Emma Roberts Blames ‘Madame Web’ Failure on ‘Internet Culture’

Released in February, Madame Web has been one of the most poorly received Marvel films in recent memory. Led by Dakota Johnson, the film received an 11% approval rating with some critics calling it an “embarrassing mess” and “worst comic book movie” ever.

“I almost admire the sheer lack of effort on display in the acting, storytelling, and set pieces. To say that Johnson in particular phoned this performance in would be an insult to Alexander Graham Bell,” David Sims of The Atlantic wrote.

“It gives me no pleasure to report this because we could use some fresh and original superhero adaptations on the big screen these days, but the Dakota Johnson-starring Madame Web is one of the worst comic book movies I’ve ever seen,” Richard Roeper of The Chicago Sun-Times added.

In addition to poor reviews, Madame Web reportedly earned $100.3 million at the box office, approximately breaking even on a budget estimated between $80-100 million. However, one of the film’s leading women, Emma Roberts, said the film could have done even better had it not been for “internet culture.”

“I’m not intimidated by failure, and I’m not intimidated by people having negative thoughts about something. I personally really loved Madame Web. I really enjoyed the movie. I thought everyone in it was great. The director, S.J. Clarkson, I think did an amazing job. She’s the reason I wanted to do that movie,” Roberts told Variety.

“If it wasn’t for internet culture and everything being made into a joke, I think that the reception would’ve been different. And that’s what bums me out about a lot of stuff, even stuff that I’ve done, is people just make such a joke out of everything now.”

Moving forward, Johnson says she’s not interested in doing a sequel, but Roberts says that she’s open to the idea of second Madame Web film. In the meantime, she’ll star in Prime Video’s Space Cadets.

Source: Variety, The Atlantic, The Chicago Sun-Times