Morbius takes another hit as the film has received the second-lowest CinemaScore for a movie based on a Marvel comic. Centered on the character of the same name - from creators Roy Thomas and Gil Kane - Morbius focuses on scientist Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) as he undergoes an experimental procedure to cure his rare blood disease. Instead, it transforms him into a vampire-like creature. Originally set for release in 2020, the film was delayed for two years due to COVID-19 and finally arrived in theaters on April 1, 2022.
The movie is the third film in Sony's burgeoning Spider-Man Universe and was set to be a major player in the franchise moving forward as the creative team was hyping up crossovers with Venom and the Sinister Six before the film opened. The movie's wait may not have been worth it as the critical reaction to the film has been overwhelmingly negative and it currently sits on Rotten Tomatoes with a rating of 17%. While sometimes there is a divide between critics and audiences, it appears opening night crowds were not hot on Morbius either.
According to IndieWire, Morbius landed a C+ rating on CinemaScore from opening night audiences, making it the worst score for a movie based on a Marvel Comic since Fantastic Four back in 2015, which has a C-. Morbius is tied with Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, which also earned a C+ in 2012. Morbius scored a worse rating than the critically reviled Howard the Duck, which has a B-, and the disappointing X-Men: Dark Phoenix, which has a B- as well.
Morbius' CinemaScore sits in sharp contrast to those of its MCU counterparts, which typically receive A ratings on the site, with the recent Spider-Man: No Way Home earning a coveted A+. The lone exception was Eternals, which managed to score a B CinemaScore. Even in the DCEU, which has had more of a bumpy road with audiences, the lowest-ranked film in the franchise is Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice with a B CinemaScore, meaning it ranks a bit higher than Morbius. The other two films in Sony's Spider-Man Universe, Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage both managed to score a B+.
All eyes are on what this means for Morbius' future as a character and franchise for Sony. While the film was projected to open to about $50 million, new estimates after Morbius' opening night now have it opening within the range of $30 to $40 million. As the film has a budget of $75 million, negative word of mouth could seriously hurt the film in the following weeks as it will face stiff competition from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Ambulance, and Fantastic Beast: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Morbius may have been working to set up future films, but it seems maybe audiences would be reluctant to show up.
Source: IndieWire
