The SPUMC Films Ranked

Advertisements

The SPUMC, or Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters, aimed to expand the cinematic landscape of superhero films by focusing on the Spider-Man characters from the Marvel Comics universe that are not part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Sony had acquired the rights to these characters as part of the package that control of the cinematic Spider-Man in the ’90s. The universe kicked off with Venom in 2018, which starred Tom Hardy as the anti-hero. This film was notable for its darker humour, appealing to a different audience than traditional superhero output. With its considerable box office success, the SPUMC proved that there was a viable market for standalone films centred on Spider-Man’s supporting characters.

Following the success of Venom, a sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, followed in 2021 and the death spiral of the SPUMNC began. The film took a critical beating and box office, while still strong, took a backward step. Sony then introduced Morbius in 2022, featuring Jared Leto as the titular character, a scientist turned vampire struggling with his newfound abilities. The film was mocked by both critics and the public, with audiences now fully aware that this was a separate entity to the MCU. It became apparent the Sony didn’t know how to tell Spider-Man stories without using Spider-Man, yet they pushed on with the SPUMC and released three more films in 2024.

A third and final Venom, Venom: The Last Dance, came and went and was again a backward step at the box office but the other two films, Madame Web and Kraven The Hunter, were complete disasters. Both went through numerous reshoots, with it being very obvious that the filmmakers were struggling to find stories to tell. With the SPUMC now losing more money than the Venom films could make, and the whole concept now a laughingstock, Sony have shuttered their own Marvel Universe and will turn their attention back to actual Spider-Man films.

Here are our rankings for films of the SPUMC.

Advertisements