-Man Universe’s Legacy Of Disappointment
Sony’s Spider-Man Universe began in 2018 with ‘Venom’, starring Tom Hardy. While the film grossed an impressive $850 million worldwide, critics were still not pleased. The sequel, ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’, however, earned about half of the original’s revenue.
Related: After ‘Kraven The Hunter’, Sony To Reportedly Focus On Core Spider-Man Stories Instead Of Spin-offs
The lowest point for the SSU came after this in 2022 with ‘Morbius‘, starring Jared Leto. Billed as a dark and gritty exploration of Spider-Man’s vampiric foe, the film was widely hated for its incoherent plot and dated visual effects. It opened to $39 million which was well below Sony’s expectations.
‘Morbius’ was so bad that it became a joke online which Sony tried to capitalize off of by re-releasing the film. This hilariously backfired as the film ended up earning just $300,000 in its return to theaters. Then there was ‘Madame Web’. This film was no better than ‘Morbius’ fared no better, debuting at $15.3 million and receiving the lowest rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Sony’s Spider-Man Universe’s Main Problem Is Not Including The Web Slinger
A recurring criticism of Sony’s Spider-Man spinoffs is the conspicuous absence of Spider-Man himself. While Marvel’s Spider-Man films starring Tom Holland have thrived by integrating the character into the broader MCU, Sony’s standalone projects feel disconnected.
In case you missed it: Who Is Main Villain In Sony’s Spiderverse Film ‘Kraven The Hunter’?
Without Spider-Man to anchor the narrative, the films often feel like filler and lack the emotional stakes that make their stories resonate. This approach has also left a lot of fans confused. Why create a cinematic universe where the central figure is conspicuously missing?
The lack of Spider-Man reduces these films to second-tier content which casual watchers also skip over. Even when focusing on beloved villains like Venom or Kraven, Sony’s spinoffs fail to delve into the comic book lore. Moreover, according to TheWrap, “The biggest issue with the Sony Spider-Man spinoffs seems to be the lack of quality control.”
The failure of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe stands in stark contrast to Marvel’s Spider-Man films. Marvel’s take on the web-slinger has been both critically acclaimed and commercially dominant. ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ became a cultural phenomenon.
Yet, Sony seems intent on doubling down on its Spider-Man-esque projects. Ultimately, Sony’s Spider-Man spinoff universe feels like a mere cash grab. Audiences have made it clear: superheroes without substance won’t fly.
