Continuing a strange SSU trend, there's a huge difference between critics' and audiences' reactions to 2024's Kraven the Hunter. Kraven the Hunter premiered on December 13, 2024, as part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe, not set in the world of Marvel Studios' Kraven the Hunter may mark the end for the SSU as audiences know it, but some have suggested the Aaron Taylor-Johnson-led movie isn't as underwhelming as first thought.
Kraven the Hunter opened to some of the worst reviews in Sony's Spider-Man Universe and a Rotten Tomatoes critics score of 11%, which, at the time, was the worst rating in the SSU. Kraven the Hunter's critic and audience reviews could raise hopes for Taylor-Johnson's Marvel villain.
Kraven The Hunter's Critic & Audience Reviews Are Hugely Different
Kraven The Hunter Has Been Very Divisive
As of December 18, 2024, Kraven the Hunter's critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, otherwise known as the Tomatometer, sits at an abysmal 14%, based on 119 reviews. However, the audience score, a.k.a. the Popcornmeter, is at a much higher 73%, with over 1000 contributors. This is a difference of 59%, which is a huge disparity that was unexpected when the first critic reviews came in, as it could have been the case that the audience score would follow. It's always interesting when there's a huge disparity such as this, and Kraven the Hunter's reviews are even more curious.
Kraven The Hunter's Best Qualities May Explain The Difference Between The Two Review Scores
There's A Lot To Love About Kraven The Hunter
Kraven the Hunter is far from being considered the weakest project in the SSU, though its box office total is expected to tell a different story, primarily due to poor word-of-mouth. While the likes of Morbius and Madame Web had few redeeming qualities, Kraven the Hunter was successful in many areas. Aaron Taylor-Johnson's commitment to the iconic Marvel role made his performance enjoyable, and the movie's action sequences are, more often than not, high-octane, fast-paced and thrilling, which could have contributed to a higher Popcornmeter score.
Interestingly, some critics agreed that Kraven the Hunter was better than expected, as the movie's marketing and Sony's track record with its Marvel movies provided little hope. However, while many suggest Kraven the Hunter has some positive moments, the majority of critics have panned the most recent SSU installment. The exhilarating action sequences might quell the appetites of audience watching just for fun, but when it comes to actually judging the cinematic impact of Kraven the Hunter, the movie falters.
Kraven The Hunter's Review Scores Continue A Fascinating Sony Movie Trend
Kraven The Hunter Follows In The Footsteps Of The SSU's Previous Movies
As of December 18, 2024, Kraven the Hunter has the second-lowest Tomatometer score out of all six movies in Sony's Spider-Man Universe. The highest is Venom: Let There Be Carnage's 58%, but even the somewhat-successful Venom franchise displays a similar disparity when comparing the critic and audience scores. Kraven the Hunter continues the trend that has been demonstrated by every previous SSU movie, though Madame Web's critic and audience scores are both damning for the 2024 movie.
SSU Movie |
Release Date |
Box Office |
Tomatometer |
Popcornmeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Venom |
October 5, 2018 |
$856.1 million |
30% |
80% |
Venom: Let There Be Carnage |
October 1, 2021 |
$506.8 million |
58% |
84% |
Morbius |
April 1, 2022 |
$167.5 million |
15% |
71% |
Madame Web |
February 14, 2024 |
$100.5 million |
11% |
56% |
Venom: The Last Dance |
October 25, 2024 |
$475.6 million |
41% |
81% |
Kraven the Hunter (as of December 18) |
December 13, 2024 |
$26.8 million |
14% |
73% |
These differences speak volumes about the actual quality of movies in Sony's Spider-Man Universe, as critics are judging based on cinematic aspects, script work, acting performances and impact. Conversely, many theater-goers would only be watching for enjoyment, not taking into consideration the behind the scenes and creative aspects of an SSU movie. This could explain the huge disparity between the review scores for Kraven the Hunter, and makes Sony's decision to refocus its Marvel movies even more necessary.
Kraven the Hunter
- Release Date
- December 13, 2024
- Runtime
- 127 Minutes
- Director
- J.C. Chandor
Cast
Sergei Kravinoff / Kraven
Nikolai Kravinoff
WHERE TO WATCH
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.
- Writers
- Art Marcum, Richard Wenk, Matt Holloway
- Studio(s)
- Sony
Your comment has not been saved