We've had to wait, but the first reactions to Madame Web have finally arrived ahead of it swinging into cinemas tomorrow (February 14).
The Spider-Man spin-off stars Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb, a paramedic who develops the power to see the future and decides to use her ability to change what she's seen in her visions.
It leads her to team up with three young women – Julia (Sydney Sweeney), Mattie (Celeste O'Connor) and Anya (Isabela Merced) – when Cassandra discovers that they're in danger from the villainous Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim).
But is Madame Web better than fellow Spidey spin-offs Venom, Morbius and Venom: Let There Be Carnage? Here's a selection of the first reactions to Madame Web.
Unfortunately, the majority of the first reactions seem to focus on the negatives with Hollywood Handle's Richard Neto describing the new film as "awful".
"I tried to enjoy it but sadly the poor execution wouldn't help it," he confessed. "The cast is definitely great but the performances were definitely disappointing. Sony gotta stop making these."
"Unfortunately for me, #MadameWeb lacked the spark it needed in nearly every dept: writing, acting, action sequences," Screen Rant's Patrice Witherspoon added, before noting there were "a few good moments" but the film was "hard to get through".
Critic Cris Parker called the movie an "embarrassing mess", adding: "Talented stars wasted on probably the worst comic book movie I have ever seen. Filled with atrocious dialogue, awkward editing, & all around laughable structure."
While some critics made positive remarks about the cast, most were in agreement that the film missed the mark overall.
"I was not, unfortunately, successfully entertained," critic Ro Moore wrote. "#MadameWeb is a series of misses and wasted opportunities."
"#MadameWeb is totally fine," Discussing Film's James Preston Poole wrote. "There’s really not a lot to say here. The leads are charming. Dakota Johnson is a witchy weirdo. The slasher/Final Destination meets superheroes vibes are there. But there’s just not a whole lot to it. Not a disaster. Just kinda there."
Ahead of its release, Dakota Johnson told Digital Spy: "I never saw myself doing a superhero movie", but said there was one main reason she signed up to Madame Web.
"I really love the idea of a superhero being a young woman whose power was her mind and her intellect. I find that really powerful," she explained.
It could well just be the start for her superhero journey if Madame Web is a hit, and Johnson already has an idea of who she'd want to team up with in a potential sequel.
"I feel I would choose whichever superheroes have more physical strengths than Madame Web," Johnson noted. "I feel she could handle all the intellectual stuff, and then I just need people who are really strong or like shoot lasers or fireballs out of their fingertips."
Madame Web is released in cinemas tomorrow (February 14).
Glen Powell Twisters T-shirt
The Street of Lies: An Official Coronation Street Interactive Novel
Buy Cat Deeley's This Morning outfits
Shop Sky TV, broadband and mobile
Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
News Editor, Digital Spy
Emma is an experienced entertainment news journalist with NCTJ accreditation and a First-Class Honours Degree in Journalism. Having started her career as a broadcast journalist, Emma’s voice has been heard on varying radio stations across the UK including Absolute, Magic, BBC Three Counties Radio, LBC London News and more.
Later specialising in multimedia entertainment news, Emma has brushed shoulders with numerous famous faces and interviewed the likes of Edward Norton, Margot Robbie, Sir Michael Palin, Rick Astley, and too many soap stars to count. Having produced a range of engaging news content over the years for brands such as 7Digital’s Entertainment News, Yahoo, and Express Online, Emma eventually joined Digital Spy in 2022 as Deputy News Editor, becoming Acting News Editor in 2023 and then News Editor in 2024.
While she’s gained lots of praise during celebrity interviews throughout her career, the most memorable compliment Emma’s ever received was when a Game of Thrones star remarked "Your teeth are stunning!". LinkedIn
