Emma Roberts’ Truth on Why Madame Web is Considered a ‘Joke’

Sony’s latest Spider-Man spin-off, Madame Web, headlined by Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, and Emma Roberts, unfortunately fell flat, plagued by negative reviews. Despite the poor reception, Emma Roberts offers some insights into why the film may have failed to connect with audiences.

During an interview on the Just for Variety podcast, Roberts touched on the mixed success of movies and how some films only gain traction after becoming a trending topic on social media platforms like TikTok.

Roberts acknowledged the poor reviews surrounding Madame Web, noting that the film struggled to hit the $100 million mark at the box office, despite being connected to the widely popular Spider-Man universe. Nonetheless, Roberts remained undeterred by this setback, stating she is “not intimidated by failure.”

The project was clearly close to Roberts’ heart. She expressed enthusiasm for the film, particularly praising director S.J. Clarkson. “I personally really loved Madame Web,” Roberts shared. “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.”

One of Roberts’ more compelling arguments was the negative impact of “internet culture” on the film’s reception. According to Roberts, “internet culture” turned Madame Web into a joke, which she believes significantly hurt its perception. “If it wasn’t for internet culture and everything being made into a joke, I think that the reception would’ve been different,” she remarked. “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.”

This isn’t the first time a movie from the Sony Spider-Man Universe has become fodder for internet memes. Morbius experienced a similar fate with the viral “Morbin’ time” memes, a quote that wasn’t even in the film. This online movement initially gave Sony hope, prompting a re-release in theaters in June 2022, but it ultimately garnered only $167 million worldwide during its entire run.

Madame Web focuses on Cassandra Webb, portrayed by Dakota Johnson, a woman with psychic abilities. She discovers a group of teenage girls, played by Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O’Connor, whom she must protect from the villain Ezekiel Sims, played by Tahar Rahim.

Johnson is joined by a stellar cast, including Sweeney, Merced, and O’Connor. Emma Roberts plays the role of Mary Parker, the sister-in-law of Ben Parker, played by Adam Scott. The movie was released by Sony on February 14, 2024, opening to a modest $15.3 million domestically and eventually reaching a global total of $100 million.

The Sony Spider-Man Universe is set to continue with two more films: Venom: The Last Dance, scheduled for release on October 25, 2024, and Kraven the Hunter, coming out on December 13, 2024.

Emma Roberts, best known for her roles in horror films, first appeared in the acting world with the film Blow. She gained further recognition with her lead role in Nickelodeon’s series Unfabulous. Perhaps her most prominent role is in the FX anthology series American Horror Story, where she has starred in six different seasons. Additionally, she was part of the cast of Scream Queens from 2015 to 2016.

Roberts’ latest venture is Space Cadet, a Prime Video film where she plays a party girl turned astronaut. The movie also features Tom Hopper, Poppy Liu, and Gabrielle Union.

Source: ClutchPoints