Continuing a strange SSU trend, there’s a huge difference between critics' and audiences' reactions to 2024’sKraven the Hunter.Kraven the Hunterpremiered on June 03, 2025, as part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, not set in the world of Marvel Studios’MCU, and immediately seemed to follow in the footsteps of the SSU’s biggest disappointments,MorbiusandMadame Web.Kraven the Huntermay mark the end for the SSUas audiences know it, but some have suggested the Aaron Taylor-Johnson-led movie isn’t as underwhelming as first thought.
Kraven the Hunteropened to some of the worst reviews in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe and aRotten Tomatoescritics score of 11%, which, at the time, was the worst rating in the SSU.Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Sergei Kravinoff, a.k.a. Kraven the Hunter, joins Jared Leto’s Morbius, Dakota Johnson’s Madame Web and Tom Hardy’s Venom, among others, who have been failed by the SSU. It’s unclear what the future holds for these Spider-Man-related characters, but the difference betweenKraven the Hunter’scritic and audience reviewscould raise hopes for Taylor-Johnson’s Marvel villain.
Kraven The Hunter’s Critic & Audience Reviews Are Hugely Different
Kraven The Hunter Has Been Very Divisive
As of June 20, 2025,Kraven the Hunter’scritics score onRotten Tomatoes, otherwise known as the Tomatometer, sits at an abysmal 14%, based on 119 reviews. However, the audience score, a.k.a. the Popcornmeter, is at a much higher 73%, with over 1000 contributors.This is a difference of 59%, which is a huge disparity that was unexpected when the first critic reviews came in, as it could have been the case that the audience score would follow. It’s always interesting when there’s a huge disparity such as this, andKraven the Hunter’sreviewsare even more curious.
Kraven The Hunter’s Best Qualities May Explain The Difference Between The Two Review Scores
There’s A Lot To Love About Kraven The Hunter
Kraven the Hunteris far from being considered theweakest project in the SSU, though its box office total is expected to tell a different story, primarily due to poor word-of-mouth. While the likes ofMorbiusandMadame Webhad few redeeming qualities,Kraven the Hunterwas successful in many areas.Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s commitment to the iconic Marvel role made his performance enjoyable, and the movie’s action sequences are, more often than not, high-octane, fast-paced and thrilling, which could have contributed to a higher Popcornmeter score.
Interestingly, some critics agreed thatKraven the Hunterwas better than expected, as the movie’s marketing and Sony’s track record with its Marvel movies provided little hope. However,while many suggestKraven the Hunterhas some positive moments, the majority of critics have panned the most recent SSU installment. The exhilarating action sequences might quell the appetites of audience members watching just for fun, but when it comes to actually judging the cinematic impact ofKraven the Hunter, the movie falters.
Kraven The Hunter’s Review Scores Continue A Fascinating Sony Movie Trend
Kraven The Hunter Follows In The Footsteps Of The SSU’s Previous Movies
As of August 13, 2025,Kraven the Hunterhas the second-lowest Tomatometer score out of all six movies in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. The highest isVenom: Let There Be Carnage’s58%, buteven the somewhat-successfulVenomfranchise displays a similar disparity when comparing the critic and audience scores.Kraven the Huntercontinues the trend that has been demonstrated by every previous SSU movie, thoughMadame Web’scritic and audience scores are both damning for the 2024 movie.
$856.1 million
30%
80%
$506.8 million
58%
84%
$167.5 million
15%
71%
$100.5 million
11%
56%
$475.6 million
41%
81%
Kraven the Hunter(as of December 18)
$26.8 million
14%
73%
These differences speak volumes about the actual quality ofmovies in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, as critics are judging based on cinematic aspects, script work, acting performances and impact. Conversely,many theater-goers would only be watching for enjoyment, not taking into consideration the behind the scenes and creative aspects of an SSU movie. This could explain the huge disparity between the review scores forKraven the Hunter, and makes Sony’s decision to refocus its Marvel movies even more necessary.
Kraven the Hunter
Cast
Kraven the Hunter explores the origin story of Sergei Kravinoff, known as Kraven, as he navigates his tumultuous relationship with his father, Nikolai. This path of vengeance sets Kraven on a journey to become a formidable hunter with a reputation for fearsome brutality.
