Madame Web’s Box Office Debut Sets Record Low in Sony Spider-Man Universe
Madame Web, the latest addition to the Sony Spider-Man Universe, has failed to capture the attention of audiences during its opening weekend at the box office, setting a record low for the franchise. According to Variety, the superhero film only managed to gross $17.6 million in the U.S. over a three-day period and $25.8 million over six days. This disappointing performance makes it the worst opening for any Spider-Man Universe movie to date, even surpassing the critically-panned vampire flick Morbius, which made $39.1 million in its three-day debut in 2022.
Despite its star-studded cast and high expectations, Madame Web was unable to secure the top spot at the box office. Instead, it opened in second place behind Paramount’s music biopic, Bob Marley: One Love, which earned $27.7 million in the U.S. during its three-day weekend and a total of $51 million over six days. Madame Web also struggled internationally, only managing to bring in $25.7 million during its international launch.
This underwhelming performance has led to Madame Web claiming another unwanted title – it became the first Marvel-based movie since Fox’s Fantastic Four reboot in 2015 to not open at number one. Fant4stic, as it was stylized, opened with $26.2 million in the U.S., falling behind Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.
The film centers around Dakota Johnson’s character, who portrays the titular superhero Madame Web. With the ability to see the future and alter it, even she might have been caught off guard by the movie’s disappointing box office debut. Johnson herself admitted that “drastic changes” were made to the script, and she had concerns over certain scenes. It seems that these alterations may have affected the overall quality of the film.
Critics have not been kind to Madame Web either, as it currently holds a dismal 13% score on Rotten Tomatoes. IGN’s review described it as “mediocre,” pointing out that it “fails the talent and the future of its onscreen Spider-Women” due to “extraneous characters, basic archetypes, and generic dialogue.” Despite this harsh criticism, only time will tell what the future holds for this teen thriller.
About the Author:
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. With her finger on the pulse of the industry, she provides insightful analysis and commentary on the latest movies and TV shows. You can follow her on Twitter @AdeleAnkers to stay up to date with her latest work.
In conclusion, Madame Web’s box office debut has been far from impressive, setting a record low for the Sony Spider-Man Universe. Despite its star power and high expectations, the film failed to capture the attention of audiences and fell short of its competitors. With a disappointing critical reception and concerns from its lead actress, it remains to be seen if Madame Web can recover from this setback and find success in the future.
