From critical flops to campy cult classics and chaos-fueled symbiote comedies, here is how the Sony Spider-Man Universe (SSU) spin-offs stack up.
The SSU Legacy: Great Potential, Mixed Execution
Ever since Sony acquired the rights to Spider-Man in 1999, the studio has leveraged its partnership with Marvel Studios while simultaneously developing its own antihero spin-offs. While the Spider-Verse animated films were massive successes, Sony’s live-action universe focused on Spidey’s rogues’ gallery—often dubbed the SSU—faced an uphill battle, operating entirely without Spider-Man himself.
Here is how Looper ranks all six SSU villain films from worst to best.
6. Kraven the Hunter
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Key Stars: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe, Ariana DeBose, Alessandro Nivola
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Why it’s at the bottom: Lacking any of the dark charisma or motivation of his comic book counterpart, Taylor-Johnson’s animal-loving vigilante iteration falls flat. Marred by uninspired CGI, weak dialogue (ADR), and a dull storyline involving an underwhelming take on Rhino, Kraven stands as one of the weakest Marvel-adjacent films to date.
5. Morbius
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Key Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Tyrese Gibson
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Why it ranks low: Infamous for spawning countless internet memes, Morbius suffers from poor pacing and a sluggish central performance. While Matt Smith brings a brief spark of unhinged energy as Milo, it isn’t enough to save a film that feels hollow and disjointed.
4. Venom: The Last Dance
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Key Stars: Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Andy Serkis (voice)
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Why it’s in the middle: The weakest entry in the Venom trilogy gets bogged down by too many competing subplots, government secret labs, and an unimpressive overarching cosmic villain (Knull). However, the central buddy-comedy dynamic between Eddie Brock and Venom still provides charming, heartfelt moments.
3. Venom
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Key Stars: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
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Why it works: Despite falling back on standard origin-story tropes and a generic CGI villain, the franchise’s debut is elevated entirely by Tom Hardy’s chaotic dual performance. The hilariously unhinged dynamic between Eddie and his parasitic alien host established the emotional core that carried the SSU.
2. Madame Web
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Key Stars: Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Celeste O’Connor
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Why it’s a runner-up: While undeniably flawed with glaring script issues and noticeable ADR edits, Madame Web achieves a unique “so-bad-it’s-fun” cult status. Dakota Johnson’s dry, visibly detached performance gives the movie an unintentional campy charm that makes it surprisingly memorable.
1. Venom: Let There Be Carnage
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Key Stars: Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson, Naomie Harris
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Why it takes #1: Director Andy Serkis leans fully into the absurdity and manic energy of the characters. By framing the narrative around a stealth relationship comedy between Eddie and Venom—complemented by Woody Harrelson’s over-the-top performance as Carnage—this sequel stands out as the most cohesive, entertaining, and earnest film in the SSU.