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Sony's Spiderverse Woes: Exploring the Madame Web Debacle and the Struggle for Success

Writer: Connor BanksConnor Banks

Madame Web



The most recent addition to Sony’s Spiderverse franchise, Madame Web, was released in theatres last week and breaking records. It’s just that those records are records that no studio would want having been broken. Despite its midweek release around Valentine's Day, the film only managed to accrue around $11 million between Friday and Sunday, marking it as the lowest-grossing opening in the entire SSU. The projected 6-day total of $24 million falls even further below the franchise's previous low point, set by "Morbius" with an opening of $39 million. But why is it that the majority of films that Sony has released as part of this Spiderverse have flopped at the box office?


Superhero Fatigue

The most optimistic option for Sony is that these recent flops in their Spider-Man Universe are just a general fatigue from audiences for superhero-related content. Superhero Fatigue refers to a decline in audience interest and enthusiasm for superhero films, particularly within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and other superhero franchises. This decline is attributed to various factors, including oversaturation of the market with superhero content, perceived brand dilution due to an excessive number of releases and tie-ins, lack of coherence and focus in storytelling, and mismanagement of properties by studios like Sony and DC.


A AI generated image of a Madam Web Concept
Image by Leonardo AI

A Lack of a Titular Character

Whilst Superhero Fatigue could explain the lack of enthusiasm for this film, however, that doesn’t explain why other Superhero films have had great box office success this year such as Guardians Of The Galaxy 3 and Sony’s own Spider-Man: Across the Multiverse. Why is it that one film from the same producers could be a box office success yet they have seemingly made a flop with both Madame Web and last year's Morbius? Well, could the answer be in the fact that the Spider-Man Universe that Sony is creating, lacks Spider-Man? Whilst all the characters are from the Spider-Man comics and appear as villains or allies in his rose gallery, the films are lacking in one element and that is Spider-Man is not part of the cinematic films that Sony is making. Due to contracts and deals made in the 2010s, Sony licensed the ability to use Spider-Man as an on-screen character to Disney who used it in successful and critically acclaimed feature films such as Captain America Civil War, Spider-Man Homecoming, and Avengers Infinity War. However, because of this deal, the films this iteration of Spider-Man has appeared in are all a part of the MCU, which has nothing to do with the Sony-produced Spider-Man Universe, meaning these films lack the main character of the story they’re all trying to tell. This has led to confusion from fans and could have also caused a lack of interest in seeing anything a part of this Sony-created Universe as they won’t get to see Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in them.


Spidermen from different universes battling each other.
Image by DALL.E

Mismanagement of a Franchise

Whilst both of these explain why someone would have little to no interest in going into these films, they don’t explain the one glaring factor. None of these films have been well received by critics or by a large portion of the general audience. Madame Web currently sits at 13% on the critic review site Rotten Tomatoes, a website that correlates film critics' reviews into one easy-to-read score, along with Morbius sits at a cool 15% from 283 critic reviews, and Venom sits at 30%. Could it just be that these movies are just… not very good? Could the answer to why these films continue to flop be that Sony has struggled to find a suitable person to fulfil the “Kevin Feige” role of a film producer? The main reason the Marvel films proved to be a success was primarily because they were all following the vision and endgame of Kevin Feige’s plan. Whilst he brought in both established and emerging directors to lead directing the solo films but ensured that they all worked towards the same ending goal he had planned since the first Iron Man film was released back in 2008. Maybe Sony’s mistake is not having someone in this role who is capable of the job. This is something that DC have realised they need and recently apportioned James Gunn, director of the Guardians of the Galaxy films and the hit TV Show Peacemaker, to CEO of DC Studios to hopefully emulate the same success that Marvel had during the 2010s.


