Directed by S.J. Clarkson and starring Dakota Johnson in the lead role, the upcoming Marvel film Madame Web revolves around Cassandra Webb, a paramedic who gets psychic abilities, and her efforts to safeguard three young women from the menacing Ezekiel Sims. Set within Sony’s Spider-Verse, it will be the first live-action superhero film to hit theaters in 2024 following a disappointing year for the genre.
And the odds don’t look good for the Dakota Johnson starrer as well, especially in light of early reviews following its Los Angeles premiere. Despite its relatively modest budget for a superhero movie, there’s still pervasive skepticism regarding its potential success at the box office.
Madame Web Cost Less Than $100 Million to Produce
Madame Web is among some of the movies set to release under Sony’s Spider-Man Universe this year along with Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Kraven the Hunter and Tom Hardy’s Venom 3. However, the Dakota Johnson starrer has comparatively less production cost than the other two movies, which have reportedly been budgeted to over $100 million.
According to Variety, the film has a budget of less than $100 million and it’s also reported to cost $80 million before prints and advertising, positioning it as one of the more economical entries within the Spider-Man Universe. However, the modest budget for the film also raises concern as it puts the upcoming film alongside one of the biggest failures of Sony’s cinematic universe, Morbius.
While specific cast salaries remain undisclosed, Dakota Johnson is anticipated to command the highest compensation. The film stars Dakota Johnson alongside Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, Isabela Merced, Tahar Rahim, Mike Epps, Emma Roberts, and Adam Scott.
Madame Web’s Box Office Projections Are Not Good
To make it at the box office Madame Web is estimated to to earn around $200 million, a benchmark crucial for profitability. However, this figure pales in comparison to the remarkable performances of other movies under Sony Spider-Man Universe.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was made on an estimated budget of $90 million and grossed over $380 million at the box office. Blockbuster films like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Venom have grossed over $600 million and $800 million, despite budgets ranging from $100 to $150 million.
Considering these figures, even if the Dakota Johnson starrer manages to gross $200 million at the box office, it could still be considered disappointing for a Spider-Man Universe movie, and surpassing $200 million remains essential for it to be a financial success. However, current box office projections cast doubt on the film’s prospects.
According to the box office tracking website Box Office Pro, Madame Web could potentially record one of the lowest domestic opening weekends for a Sony Spider-Man film and replace Morbius as the cinematic universe’s biggest failure.
It is projected to debut domestically with $25-$35 million in its opening weekend. And the total domestic box office gross is estimated to fall within $56-$101 million, potentially making it one of most significant box office failures of 2024 and Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.
Madame Web is set to release on February 14, 2024.
