Despite its potential,Sony’s Spider-Man Universewas plagued by questionable decisions that alienated audiences and undermined its success. From mishandlingMarvelcharacters to missed opportunities, these missteps turned a promising concept into a cautionary tale of cinematic universe building. While the idea of expanding Spider-Man’s world seemed exciting on paper, its execution left much to be desired. It resulted in a fractured narrative and widespread disappointment, ultimately leading tothe SSU’s conclusion.
Sony’s Spider-Man Universe aimed to carve out a unique niche by focusing on Spider-Man’s extended roster of villains and allies separate fromthe MCU timeline. The studio intended to create a shared universe centered around Spider-Man’s rogues’ gallery. Despite ambitious plans, the SSU’s inconsistent storytelling, lack of cohesion, and disregard for viewer expectations left it struggling to find its footing. Instead of building a cohesive world like the MCU, Sony’s attempts were riddled with haphazard narratives, disjointed films, and underwhelming character arcs.
10Spider-Women Only Appearing In Flashforwards
Madame Web
InMadame Web, the inclusion of three Spider-Women (Mattie Franklin, Julia Cornwall, and Anya Corazón) was a major draw for comic book readers. While the three characters were essential to the narrative, they only appeared in their final superhero forms in flashforward sequences. These were the only scenes that depicted their powers and comic-accurate costumes butwere brief and disconnected. TheSSU squandered these characters’ potentialas dynamic heroes who could have anchored their own storylines.
Rather than exploring their development or integrating them into the main narrative, the flashforwards felt like a lazy afterthought. Their limited presence reduced them to mere plot devices, failing to justify their inclusion in the film. Audiences were leftdisappointed as these iconic Spider-Women were reduced to cameos, undermining the excitement surrounding their cinematic debut. This decision not only wasted beloved characters but also highlighted the SSU’s struggle to balance fan service with meaningful storytelling.
9Introducing Familiar Characters Far Too Late
Venom, Morbius, Madame Web, & Venom: The Last Dance
One of the SSU’s biggest blunders was its failure to introduce recognizable Spider-Man characters early on. The initial films, such asVenomandMorbius, depicted the beloved eponymous characters butpitted them against fairly unknown foes with limited appeal. It wasn’t untilKraven the Hunterthat the franchise included iconic figures like Kraven, Rhino, and Chameleon. By then, the SSU had lost much of its momentum, with audiences already disenchanted.
I Will Never Recover From What Sony Did To The Villain I’ve Wanted To See In A Spider-Man Movie For Years
I can’t believe what Sony’s Spider-Man Universe did to a classic villain that I have been waiting years to be adapted to a live-actio movie.
Introducing these characters earlier could have established stronger connections to Spider-Man’s lore and attracted a wider audience. Instead, the delayed introduction felt likea desperate attempt to salvage the franchise. By the time recognizable characters appeared, the SSU had failed to build a compelling foundation, leaving their inclusion feeling hollow and belated. This misstep was a significant factor in the franchise’s inability to sustain interest.
8No Spider-Man In Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, Despite Reintroducing Two
Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Morbius, Madame Web, Venom: The Last Dance, & Kraven The Hunter
A glaring flaw of the SSU was its decision to exclude Spider-Man entirely, despite the character being central to the universe. Initially, it was assumed that contractual obligations with Marvel Studios prevented his inclusion. However, it was later revealed thatSony chose not to use Spider-Man, fearing it would confuse audiences. This reasoning fell flat, especially afterSpider-Man: No Way Homereintroduced Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s versions of the character.
Either of these Spider-Men, or even Tom Holland’s MCU version, could have anchored the SSU, and Marvel audiences would have surely coped. Instead,audiences were left with several vague teases and standalone villains, undermining the franchise’s cohesion and appeal. The absence of Spider-Man robbed the SSU of its core identity and made its world feel incomplete, leaving audiences wondering why a Spider-Man universe lacked its titular hero.
