Summary
Madame Webdebuts to a disappointing Rotten Tomatoes score, continuing a trend of underwhelming critical reception for recent Sony’sSpider-ManUniverse films.
Madame Web, Sony’s newestSpider-ManUniverse film, reimagines the character with actressDakota Johnson portraying a younger version of Madame Web. The plot finds Cassandra Webb investigating her future after a life-threatening car accident leaves her with new powers to see events before they happen. As she contends with these disorienting visions, Webb uncovers threats that put her own life and others in danger. While the film attempts to establish a fresh take on the character, critics highlight issues in relying too heavily on generic superhero plot devices without enough unique identity.
With 51 reviews counted as of this writing,Madame Webhas a Rotten score of 18% onRotten Tomatoes, indicating an overwhelmingly negative critical reception. Many critics highlight that the film feels like a regression and a step backward for the superhero genre when franchises already face accusations of creative stagnation from audiences. Negative comparisons are widely made between this film and the superior reception and success ofSony’s animated Spider-Verse films, which demonstrate far more imaginative approaches. There is a sense that while the animated films capture the creativity of comic books, these latest Sony live-action efforts lag far behind the complexity of some of their Marvel Cinematic Universe counterparts.
TheMadame Webbox office predictionssuggest that the film’s theatrical earnings could range between $56 to $101 million. This figure likely concerns the production studio, particularly given the movie’s reported budget of $80 million. The main issue seems to be that these secondary Spider-Man characters simply don’t have enough name recognition or fan excitement built up around them yet, so casual audiences are not sold on spending money to see their solo movies. Sony needs these films to work to build a cohesive, successful shared universe that can rival Marvel and DC, but their strategy of starting with these characters in lead roles with hopes of slowly connecting them later appears flawed.
The overwhelmingly negative critical reaction also implies necessary changes in Sony’s approach. As they assess future Spider-Man spin-offs and sequel plans, prioritizing fresh ideas and compelling stories over formulaic projects may prove key to improving critical reception and audience interest. Rather than banking on superficial connections to beloved characters, infusing these films with the rich character depth and creative visuals that make comic books so engaging could help transform future efforts. For now, with an abysmal Rotten Tomatoes debut,Madame Webfollows recent Sony filmsthat suggest wasted potential.
Madame Webis set to hit theaters on July 20, 2025.
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is one of the biggest names in entertainment today. The superhero first appeared in the Marvel comic Amazing Fantasy #15 before becoming a leading figure in the Marvel comic book universe.Spider-Man has also featured in numerous films and video games, most notably Insomniac Games' Spider-Man (2018) and Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
