Sony’s Madame Web has suffered a devastating blow following its release, facing both critical fallout and disappointing box office returns. Directed by S.J. Clarkson and starring Dakota Johnson in the lead role, the film has garnered $51 million worldwide, while also earning the distinction of achieving the lowest average Rotten Tomatoes score, 13%, among major superhero films in nearly a decade.
Adding to the unexpected turn of events is the revelation that the studio had purportedly been eyeing a franchise with the 34-year-old actress, a plan now seemingly derailed by the underwhelming performance of the superhero movie.
Madame Web’s Disappointing Reception Spells Uncertainty for its Franchise Plans
From the outset, the outlook for Madame Web appeared bleak, with unfavorable reactions to the trailer and early reviews setting a discouraging tone. As stated by The Hollywood Reporter, the film’s struggle has been evident with the significant declines in advance ticket sales as audiences turned away in real-time.
“It really says something when you’d rather have Shazam! 2 numbers,” remarked a prominent theatrical chain executive. And its performance is now affecting Sony’s extensive plans for their new superhero franchise. Similar to Marvel and DC, Sony has also established its own superhero franchise following the web-swinging superhero, Spider-Man.
And the studio reportedly had pinned hopes on the film’s success to launch a potential franchise, anchored by star Dakota Johnson. However, with the film’s collapse, those plans have evidently been dashed, leaving future prospects uncertain. “We’re not going to see another Madame Web movie for another decade-plus,” said one industry veteran.
Highlighting the severity of the film’s failure, they further stated, “It failed. Sony tried to make a movie that was a different type of superhero movie.” The disappointment surrounding the film’s failure underscores the challenges faced by studios attempting to innovate within the superhero genre, as evidenced by a string of underperforming films across various studios last year.
Madame Web’s Demise Adds to the Narrative of Superhero Fatigue
The once-unassailable dominance of superhero films, particularly with the reigns of the MCU, has been called into question. With the disappointing releases from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania to The Marvels in the MCU, along with DC films like The Flash and Shazam 2, the superhero genre majorly suffered at the box office in 2023.
And the lackluster performance of Madame Web serves as a poignant reminder of the growing sentiment of superhero fatigue among audiences. Released alongside the musical biopic Bob Marley: One Love, Madame Web has served as a potent example of this shifting landscape.
Over the extended holiday weekend, One Love soared above expectations, raking in an impressive $52 million domestically. Sony’s Madame Web, however, struggled to find its footing, mustering only $26 million in the same period.
As studios continue to churn out superhero-centric content, the need for innovation and differentiation becomes increasingly apparent in a crowded market. However, movies like Deadpool & Wolverine and the Joker sequel continue to be the hope to rejuvenate the superhero genre at the box office.
Madame Web is playing in theatres.