7The Not-So-Sinister Six
Sony’s long-standing plans for a Sinister Six team-up movie were greatly undercut by the SSU’s portrayal of its villains. Characters like Venom, Morbius, and Kraven were transformed into tragic antiheroes rather than true antagonists. This approachdiluted their menace and made it difficult to envision a compelling Sinister Six lineup. Without genuine villains, the concept lost its edge, and the SSU’s supposed endgame became an unfulfilled promise.
By humanizing these characters excessively, Sony’s Spider-Man Universe stripped them of the moral ambiguity and sinister traits that made them compelling in the comics, framing them instead as afflicted heroes. The result wasa lackluster build-up to a team that never materialized, leaving many disappointed and questioning the studio’s creative direction. This decision encapsulated the SSU’s inability to balance character complexity with the essence of their villainous origins.
6Knull Never Leaving His Throne
Venom: The Last Dance
Knull, the god of symbiotes, was introduced as a major antagonist inVenom: The Last Dance. Despite his potential as a cinematic villain, Knull spent the entire film plotting from his throne without taking direct action. This underwhelming portrayal squandered the character’s menace androbbed audiences of an epic showdown. It even wasted a gripping performance from Andy Serkis in the role. Knull’s inactivity turned what could have been a thrilling climax into a disappointing anticlimax.
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Sony’s Spider-Man Universe set up a swathe of narratives that will now never be full realised, leaving numerous tantalizing teases throughout.
Instead of exploring Knull’s destructive capabilities or adapting his famed invasion of Earth from Marvel Comics,Venom: The Last Dancerelegated him to a passive observer. Those who anticipated an awe-inspiring display of power wereleft disillusioned by the missed opportunity. Knull’s portrayal epitomized the SSU’s tendency to underutilize compelling characters while setting up more exciting narratives than the ones depicted, further diminishing the franchise’s credibility and appeal.
5Not Making More Of The Marvel Multiverse
The SSU teased the Marvel Multiverse in the post-credits scene inVenom: Let There Be Carnageand established an explicit connection with the MCU inSpider-Man: No Way Home. However, thispromising concept was completely abandoned. The only follow-up was a brief scene inVenom: The Last Dancewhich Venom and Eddie Brock returned to the SSU timeline, accompanied by an off-hand comment that Venom was“sick of this multiverse s***.”
This lack of payoff was incredibly frustrating for those who expected the multiverse-spanning adventures and crossovers with Spider-Man set-up by previous movies. The multiverse could have been a game-changer for the SSU, but it remained an underdeveloped footnote. By failing to capitalize on the multiverse’s potential,Sony missed a golden opportunity to expand its universe, connect its films, and integrate Spider-Man meaningfully. This oversight underscored the SSU’s lack of vision and strategic planning.
Despite being marketed as a shared universe, the SSU films lacked any meaningful connections to one another. Each movie felt like a standalone story, with no overarching narrative to tie them together. Characters and events from one filmrarely, if ever, impacted the others, leaving the universe feeling disjointed and incoherent. This lack of cohesion undermined the SSU’s identity and made it difficult for audiences to invest in the franchise as a whole.
A shared universe thrives on interconnected stories and character arcs, but the SSU’s isolated narrativescreated a fragmented experience. This disconnect alienated viewers and further emphasized the SSU’s inability to replicate the success of interconnected cinematic universes like the MCU. While it’s true that superhero fatigue is hindering interconnected narratives requiring audiences to watch multiple audiences, a greatly reduced version of this could have benefited the SSU.
3Inventing A Backstory For Madame Web
In the comics, Madame Web is a mysterious character with very little backstory. The SSU’s decision to invent a convoluted origin for her inMadame Webbackfired spectacularly. The new backstory felt forced and poorly executed,detracting from the character’s mystique in the comic books. Changes to source material can work when done well and are often necessary when transitioning to a new medium. However, this alteration was widely criticized for being unnecessary and uninteresting, further damaging the film’s reception.
Instead of enhancing Madame Web’s character, the invented backstory undermined her enigmatic appeal and alienated comic book readers who cherished her original depiction. This misstep highlighted theSSU’s struggle to adapt comic lore effectively. It felt like a declaration that the franchise would do whatever it wanted with the Marvel characters, regardless of their comic book origins.
