Kraven the Hunter is a Streaming Hit!

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The impact a movie has beyond its initial release at the box office is often unpredictable. It’s worth noting that any project on the 2025 movie schedule, which may initially be deemed as underperformers, could potentially find new life through streaming platforms, thus maintaining their relevance within pop culture.

The strategy has proven successful for numerous box office flops, and it seems to have played out once more with 2024’s “Kraven the Hunter.” Its current position on Netflix could serve as an optimistic signal for future Marvel films that are concerned about their financial prospects, while also reflecting a trend we’ve noticed in recent times.

Kraven The Hunter Is Charting On Netflix, And I’m Not Surprised At All

Based on the latest Netflix update for March 10 – 16, we learned that “Kraven the Hunter” was added to Netflix on March 13th, which seems relatively recent when considering the overall timeline. Yet, in the context of frequent streaming premieres, it’s quite noteworthy to see Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s R-rated film, initially perceived as a flop, occupying the third position on the U.S. Top 10 charts. This feels like a validation of sorts.

Over the past eight days, both “The Electric State” and “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” have made their debuts, along with this post. However, it’s not surprising because movies like “Morbius” and “Venom: The Last Dance” have become streaming hits for a very compelling reason – sheer morbid curiosity.

Although Sony’s movies not featuring Spider-Man have had varying success at the box office, it’s more convenient for people to stream films on their Netflix account instead, enjoying them from home comfortably. This trend could indicate a promising alternate direction if this news sparks a change in Sony’s decision to phase out the Spider-Man Universe.

Sony’s Spider-Man Numbers Are Pulling In Better Streaming Numbers Than Box-Office Grosses

Before people rush to accuse or punish me, it’s important to clarify that my next statement is influenced by the underperformance of “Kraven the Hunter” at the box office. I find myself wondering about the performance of other titles in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe on Netflix, given how similar this “Kraven” storyline seems to be.

Last May, “Madame Web” became a popular choice on Netflix’s charts shortly after its release. This was another film that received significant criticism but wasn’t produced with the financial backing of a Blumhouse production. Here’s a comparison of the budgets for both movies, along with their global box office earnings:

[Provide the data in a table or list format]

* “Madame Web” Production Budget: $X
Estimated Worldwide Gross: $Y

* [Name of the other film] Production Budget: $Z
Estimated Worldwide Gross: $W

  • Kraven the Hunter: Est. Production Budget: $110 – $130 mil. / Est. Worldwide Grosses: $62 mil.
  • Madame Web: Est. Production Budget: $80 – $100 mil. / Est. Worldwide Grosses: $100.5 mil.

Despite a slight bias in favor of both movies, their prospects for a theatrical release aren’t overwhelmingly positive. However, considering that The Electric State cost an astronomical $320 million to produce and is currently ranked 5th among the U.S. Top Ten, the studio or streaming service could find fewer disappointing investments in their portfolio.

In other words, the Dead or Alive (DOA) series, known for its unusual title, may be revived by Netflix as a new original production. Since Sony owns the rights to these characters and has a partnership deal with Netflix, where Sony’s content premieres on the streaming platform, there’s a possibility that Netflix could delve back into creating stories based on Marvel characters, pushing the limits of intellectual property usage even further.

Let me present one last scenario that might clarify my ideas. Suppose Sony and Netflix, having seen the success of films like ‘Madame Web’ and ‘Anyone But You,’ decide to create a standalone movie featuring Sydney Sweeney’s Spider-Woman. In this case, wouldn’t it be ideal to leverage such a platform for this spinoff, reducing potential risks in the process?

It’s quite possible that Kraven the Hunter might maintain high streaming ratings, which could lead to unexpected events. This is assuming that Aaron Taylor-Johnson doesn’t get cast in another big franchise that has recently established strong ties with streaming platforms. In the meantime, feel free to savor your martinis and choose whatever titles from Sony’s Spider-Man Universe appeal to you while we wait to see how things unfold.

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2025-03-22 00:38