Madame Web first reactions say it’s an “embarrassing mess”

The reactions for Sony’s Spider-Man spinoff Madame Web are in, and it’s not looking good, with the movie being dubbed an “embarrassing mess” – here’s a rundown of the reactions, reviews, and its Rotten Tomatoes score. 

Sony Pictures acquired the movie rights for Spider-Man in the ‘90s, and it keeps trying to make its live-action Spidey universe happen. But a series of misses have made it the subject of ridicule, especially when compared to its hit Spider-Verse films.

In 2022, Morbius became an instant meme, essentially resulting in the Jared Leto-starring flick to bomb not once but twice at the box office. Kraven the Hunter is being roasted across the board before it’s even released. And Madame Web has similarly become a meme factory. 

Now first reactions are in for the latter, which stars Dakota Johnson as the eponymous Marvel character and Sydney Sweeney as Spider-Woman, it looks like Madame Web isn’t set to save the SSU’s live-action rep anytime soon.

Madame Web first reactions 

Madame Web has been slammed in its first reactions, with some describing it as an “embarrassing mess,” the “worst comic book movie” they’ve ever seen, and one even saying it makes “Morbius look like The Dark Knight.” 

Film critic and YouTuber Cris Parker wrote: “#MadameWeb is an embarrassing mess. Talented stars wasted on probably the worst comic book movie I have ever seen. Filled with atrocious dialogue, awkward editing, & all around laughable structure. I sat there baffled scene by scene someone approved this. The memes will redeem it.”

The Hollywood Handle added: “#MadameWeb is a clunky, poorly-written, messy, and sloppy movie packed with some mediocre editing and performances. Even though it had solid cinematography and an interesting concept, it couldn’t be saved due to its terrible execution.”

CinemaBlend’s Sean O’Connell was even less forgiving, writing: “Yeah, #MadameWeb is somehow worse than you feared. One of the worst movies ever made, in any genre. Story makes absolutely no sense. The ‘action’ is boring, with barely any cape stuff. Dakota Johnson looks as bored as you’ll feel. It makes MORBIUS look like THE DARK KNIGHT.”

Gizmodo and io9’s Germain Lussier commented, “#MadameWeb is a two-hour trailer for the movie you THINK you’re watching, but actually aren’t. It actively deceives you in a highly unsatisfying way. Beyond that, it’s also dull and repetitive, with a weak story told with wooden performances. But hey, at least Uncle Ben is in it.”

Of the more favorable reviews (and it’s still not great), Screen Rant’s Britt said: “Unfortunately for me, #MadameWeb lacked the spark it needed in nearly every dept: writing, acting, action sequences. There are a few good moments with excellent overall pacing, but gees was this hard to get through.”

Madame Web reviews

Early Madame Web reviews arrived on February 13, and they are much the same as the reactions, ranging from it’s the “Cats” of superhero movies to it being akin to an extended commercial. 

Rolling Stone said: “It is the Cats: The Movie of superhero movies. Not a single decision seems of sound mind. Not a single performance feels in sync with the material. Not a single line reading feels as if it hasn’t somehow been magically auto-tuned to subtract emotion and/or inflection. The sole amazing factor of this Spider-spinoff is that someone, somewhere signed off on actually releasing it.”

Elsewhere, IGN commented: “Madame Web tries to connect many plots and people together to a confusing, yet ultimately bland result… It fails as a one-off and a franchise starter, not telling a fulfilling origin story for Cassie nor giving a compelling argument for the future Spider-Women. The weak dialogue unfortunately stands out, but the few action set pieces harken to the older Spider-Man movies of the early 2000s.”

Vanity Fair’s review reads: “Mostly, the movie is a Pepsi ad strangely populated by performances turned to low volume. Johnson, so likable in fare as varied as 50 Shades of Grey and Suspiria, is a minimalist performer. Her casting here – in a movie that requires a certain dynamism, a fluidity with silly language about venom and augury – is an unfortunate mistake.”

Variety added: “In the end, Madame Web feels like a cross between an extended soda commercial and a teaser trailer for still more spinoffs. ‘Whatever the future holds, we’ll be ready,’ Cassie promises. But you don’t have to be a soothsayer to see this particular franchise is D.O.A. – or a snob to expect better.”

IndieWire states: “From its lack of stakes to its absence of style, and from its laughable CGI to its palpable discomfort with the rhythms and tropes of its genre, Madame Web is a superhero movie that feels like it was made by and for people who have never seen a modern superhero movie.”

And last but not least, The Hollywood Reporter wrote: “It is an airless and stilted endeavor driven by a mechanical screenplay (written by Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless and Claire Parker & SJ Clarkson). Its lack of imagination would be astounding if it wasn’t so expected.”

Madame Web Rotten Tomatoes score

Although it’s too early for an audience score, Madame Web has received 23% from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes so far, based off of 40 reviews. 

This number will likely change in the coming days. We’ll be sure to keep this space updated with the latest figures.