Sony’s latest attempt to capitalize on the popularity of the Spider-Man universe has hit a snag. ‘Kraven the Hunter‘, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the titular character, has received overwhelmingly negative reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with a current score of 26%. This raises questions about the future of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) and the viability of Kraven as a solo character.
Critics have panned ‘Kraven the Hunter‘ for its uninspired plot, wooden acting, and lack of character development. The New York Times called it “a dull and lifeless affair,” while the Los Angeles Times said it was “a missed opportunity.” Many reviewers have also criticized the film’s casting, with some saying that Taylor-Johnson is too bland in the lead role.
The poor critical reception is likely to hurt the film’s box office prospects. Tracking estimates had originally predicted an opening weekend of around $70 million, but those projections have now been revised down to $40-$50 million. This would be a disappointing result for Sony, especially considering the film’s $100 million budget.
The failure of ‘Kraven the Hunter‘ is a setback for Sony’s SSU. The studio has been trying to build a shared universe of Spider-Man-related characters, but so far, only Venom has been a critical and commercial success. Morbius, another SSU film released earlier this year, was also a flop. The poor performance of these films raises questions about the future of the SSU and whether Sony can successfully adapt Spider-Man’s vast roster of characters to the big screen.
The failure of ‘Kraven the Hunter‘ also raises questions about the viability of Kraven as a solo character. Kraven is a popular character in the comics, but he is not as well-known as Spider-Man or Venom. This may have made it difficult for Sony to convince audiences to see a film about him. Additionally, Kraven is a more complex and nuanced character than Spider-Man or Venom, which may have made it difficult for the filmmakers to capture his essence on screen.
The poor critical reception of ‘Kraven the Hunter‘ is a setback for Sony’s SSU and raises questions about the viability of Kraven as a solo character. The film’s failure is a reminder that audiences are becoming increasingly discerning and that studios need to deliver high-quality films to succeed. It also highlights the challenges of adapting lesser-known characters to the big screen.
Only time will tell if Sony can turn things around for its SSU. However, the failure of ‘Kraven the Hunter‘ is a reminder that the studio needs to take a more careful approach to its Spider-Man-related films.
