Emma Roberts Blames Internet Culture For Madame Web Flopping

So far the world of Marvel has not had a very good 2024. Interestingly enough, it has nothing to do with the MCU but with SONY and their Spider-Verse. This past February, the studio released what is considered one of the worst superhero films of all time – Madame Web.

The movie, based on the Marvel character of the same name, was a disjointed mess, with the fingerprints of studio interference present on almost every frame. Critics and audiences ripped apart the writing, acting, and special effects, with some parts of the movie briefly becoming internet memes.



Aside from the ratings, the film was a massive disappointment at the box office, making roughly $100.3 million on an $80-$100 million budget (minus marketing). This disaster along with 2022’s Morbius, has put the future of SONY’s Spider-Verse movies at risk.

Months after the film’s theatrical train wreck, actress Emma Roberts (American Horror Story, Paradise Hills, Abandoned), who played the supporting role of Mary Parker in the film, has come out in defense of the project and believes that “internet culture” contributed to its failure. 



In an interview with Variety, when asked about how she felt about the film’s performance, she stated:

“Things work; things don’t work. Everyone likes to act like they can predict if they’re going to work or they’re not. And the truth is, you can’t. Things do badly, and then they blow up later on TikTok. Things do well, but then you watch them, and you’re like, ‘This did well?’ There is no secret. It’s about doing something goodish and it hitting at the right time. Everything else is like a wish and a prayer. 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. 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.“



While it is noble of her to stand by her work, it is hard to defend something when even the lead actress wants to distance herself from it. While it is easy to blame one thing in particular, there are usually many reasons why certain films fail. Even before today’s internet culture, people still tore apart similar films like 2004’s Catwoman and 2005’s Elektra. The movie still may have done as bad even without the internet.

What do you think? Does she have a point about the internet playing a part in the film’s failure? Or was the film always going to underperform even without internet influence? Let us know your thoughts. 

Source: Variety