Sony Pulls the Plug on Spider-Man Spinoffs Amid String of Box Office Flops
Sony Pictures has reportedly decided to halt plans for further Spider-Man spinoff movies within its Sony Spider-Man Universe (SSU).
The decision, as revealed by The Wrap, comes after a string of underwhelming performances and the anticipated failure of its latest installment, Kraven: The Hunter, which is set to premiere next weekend.
This move reflects Sony’s ongoing challenges in building a cohesive universe centered around Spider-Man’s supporting characters and villains—without Spider-Man himself.
The SSU’s initial success with the Venom trilogy failed to sustain momentum, despite the first film grossing $856 million in 2018. Subsequent entries, including Venom: The Last Dance, saw diminishing returns, earning $472.8 million in 2023.
Other efforts, like Morbius and Madame Web, fared even worse, bringing in $167 million and $100 million, respectively. These disappointing results solidified the perception that Sony’s Spider-Man Universe has failed to captivate audiences and critics alike.
Kraven: The Hunter and Box Office Concerns
In an attempt to boost interest in Kraven: The Hunter, Sony released the first nine minutes of the film online for free.
However, initial reactions suggest it lacks originality, resembling a generic Marvel spinoff with over-the-top action and CGI-heavy sequences. Industry analysts predict Kraven may struggle to perform at the box office, continuing the trend of lackluster earnings for the SSU.
Meanwhile, other major releases, such as The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, are also struggling.
Last weekend, the animated prequel earned a mere $2 million internationally and is projected to gross only $5 million domestically.
In contrast, the re-release of Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar celebrated its 10-year anniversary with $14 million in earnings, suggesting audiences remain more inclined toward proven cinematic successes.
Shifting Focus to Spider-Man
Acknowledging the failures of its SSU strategy, Sony has decided to shift its focus back to Spider-Man-centered films.
Over the years, the studio has produced more SSU spinoffs than actual Spider-Man films, with the MCU’s Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017 marking the start of a trend that prioritized secondary characters.
While the SSU yielded mixed results, Sony’s Spider-Verse animated films (Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse) have been universally acclaimed, reinforcing Spider-Man’s enduring appeal.
Sony’s new direction will prioritize live-action Spider-Man films and the animated Spider-Verse series.
This strategy aims to harness the strengths of Spider-Man’s rich storytelling potential while leaving room for future reboots of villain characters, provided they are given the same level of care and attention as Spider-Man projects.
Financial Implications of the SSU’s Failures
The SSU’s six films cost an estimated $600 million in production and an additional $300 million in marketing. Combined, these movies grossed $2.1 billion globally, with $1.8 billion attributed to the Venom trilogy alone.
After accounting for Sony’s 40% share of ticket sales, the studio’s profits barely covered the total investment, leaving little room for financial success. This outcome highlights the unsustainable nature of the SSU’s business model.
While merchandising, home releases, and streaming rights provide supplementary revenue, they are unlikely to offset the losses incurred by these underperforming films.
Sony’s decision to abandon the SSU acknowledges the need for a more focused and financially viable approach to its Spider-Man properties.
Future of the Spider-Verse
Sony’s upcoming projects, including Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, reflect the studio’s renewed commitment to quality storytelling.
Initially slated for release in March 2024, the animated sequel has faced delays, with no new release date announced. Voice actor Jharrel Jerome, who portrays Miles Morales of Earth-42, recently revealed that he has yet to record his lines for the film, indicating that production is far from complete.
Reports suggest that Sony has reworked significant portions of Beyond the Spider-Verse due to creative differences. This has fueled speculation about the film’s storyline and production timeline.
Despite these setbacks, fans remain eager to see the continuation of Miles Morales’ journey and the resolution of Across the Spider-Verse‘s cliffhanger ending.
Sony also has Spider-Man 4 and Spider-Noir in development. Production on Spider-Man 4 is expected to begin in early 2025, while filming for Spider-Noir has been underway since August 2024.
These projects signal Sony’s intent to strengthen its Spider-Man offerings by focusing on core characters and narratives.
