10 Worst Decisions Made By Sony's Spider-Man Universe

Despite its potential, Sony’s Spider-Man Universe was plagued by questionable decisions that alienated audiences and undermined its success. From mishandling Marvel characters to missed opportunities, these missteps turned a promising concept into a cautionary tale of cinematic universe building. While the idea of expanding Spider-Man’s world seemed exciting on paper, its execution left much to be desired. It resulted in a fractured narrative and widespread disappointment, ultimately leading to the SSU's conclusion.

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe aimed to carve out a unique niche by focusing on Spider-Man’s extended roster of villains and allies separate from the MCU timeline. The studio intended to create a shared universe centered around Spider-Man’s rogues’ gallery. Despite ambitious plans, the SSU’s inconsistent storytelling, lack of cohesion, and disregard for viewer expectations left it struggling to find its footing. Instead of building a cohesive world like the MCU, Sony’s attempts were riddled with haphazard narratives, disjointed films, and underwhelming character arcs.

10 Spider-Women Only Appearing In Flashforwards

Madame Web

In Madame Web, the inclusion of three Spider-Women (Mattie Franklin, Julia Cornwall, and Anya Corazón) was a major draw for comic book readers. While the three characters were essential to the narrative, they only appeared in their final superhero forms in flashforward sequences. These were the only scenes that depicted their powers and comic-accurate costumes but were brief and disconnected. The SSU squandered these characters’ potential as dynamic heroes who could have anchored their own storylines.

Rather than exploring their development or integrating them into the main narrative, the flashforwards felt like a lazy afterthought. Their limited presence reduced them to mere plot devices, failing to justify their inclusion in the film. Audiences were left disappointed as these iconic Spider-Women were reduced to cameos, undermining the excitement surrounding their cinematic debut. This decision not only wasted beloved characters but also highlighted the SSU’s struggle to balance fan service with meaningful storytelling.

9 Introducing Familiar Characters Far Too Late

Venom, Morbius, Madame Web, & Venom: The Last Dance

One of the SSU’s biggest blunders was its failure to introduce recognizable Spider-Man characters early on. The initial films, such as Venom and Morbius, depicted the beloved eponymous characters but pitted them against fairly unknown foes with limited appeal. It wasn’t until Kraven the Hunter that the franchise included iconic figures like Kraven, Rhino, and Chameleon. By then, the SSU had lost much of its momentum, with audiences already disenchanted.

Introducing these characters earlier could have established stronger connections to Spider-Man’s lore and attracted a wider audience. Instead, the delayed introduction felt like a desperate attempt to salvage the franchise. By the time recognizable characters appeared, the SSU had failed to build a compelling foundation, leaving their inclusion feeling hollow and belated. This misstep was a significant factor in the franchise’s inability to sustain interest.

8 No Spider-Man In Sony's Spider-Man Universe, Despite Reintroducing Two

Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Morbius, Madame Web, Venom: The Last Dance, & Kraven The Hunter

A glaring flaw of the SSU was its decision to exclude Spider-Man entirely, despite the character being central to the universe. Initially, it was assumed that contractual obligations with Marvel Studios prevented his inclusion. However, it was later revealed that Sony chose not to use Spider-Man, fearing it would confuse audiences. This reasoning fell flat, especially after Spider-Man: No Way Home reintroduced Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s versions of the character.

Either of these Spider-Men, or even Tom Holland’s MCU version, could have anchored the SSU, and Marvel audiences would have surely coped. Instead, audiences were left with several vague teases and standalone villains, undermining the franchise’s cohesion and appeal. The absence of Spider-Man robbed the SSU of its core identity and made its world feel incomplete, leaving audiences wondering why a Spider-Man universe lacked its titular hero.

7 The Not-So-Sinister Six

Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Morbius, Madame Web, Venom: The Last Dance, & Kraven The Hunter

Sony’s long-standing plans for a Sinister Six team-up movie were greatly undercut by the SSU’s portrayal of its villains. Characters like Venom, Morbius, and Kraven were transformed into tragic antiheroes rather than true antagonists. This approach diluted their menace and made it difficult to envision a compelling Sinister Six lineup. Without genuine villains, the concept lost its edge, and the SSU’s supposed endgame became an unfulfilled promise.

By humanizing these characters excessively, Sony’s Spider-Man Universe stripped them of the moral ambiguity and sinister traits that made them compelling in the comics, framing them instead as afflicted heroes. The result was a lackluster build-up to a team that never materialized, leaving many disappointed and questioning the studio’s creative direction. This decision encapsulated the SSU’s inability to balance character complexity with the essence of their villainous origins.

6 Knull Never Leaving His Throne

Venom: The Last Dance

Knull, the god of symbiotes, was introduced as a major antagonist in Venom: The Last Dance. Despite his potential as a cinematic villain, Knull spent the entire film plotting from his throne without taking direct action. This underwhelming portrayal squandered the character’s menace and robbed audiences of an epic showdown. It even wasted a gripping performance from Andy Serkis in the role. Knull’s inactivity turned what could have been a thrilling climax into a disappointing anticlimax.