2Too Little Michael Keaton In Morbius
Morbius
Michael Keaton’s appearance inMorbiuswas heavily promoted, leading many to believe he would play a significant role in the film as the Vulture, reprising his role from the MCU’sSpider-Man: Homecoming. However, heonly appeared in two brief post-credits scenes, which was exceptionally disappointing. Keaton’s involvement seemed to set up a Sinister Six movie, but his limited screen time and lack of follow-up diminished its impact. Keaton’s appearance was never fully exploited, despite having such a strong foundation from his compelling performance inHomecoming.
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The Sony’s Spider-Man Universe is largely considered a failure, there were some redeeming features and moments in which the franchise excelled.
Instead, Keaton’s presence felt shoehorned in and overhyped to make audiences think he’d be more prominent. This bait-and-switch approach exemplified theSSU’s habit of overpromising and underdelivering. Keaton’s potential as a connective thread for the SSU was wasted, further fracturing the universe’s narrative and leaving audiences questioning the studio’s direction.
1The SSU’s Misleading Trailers
Morbius & Madame Web
The SSU’s marketing frequently misled audiences with trailers that promised more than the movies delivered. For instance, theMorbiustrailer featured Michael Keaton prominently,creating false expectationsthat he would play a major role as Vulture in the narrative. Similarly, theMadame Webtrailer included the flashforwards of the Spider-Women, implying they would be central to the story.
Unfortunately, as noted above, these scenes were very short and offered only glimpses. These tactics left audiences feeling betrayed and contributed to the franchise’s poor reputation. Additionally, the trailers often included clunky exposition, some of which weremocked incessantly onlineasridiculous SSU quotations. Many of these were cut from the final films, further confusing viewers and damaging the SSU’s credibility. This pattern of misleading marketing exemplified theSSU’s inability to align audience expectations with its actual content.
Venom
Cast
Venom is an action sci-fi movie that stars Tom Hardy as the titular Marvel anti-hero. When the Life Foundation begins experimenting on alien lifeforms they find on a comet that landed nearby, Investigative Journalist Eddie Brock begins to investigate them. When an infiltration goes wrong, Eddie finds that one of the aliens has bonded to him, forcing him to learn to live with his new uninvited host. Giving him superhuman powers, the two begin to work together to stop the rest of the symbiote’s invasive species.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage
Venom: Let There Be Carnage, directed by Andy Serkis, follows Eddie Brock, portrayed by Tom Hardy, as he struggles to coexist with the alien symbiote Venom. The film introduces the antagonist Cletus Kasady, a serial killer transformed into the menacing Carnage after becoming host to an alien symbiote.
Venom: The Last Dance is a film directed by an undisclosed director, featuring the character Venom in a thrilling narrative. The movie explores the alien symbiote’s latest challenges and transformations as it navigates through a world full of danger and new adversaries.
Morbius stars Jared Leto as the enigmatic antihero Michael Morbius set in the Sony Pictures Marvel universe. Afflicted with a terrible illness since his youth, Michael has struggled until he met his new surrogate brother, Lucian, nicknamed Milo (Matt Smith), who shares the same disease. The two bond over the illness, and years later, Michael discovers a potential breakthrough by using a unique gene in vampire bats. When the experiment proves to be a success, it cures Michael of his ailment - however, it also turns him into a bloodthirsty vampire. While Michael aims to curtail his bloodlust, his brother, who has also taken the cure, does not share the same empathy. As a result, Michael will have to manage his powers while trying to stop his brother’s murderous rampage.
Madame Web is a superhero movie based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Taking place in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, the movie revolves around a clairvoyant woman who can look into different dimensions. Dakota Johnson stars in the lead role, with Sydney Sweeney, Adam Scott, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O’Connor comprising the rest of the cast.
Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunter explores the origin story of Sergei Kravinoff, known as Kraven, as he navigates his tumultuous relationship with his father, Nikolai. This path of vengeance sets Kraven on a journey to become a formidable hunter with a reputation for fearsome brutality.
