After spending nearly half a billion dollars, Sony will mercifully cancel its Spider-Man villain universe after the release of Kraven The Hunter this weekend.
The Wrap reported that Sony spent more than $465 million in combined production costs on films like Morbius, Madame Web, and now Kraven. The studio also produced three moderately successful Venom films. With that trilogy finished, it seems like the right time for Sony to focus on Spider-Man cinematic offerings that actually feature Spider-Man.
A screenshot from Venom: The Last Dance (2024), Sony Pictures
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“The biggest issue with the Sony Spider-Man spinoffs seems to be the lack of quality control,” a Sony insider told The Wrap. “The movies just aren’t good.”
The box office supports that claim, with Morbius and Madame Web bombing in spectacular fashion.
Morbius grossed $167,460,961 worldwide after two releases on a relatively small (for a comic book movie) $75 million budget. Factoring in marketing costs and movie theater cuts, Sony took a big loss on the film.
Cassandra Webb (Dakota Johnson) in Columbia Pictures MADAME WEB.
Madame Web performed even worse, taking in $100,498,764 on an $80 million budget. It earned less than Morbius but cost more to produce.
The Venom films, while still considered hits, delivered decreasing returns with each installment.
The first Venom made over $856 million on a $120 million budget. Venom: Let There Be Carnage earned $506 million on a $110 million budget. The final part of the trilogy, Venom: The Last Dance, pulled in $473 million on a $120 million budget.
A screenshot from Venom: The Last Dance (2024), Sony Pictures
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A second Sony insider told The Wrap that the studio will shift focus to Tom Holland’s fourth MCU “Spider-Man” film. They’ll also prioritize the “Spider-Verse” animated movies and develop a “Spider-Noir” television series featuring Nicolas Cage.
Kraven The Hunter releases in theaters this week, and analysts do not expect it to generate significant box office revenue. Industry experts estimate that Kraven will debut with a $20 million opening weekend on a $110 million budget.
Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, Tom Holland as Peter Parker, and Andrew Garfield as Peter Park in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), Marvel Studios
Sony originally planned to run these movies like an offshoot Marvel Cinematic Universe, culminating in a Sinister Six team-up film ala Marvel’s Avengers. It seems those hopes, along with the expressed sequel hopes of Kraven director J.C. Chandor, have disappeared.
Are you happy about the destruction of the Sony Spider-Man villain universe? Did it ever have potential? What’s your favorite entry? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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