So, this is how Sony’s Spider-Man Universe ends… with half-empty theaters, savage reviews, and a new franchise record low opening for a series that already includes major box office disasters Morbius and Madame Web.
Days after it was announced that the Aaron Taylor-Johnson-led film would serve as the sixth and final entry in Sony’s shared Marvel universe (alongside the aforementioned two flops, and the more financially successful Venom trilogy), Kraven the Hunter has whimpered into cinemas, grossing just $11 million domestically to open in third place behind holdovers Moana 2 ($26.6 million) and Wicked ($22.3 million), with a further $15 million from international markets for a global debut of just $26 million.
Putting those figures into perspective, the $110 million-budgeted Kraven now sites at this lowest-grossing opener of the franchise, with Jared Leto’s Morbius having earned $39 million domestically and $84 million worldwide in its first weekend. Those look like big numbers next to Madame Web – which managed to open with just $15.1 million in North America from its 3-day opening and $40.8 million globally.
SEE ALSO: Read our review of Kraven the Hunter here
Given the obvious lack of interest in a shared Spider-Man universe without Spider-Man, it remains to be seen what Sony will look to do with the Spidey rights going forward. The studio remains in development on the animated Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, although rumours have suggested that’s been having some issues and may still be a few years out from release. Sony is also partnering up again once more with Marvel Studios on Spider-Man 4, which has a release date set for July 24th 2026.
“Kraven the Hunter is the visceral, action-packed origin story of how and why one of Marvel’s most iconic villains came to be. Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays Kraven, a man whose complex relationship with his ruthless father, Nikolai Kravinoff (Russell Crowe), starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world, but also one of its most feared.”
Kraven the Hunter is directed by J.C. Chandor and stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the title role alongside Russell Crowe, Alessandro Nivola, Ariana DeBose, Levi Miller, and Christopher Abbott.
