Kraven the Hunter’s Box Office Struggle
Sony Pictures’ latest Marvel installment, Kraven the Hunter, has stumbled significantly at the box office, raising fresh concerns over the studio’s ongoing efforts to build a Spider-Man-adjacent cinematic universe—minus the wall-crawler himself. Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the titular anti-hero, the film scraped together a disappointing $11 million in its domestic opening weekend. This outcome marks yet another misfire for Sony’s Marvel experiments, following the critically and commercially underwhelming Madame Web earlier this year and the infamous Morbius debacle in 2022.
Franchise Fatigue and the Spider-Man Disconnect
Despite its promise of a darker, more grounded portrayal of a classic Spider-Man villain, Kraven the Hunter fell flat with both audiences and critics. A bleak 15% score on Rotten Tomatoes underscores the growing issue of franchise fatigue. Fans and critics alike argue that Sony’s spin-offs continue to feel incomplete, missing their most iconic and unifying character—Spider-Man himself.
Analyst Jeff Bock summarized the issue plainly: “Venom could carry a franchise, whereas these other characters cannot. To not have Spider-Man in these films was the fatal flaw.” While standalone anti-heroes have worked for other studios, Sony’s approach has struggled to resonate, highlighting the limits of relying on obscure Spider-Man adversaries.
Venom: The Lone Success Story
Sony’s Venom franchise remains the sole bright spot in this trend, with Tom Hardy’s take on Eddie Brock and the symbiote earning over $1.8 billion globally across two films. The character’s cultural significance and Hardy’s star power allowed Venom to carve out its own niche in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. However, the studio appears to have overestimated the marketability of lesser-known villains like Kraven, Madame Web, and Morbius, all of whom lack the narrative depth or star appeal to carry standalone franchises.
The Marvel Studios Complication
Sony’s struggles are further amplified by its complex arrangement with Marvel Studios and Disney. While Tom Holland’s Spider-Man films—co-produced with Marvel Studios—have been an undeniable success, raking in over $3.9 billion worldwide, these movies exist within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This collaboration creates creative and logistical limitations for Sony’s standalone projects, as Holland’s Spider-Man remains absent from spin-offs like Kraven and Morbius. The disconnect leaves audiences questioning why they should care about side characters without the anchor of Spider-Man.
Production Delays and Financial Fallout
Kraven the Hunter also endured a turbulent production timeline. Initially set for release in January 2023, the film faced delays caused by Hollywood strikes and other complications, ultimately premiering in December 2024. With a reported $110 million production budget and minimal audience or critical support, the path to financial recovery looks bleak.
Sony’s Spider-Man Flagships Still Thriving
Amidst the setbacks, Sony’s animated Spider-Verse films have been a resounding success. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse earned widespread acclaim and box office success, and the upcoming Beyond the Spider-Verse is highly anticipated. Furthermore, a fourth live-action Spider-Man film starring Tom Holland is expected to enter production in 2025, alongside new projects like Spider-Man Noir (reportedly starring Nicolas Cage). These endeavors affirm Sony’s continued investment in the Spider-Man brand while underscoring the stark contrast between their hits and recent misses.
Fan Backlash and Calls for Change
The failure of Kraven the Hunter has reignited backlash from Marvel fans, many of whom are calling for Sony to relinquish the Spider-Man movie rights. On platforms like Reddit, the sentiment is clear: Sony’s spin-offs feel like hollow cash grabs rather than carefully crafted narratives. As one fan post bluntly stated, “Sony Needs To Lose The Spider-Man Rights.”
This frustration also reflects a broader trend within the superhero genre, as audience enthusiasm continues to wane. Studios across Hollywood have struggled to replicate the blockbuster success of the 2010s, leading to increasing scrutiny of rushed storytelling and franchise oversaturation.
The Road Ahead: Sony’s Marvel Strategy in Question
Looking forward, Sony faces critical decisions about the future of its Spider-Man-adjacent universe. Analysts emphasize the need for a creative overhaul, urging the studio to focus on quality storytelling and characters with genuine franchise potential. Whether this involves reintroducing Spider-Man into spin-offs, rebooting its strategy, or exploring entirely new directions, one truth is clear:
Kraven the Hunter represents a turning point for Sony’s Marvel Universe. To regain audience trust and financial viability, Sony must deliver more than obscure villains and half-realized narratives. The hunt for a successful formula is on, and the studio can no longer afford to miss its mark.