Concept of Madam Web fan Art
Image by DALL.E

In conclusion, Sony's Spiderverse franchise continues to face challenges at the box office for several reasons. Superhero fatigue, the absence of Spider-Man, mismanagement of the franchise, and lack of creative leadership have all contributed to the underperformance of films like "Madame Web" and "Morbius." While other superhero films have found success, Sony's offerings have struggled to resonate with audiences and critics alike. To revitalise the franchise, Sony may need to address these issues by introducing stronger storytelling, incorporating beloved characters like Spider-Man, and establishing clear creative leadership. Only then can they hope to regain momentum and recapture the excitement of audiences for their Spiderverse universe.


Google's £32 Billion Bet on Cloud Security: What Wiz Means for the Future of Alphabet

Google's £32 Billion Bet on Cloud Security: What Wiz Means for the Future of Alphabet

19 March 2025

Connor Banks

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In a landmark move, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has announced its largest acquisition to date: a £32 billion all-cash deal to purchase Wiz, a fast-growing cloud security start-up. This strategic acquisition not only highlights the increasing importance of cybersecurity in the AI era but also signals Google’s ambition to challenge Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure in the multi-billion-pound cloud computing market.


A Strategic Play for Cybersecurity Dominance

Wiz, founded in 2020 by cybersecurity veterans, has rapidly ascended as a key player in cloud security. The company specialises in providing tools that help organisations detect and mitigate security risks across major cloud platforms—including AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. Wiz’s emphasis on a multi-cloud approach has made it particularly attractive in a world where enterprises often rely on multiple cloud providers.

By acquiring Wiz, Google is making a bold statement: Security is now a top priority in its cloud strategy. This comes at a time when cybersecurity threats are escalating and businesses demand more robust protection against breaches, ransomware, and AI-driven attacks.


Why Google Needs Wiz

Despite being a tech giant, Google Cloud remains the third-largest cloud provider, trailing behind AWS and Microsoft Azure. While Google has made significant strides in AI and data analytics, it has struggled to gain an edge in cloud security—a crucial factor for enterprise clients.

  • Enhanced Security Portfolio: Wiz’s platform will strengthen Google Cloud’s security offerings, making it more competitive against Microsoft, which has invested heavily in security solutions.

  • Multi-Cloud Expansion: Unlike some past Google acquisitions that were integrated exclusively into Google’s ecosystem, Wiz will continue to support AWS and Azure, helping Google maintain a presence in rival platforms.

  • AI-Driven Security Solutions: With Google at the forefront of AI, Wiz’s security capabilities can be enhanced using AI-powered threat detection and automation, setting a new industry standard.


Regulatory & Competitive Challenges

However, this deal is not without challenges. Given the £32 billion price tag, Alphabet will face scrutiny from regulators in the UK, the US, and Europe, who may investigate the acquisition for potential anti-competitive concerns. Additionally, the move is expected to intensify competition with Microsoft and Amazon, both of whom have also been ramping up their cybersecurity investments.

While Wiz’s commitment to multi-cloud compatibility is a selling point, there is always the risk that competitors could respond aggressively, either by developing competing technologies or challenging the acquisition on regulatory grounds.


What This Means for the Future of Google

Alphabet’s bet on Wiz highlights a broader shift in Google’s business strategy:

  • Cybersecurity is no longer an afterthought—it’s a centrepiece of cloud innovation.

  • Google Cloud is evolving into a true enterprise powerhouse, aiming to take market share from AWS and Microsoft.

  • AI and security will increasingly converge, with Google leading the charge in developing AI-driven security solutions.

With the deal expected to close in 2026, all eyes will be on how Google integrates Wiz’s platform and whether this move will finally tip the balance in the cloud computing wars.


Conclusion

Google’s acquisition of Wiz is more than just a big-ticket purchase—it’s a strategic shift that underscores the growing role of security, AI, and multi-cloud infrastructure in the future of cloud computing. Whether this gamble pays off will depend on how well Google can execute its vision and convince enterprise customers that it is the safest and smartest choice for their cloud needs.


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