Madame Web bombs at box office as expected

The movie Madame Web, based on the Marvel Comics character and tied to Sony's Spider-Man universe, has experienced a disappointing box office debut, setting a new low record for the franchise. The film earned only $17.6 million in its opening weekend domestically and $25.8 million over six days, even less than the underperforming Morbius. Critics and fans alike have not responded positively to Sony's strategy of creating Spider-Man-related films without the iconic web-slinger himself. This outcome raises doubts about future films in the same vein, such as the upcoming Kraven the Hunter solo project. Despite the setback, fans can still look forward to Venom 3, featuring Tom Hardy's return as Eddie Brock, with Juno Temple and Chiwetel Ejiofor joining in undisclosed roles.

Given the poor reception and disappointing box office performance, most moviegoers might find it better to skip Madame Web in theaters.

Madame Web is a character from the Spider-Man comics, introduced as a clairvoyant and precognitive mutant who helps guide and mentor Spider-Man in his endeavors. The film's struggle reflects the challenge of expanding a superhero universe by focusing on lesser-known and, at times, secondary characters without the main protagonist to draw in audiences. Sony’s Marvel Universe previously had success with Venom, but the same formula does not seem to apply universally, evidenced by the failure of both Morbius and Madame Web to captivate the audience. As the company expands its universe, the key may lie in finding a balance between leveraging familiar heroes and providing compelling storytelling for new characters.