In a disappointing turn of events for Sony’s Spider-Verse, the much-anticipated film Kraven the Hunter has received overwhelmingly negative reviews, leading to its designation as the culmination of a poorly received series of villain-centric films. Directed by the talented JC Chandor, known for his work on Triple Frontier and Margin Call, and featuring Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the titular role, the film aimed to distance itself from its predecessors, hoping to capture a more engaging narrative.

However, the critical reception has been harsh, with Kraven the Hunter currently holding a dismal 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This has prompted Sony to announce that it will be moving away from this iteration of the Spider-Verse, focusing instead on a proper Spider-Man 4 and continuing the Into the Spider-Verse franchise.

The track record of Sony’s Spider-Verse has been troubling, with a string of films that have failed to resonate with audiences and critics alike. The previous entries include:

• Venom (2018) – 30%
• Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) – 58%
• Morbius (2022) – 15%
• Madame Web (2024) – 11%
• Venom: The Last Dance (2024) – 41%
• Kraven the Hunter (2024) – 14%

While some may argue that a couple of the Venom films had their moments of goofy fun, the overall trajectory of these films has been disappointing. The initial success of Venom led Sony to believe that audiences were clamoring for more Spider-Man villains, even in the absence of Spider-Man himself. Unfortunately, this strategy has backfired spectacularly, with films like Morbius and Madame Web becoming infamous for their poor quality, turning them into global memes rather than box office successes.

In the case of Kraven the Hunter, the film’s attempt to portray Kraven as an anti-hero with a poacher-killing agenda has not resonated. Instead, the character’s depiction in the critically acclaimed Spider-Man 2 video game for PS5 has been praised as a more authentic representation, leaving the film adaptation feeling lacking in comparison.

Sony’s grand vision seemed to involve assembling a Sinister Six of villains, hoping to eventually pit them against a Spider-Man, whether that be Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, or Tom Holland. However, with the dismal reception of Kraven the Hunter, it appears that this ambitious plan may be on the verge of collapse.

As the dust settles on this latest addition to the Spider-Verse, fans are left wondering what the future holds for Sony’s superhero endeavors. Will the studio be able to recover from this series of missteps? Only time will tell, but for now, Kraven the Hunter stands as a stark reminder of the challenges facing adaptations of beloved comic book characters.