Spider-Man's Failures: Which One Was the Biggest? (Venom, Morbius, Madame Web...).

The Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) has become somewhat of a bizarre case study in Hollywood. Over the last six years and six films, it’s given us some of the most confusing and baffling blockbusters ever to hit the big screen. Despite a few successes, most notably the Venom films, the rest of the lineup, including Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter, have left audiences scratching their heads. So, the real question here is: which one is the worst? Let’s dive into this cinematic mess and figure it out.

Venom (2018): The Unlikely Start

Release Date: 2018
Duration: 1h 52m (112 minutes)

Why it’s probably the worst: It’s hard to ignore Venom‘s role in creating the chaos that followed. When the film first hit theaters in 2018, nobody expected it to be as successful as it was. With an estimated budget of $110 million (not including marketing), it pulled in a whopping $856 million worldwide. In France alone, it drew over 2.2 million viewers, which is nothing short of impressive. So why does that make it the worst? Because without this film, the whole Spider-Man-less Spider-Man Universe wouldn’t exist, and Venom set the stage for what came after — and frankly, that’s terrifying.

Despite its unexpected success, Venom didn’t live up to its promise. The film’s darker tone was watered down by its PG-13 rating, and its action scenes were so poorly executed that they were practically unreadable — everything happened in the dark. Critics pointed out that the film lacked ambition, both visually and narratively. In a fair world, Venom would’ve been a massive failure, and it’s only by sheer luck that it wasn’t worse.

Why it might not be the worst: Compared to the nightmare that followed, Venom at least had some redeeming qualities. Tom Hardy, back when he still had some semblance of talent, brought some energy to his role. His portrayal of Eddie Brock was at least somewhat engaging, and the film didn’t go completely off the rails like its sequels would. So, as bad as it was, it wasn’t as painfully absurd as the next entries in the series.

Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage (2021): A Sequel That Shouldn’t Have Been Made

Release Date: 2021
Duration: 1h 38m (but feels like much longer)

Why it’s definitely the worst: If Venom surprised us, Venom 2 downright insulted us. The sequel featured Carnage, one of the most iconic Marvel villains, and promised a darker, more violent experience. Instead, what we got was another underwhelming PG-13 movie where Carnage was anything but menacing. This movie, which should have been chaotic and intense, felt like a lazy cash grab. Tom Hardy seemed exhausted in his role, and Andy Serkis, known for his directing skills, delivered a product that felt like he didn’t even try.

The plot was a mess, with glaring inconsistencies and a script that felt like it was written on the fly. From a romantic comedy subplot shoehorned in to lazy character development, Venom 2 was a disaster. The film couldn’t even live up to the low bar set by its predecessor.

Why it might not be the worst: While Venom 2 was an absolute disaster, it’s at least short. It’s a fast ride from start to finish, which makes it easier to endure. It’s still terrible, but it’s less exhausting than the overstuffed monstrosities that came later.

Morbius (2022): A Vampire Movie That Sucks in All the Wrong Ways

Release Date: 2022
Duration: 1h 45m

Why it’s probably the worst: After the disappointment of Venom and Venom 2, we thought it couldn’t get any worse. Then came Morbius. This movie should have been a straightforward origin story about a vampire anti-hero, but it turned into a cringe-worthy trainwreck. Jared Leto’s portrayal of the title character was more laughable than intense, and the plot was so bad that it felt like a parody of itself. The special effects were awful, and the story was filled with so many holes that it was impossible to follow. And let’s not even get started on the post-credits scenes — those were pure nonsense.

Why it might not be the worst: Sometimes, Morbius is so bad that it circles back into being kind of fun. Leto’s ridiculous performance, the nonsensical plot, and the overall chaotic vibe have turned it into an internet meme. It’s one of those films that you watch not because it’s good, but because it’s so absurd that it’s fascinating in its own terrible way. In that sense, Morbius almost achieves a certain level of cult status.

Madame Web (2024): A Spider-Man Spin-Off Without Spider-Man

Release Date: 2024
Duration: 1h 57m

Why it’s probably the worst: After the disappointment of Morbius, Sony tried once again with Madame Web, which, to be honest, doesn’t even feel like a real superhero movie. There’s no Spider-Man, and the character of Madame Web is barely even a hero in any traditional sense. The film’s marketing promised Spider-Women, but all we got were characters that didn’t even exist. As expected, Madame Web falls flat, with a storyline that’s more confusing than engaging. Even with the opportunity to explore a fresh corner of the Spider-Man universe, the movie wasted its potential.

The film didn’t even have the joyfully absurd charm of Morbius. Instead, it was just a long, drawn-out exercise in futility. It’s full of confusing plot points, random characters, and an overall feeling of being utterly lost.

Why it might not be the worst: If we’re looking for silver linings, it’s hard to find one in Madame Web. But the sheer ridiculousness of the movie — in terms of its premise, characters, and execution — gives it a certain charm, at least in terms of being memorable for how awful it is.

Venom 3: The Last Dance (2024): Another Missed Opportunity

Release Date: 2024
Duration: 1h 50m

Why it’s probably the worst: At this point, it’s almost like Sony is trying to create a legacy of mediocrity. With Venom 3, they once again attempted to deliver a grand finale to the trilogy. However, the film feels like it’s just going through the motions. The characters are stagnant, the plot is flat, and the action sequences don’t offer anything new. Sony clearly had no idea where to take the story, so they decided to rely on recycled ideas and unoriginal tropes.

Despite its promise of a major showdown, Venom 3 delivers almost nothing in terms of stakes or excitement. The climax is lackluster, and the film’s attempts to create a sense of danger fall flat. If Venom 2 was lazy, Venom 3 is just pointless.

Why it might not be the worst: The best thing that can be said about Venom 3 is that, at least, it’s not as excruciatingly long as Madame Web or Kraven the Hunter. Its brevity and lack of pretension mean it doesn’t overstay its welcome.

Kraven the Hunter (2024): The Final Nail in the Coffin

Release Date: 2024
Duration: 2h 7m

Why it’s probably the worst: By the time Kraven the Hunter came out, the SSU had already reached rock bottom. The film tried to portray a grounded, gritty story about the iconic villain, but it ended up being just another mess of incoherent ideas. The plot is all over the place, with ridiculous character decisions and dialogue that’s more confusing than compelling. Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s performance is stiff, and the film’s attempt at dark, violent action feels forced. What should have been a grounded film turned into a half-baked attempt at a Marvel-like franchise that doesn’t even have the energy to be fun.

Why it might not be the worst: While Kraven the Hunter is undoubtedly a disaster, it does at least have the advantage of being slightly more coherent than Madame Web or Venom 3. However, that’s a low bar, and the film ultimately fails to offer anything meaningful or interesting.

Conclusion: A Legacy of Failures

It’s clear that Sony’s Spider-Man Universe has struggled to find its footing. Whether it’s the lackluster Venom films or the chaotic mess of Morbius, Madame Web, and Kraven the Hunter, each film seems to compound the failure of the previous one. But in the end, the true question remains: which one stands out as the absolute worst? Each of these films holds a special place in the hall of cinematic disasters, and perhaps it’s best to let them all stand together in their own bizarre, unintentional glory.

Spider-Man’s Failures: Which One Was the Biggest? (Venom, Morbius, Madame Web…).