Instead of exploring Knull’s destructive capabilities or adapting his famed invasion of Earth from Marvel Comics, Venom: The Last Dance relegated him to a passive observer. Those who anticipated an awe-inspiring display of power were left disillusioned by the missed opportunity. Knull’s portrayal epitomized the SSU’s tendency to underutilize compelling characters while setting up more exciting narratives than the ones depicted, further diminishing the franchise’s credibility and appeal.

5 Not Making More Of The Marvel Multiverse

Venom: The Last Dance

The SSU teased the Marvel Multiverse in the post-credits scene in Venom: Let There Be Carnage and established an explicit connection with the MCU in Spider-Man: No Way Home. However, this promising concept was completely abandoned. The only follow-up was a brief scene in Venom: The Last Dance which Venom and Eddie Brock returned to the SSU timeline, accompanied by an off-hand comment that Venom was “sick of this multiverse s***.”

This lack of payoff was incredibly frustrating for those who expected the multiverse-spanning adventures and crossovers with Spider-Man set-up by previous movies. The multiverse could have been a game-changer for the SSU, but it remained an underdeveloped footnote. By failing to capitalize on the multiverse’s potential, Sony missed a golden opportunity to expand its universe, connect its films, and integrate Spider-Man meaningfully. This oversight underscored the SSU’s lack of vision and strategic planning.

4 The SSU Movies Had No Real Connection To Each Other

Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Morbius, Madame Web, Venom: The Last Dance, & Kraven The Hunter

Despite being marketed as a shared universe, the SSU films lacked any meaningful connections to one another. Each movie felt like a standalone story, with no overarching narrative to tie them together. Characters and events from one film rarely, if ever, impacted the others, leaving the universe feeling disjointed and incoherent. This lack of cohesion undermined the SSU’s identity and made it difficult for audiences to invest in the franchise as a whole.

A shared universe thrives on interconnected stories and character arcs, but the SSU’s isolated narratives created a fragmented experience. This disconnect alienated viewers and further emphasized the SSU’s inability to replicate the success of interconnected cinematic universes like the MCU. While it’s true that superhero fatigue is hindering interconnected narratives requiring audiences to watch multiple audiences, a greatly reduced version of this could have benefited the SSU.

3 Inventing A Backstory For Madame Web

Madame Web

In the comics, Madame Web is a mysterious character with very little backstory. The SSU’s decision to invent a convoluted origin for her in Madame Web backfired spectacularly. The new backstory felt forced and poorly executed, detracting from the character’s mystique in the comic books. Changes to source material can work when done well and are often necessary when transitioning to a new medium. However, this alteration was widely criticized for being unnecessary and uninteresting, further damaging the film’s reception.

Instead of enhancing Madame Web’s character, the invented backstory undermined her enigmatic appeal and alienated comic book readers who cherished her original depiction. This misstep highlighted the SSU’s struggle to adapt comic lore effectively. It felt like a declaration that the franchise would do whatever it wanted with the Marvel characters, regardless of their comic book origins.

2 Too Little Michael Keaton In Morbius

Morbius

Michael Keaton’s appearance in Morbius was heavily promoted, leading many to believe he would play a significant role in the film as the Vulture, reprising his role from the MCU’s Spider-Man: Homecoming. However, he only appeared in two brief post-credits scenes, which was exceptionally disappointing. Keaton’s involvement seemed to set up a Sinister Six movie, but his limited screen time and lack of follow-up diminished its impact. Keaton’s appearance was never fully exploited, despite having such a strong foundation from his compelling performance in Homecoming.

Instead, Keaton’s presence felt shoehorned in and overhyped to make audiences think he’d be more prominent. This bait-and-switch approach exemplified the SSU’s habit of overpromising and underdelivering. Keaton’s potential as a connective thread for the SSU was wasted, further fracturing the universe’s narrative and leaving audiences questioning the studio’s direction.

1 The SSU's Misleading Trailers

Morbius & Madame Web

The SSU’s marketing frequently misled audiences with trailers that promised more than the movies delivered. For instance, the Morbius trailer featured Michael Keaton prominently, creating false expectations that he would play a major role as Vulture in the narrative. Similarly, the Madame Web trailer included the flashforwards of the Spider-Women, implying they would be central to the story.

Unfortunately, as noted above, these scenes were very short and offered only glimpses. These tactics left audiences feeling betrayed and contributed to the franchise’s poor reputation. Additionally, the trailers often included clunky exposition, some of which were mocked incessantly online as ridiculous SSU quotations. Many of these were cut from the final films, further confusing viewers and damaging the SSU’s credibility. This pattern of misleading marketing exemplified the SSU’s inability to align audience expectations with its actual content.