Sony Pictures CEO Attributes ‘Madame Web’ and ‘Kraven the Hunter’ Failures to Critical Backlash

In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, outgoing Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Tony Vinciquerra defended the studio’s latest Marvel films, “Madame Web” and “Kraven the Hunter,” attributing their poor box office performances to harsh critical reviews rather than the films’ quality.

“Madame Web,” directed by S.J. Clarkson and starring Dakota Johnson, debuted earlier this year to an opening weekend gross of $26.2 million, marking a low for Sony’s superhero releases. The film currently holds an 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Vinciquerra contends that the negative press significantly impacted its theatrical run, stating, “For some reason, the press decided that they didn’t want us making these films… and the critics just destroyed them.”

Similarly, “Kraven the Hunter,” released earlier this month, opened to $11 million domestically and has a 16% Rotten Tomatoes rating. Vinciquerra expressed confusion over the film’s reception, asserting, “I still don’t understand, because the film is not a bad film.”

Reflecting on the future of Sony’s Spider-Man universe, Vinciquerra suggested a strategic reassessment may be necessary due to the persistent critical challenges, noting, “If we put another one out, it’s going to get destroyed, no matter how good or bad it is.”

Despite these setbacks, Sony continues its collaboration with Disney’s Marvel Studios on a fourth “Spider-Man” film starring Tom Holland, indicating the studio’s commitment to its superhero franchises.