REPORT: Madame Web Tickets Were Getting Refunded En Masse on Opening Night

Madame Web Box Office Performance

A new report takes a look into the disappointing box office performance for Madame Web, shedding some light on why Sony's Marvel movie didn't take the world by storm.

Per THR, Madame Web has kicked off with one of the worst ever opening weekends for a new film based on Marvel Comics characters. Ahead of the release, it was looking clear that the film was in trouble, as advance ticket sales were not very strong. Reportedly, an insider for an unnamed major theatrical chain spoke about how many of the advance ticket sales could actually be seen dwindling in real time as filmgoers were requesting refunds as late as Wednesday, the midweek opening day for Madame Web.

Box Office Numbers and Budget

Madame Web opened early on Wednesday, and it went on to gross $26.2 domestically after six days in theaters. Its international haul added another $25.7 million. The movie's budget was reportedly said to be around $80 million, but the new THR report claims that it had actually surpassed $100 million. With added marketing costs, Madame Web is looking to cost Sony a substantial amount of money, though things could have been worse. $100 million is certainly not a low budget, but it's still half of what most other films based on Marvel or DC comics have typically been given.

Negative Reviews and Reception

One reason that could explain some of the dwindling advance ticket sales could be the bad reviews it had gotten with its early reviews. The film was not a hit with critics, having since set a new low for Sony's Spider-Man Universe by earning a score lower than Morbius. Its score is at a low 13%, and though its audience score is much higher at 55%, that also marks the lowest audience score of the SSU.