The CEO of Sony Pictures defends the productions of his Spider-Man universe and blames the press for its failure
“I don’t understand why they failed.”
In a recent interview with Los Angeles TimesVinciquerra admitted it The requirements It was “probably the worst release” in his nearly eight years at the helm of the studio. But, far from accepting that the film may have failed due to creative problems, he assured that “it’s not a bad film.” A difficult claim to make when the film has a score of 15% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it clear that most critics disagree with its rating.
SSU has had a bumpy road since its inception, with only two films Poison achieve box office success. On the contrary, titles like Morbius and the recent The requirements Yes Mrs. Web They failed to connect with either critics or audiences.
Why don’t SSU films take off?
For Vinciquerra, the press and critics have been merciless with these films, supporting him Mrs. Web was “crucified” unjustly: “It wasn’t a bad movie, and it did very well on Netflix. For some reason, critics decided they didn’t want us to make movies like The requirements Yes Mrs. Weband they destroyed them. The same thing happened with Poisonbut the public appreciated it Poison and made it a great success.
The CEO even went as far as to say that regardless of the quality of future SSU launches, the press is already predisposed to attack them: “If we launch another one, it will be destroyed, regardless of whether it’s good or bad. “
The weight of expectations
While it’s true that critics can influence the initial perception of a film, box office numbers usually reflect audience interest and satisfaction. In the case of SSU, the stories and execution appear to be the key factors behind viewer disinterest.
Unlike the Marvel Studios or DC cinematic universes, which have been able to build a solid fan base, the SSU faces the difficult task of justifying its existence without the direct participation of Spider-Man, the character who gives rise to them all them -off. This leaves characters like Kraven or Madame Web with the challenge of attracting audiences on their own, something they have so far failed to achieve.
What went wrong Kraven the Hunter?
The film, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the iconic Marvel villain, was conceived as a visceral and bloody story that would explore the character’s origins before his famous rivalry with Spider-Man. With a cast that includes Ariana DeBose as Calypso, Fred Hechinger as the Chameleon, and Alessandro Nivola as the Rhino, the film promised action and darkness. However, its reception was lukewarm from both critics and audiences.
Directed by JC Chandor from a screenplay by Art Marcum, Matt Holloway and Richard Wenk, Kraven the Hunter It tried to distinguish itself as an adult film with its R rating, but failed to convey the expected impact. Despite having interesting characters, it seems like the narrative and direction didn’t live up to expectations.
What is the future of SSU?
With a saga that seems to depend on spin-offs of secondary characters, Sony finds itself at a crossroads. According to inside sources, the studio is considering being “more selective” about which Spider-Man characters deserve their own movie. However, Vinciquerra remains convinced that critics are the real enemies of the SSU’s success.
In a market saturated with superhero films, competition is fierce and audiences are more demanding than ever. If SSU wants to survive, perhaps it’s time to rethink not only which characters to bring to the big screen, but how to do it.
What do you think? Do you think the critics were too harsh on him? Kraven the Hunter Yes Mrs. Webor has the time come for Sony to look inward to find the reasons for these failures? Leave us your opinion in the comments!