Madame Web: A Box Office Flop and Critical Disappointment

The superhero film Madame Web has become notorious as one of the most disastrous entries in the superhero genre, suffering a crushing failure at the box office and receiving overwhelmingly negative reviews. Upon its release, it set a record for the worst opening ever for a Sony Spider-Man movie, and it was the first Marvel film since the reboot of Fantastic Four to fail to debut at number one in theaters.

Critical Reception and Industry Reactions

Even renowned industry figures like Hideo Kojima, famous for the Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding series, offered only a brief comment, highlighting the film’s shortcomings. IGN criticized the movie for its “overcrowded” script filled with unnecessary characters, stereotypical archetypes, and uninspired dialogue, which contributed to its overall failure.

Following Madame Web’s poor performance, especially in light of the even worse reception of Kraven the Hunter, Sony reportedly shifted its focus away from the Spider-Man universe and prepared to prioritize its upcoming blockbuster, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, set for release next year.

What Went Wrong with Madame Web?

Since the movie’s debut, many have debated the reasons behind its failure. Last year, Emma Roberts, who portrayed Mary Parker, attributed the lackluster box office and critical backlash to the pervasive influence of internet culture, where everything is turned into a joke. Notably, one line from the trailer went viral for all the wrong reasons, even though it was cut from the final film.

Meanwhile, Sydney Sweeney, cast as Julia Cornwall (also known as Spider-Woman), openly disowned her role, stating she was “along for the ride” and emphasizing her established career in other acting projects. She humorously remarked, “You definitely did not see me in Madame Web,” distancing herself from the film.

Dakota Johnson: Blaming the Creative Process

Most recently, Dakota Johnson, who played the titular character, shared her candid thoughts on the film’s failure during a promotional interview for her romantic comedy Materialists. She firmly stated, “It wasn’t my fault.”

Johnson explained that many creative decisions in large-budget movies are now made by committees or individuals lacking true artistic vision. She expressed disappointment that Madame Web started as one thing and evolved into something else entirely, with her only being a bystander in the process. She acknowledged that such failures are common in Hollywood.

Reflections on Creativity and Audience Intelligence

Her comments echo her earlier sentiments shared shortly after the film’s release, where she told Bustle that art cannot be driven solely by algorithms or box office numbers. Johnson believes audiences are highly perceptive and capable of recognizing when a movie is not genuine.

She added, “My feeling has been for a long time that audiences are extremely smart, and executives have started to believe that they’re not. Audiences will always be able to sniff out bulls**t.”

Maintaining a Philosophical Outlook

Despite the setbacks, Johnson remains pragmatic about her experience with Madame Web. She said, “I don’t have a Band-Aid over it. There’s no part of me that’s like, ‘Oh, I’ll never do that again’ to anything. I’ve done even tiny movies that didn’t do well. Who cares?”

Her resilience reflects her understanding that failure is part of the creative journey and that not every project will succeed.

The Future of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe

Sony’s Spider-Man universe currently includes six films: Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Morbius, Madame Web, Venom: The Last Dance, and Kraven the Hunter. In April, actor Tom Hardy, who stars in Venom, commented on the challenges faced in trying to create a crossover with the Spider-Man universe, hinting at ongoing difficulties behind the scenes.

Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images.

Wesley is the News Director at IGN. Reach him on Twitter at @wyp100 or contact him via email at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or wyp100@proton.me for confidential inquiries.

Derek Shaw

Derek is a seasoned film critic and cinephile with a deep appreciation for storytelling, cinematography, and character development. He covers everything from mainstream blockbusters to indie films and international cinema. With a unique voice and thoughtful perspective, Derek offers reviews, deep dives, and behind-the-scenes insights that resonate with both casual viewers and hardcore movie fans.