Estimates have come in for Morbius' opening weekend, and they indicate the spinoff will be the lowest opening for a live-action Spider-Man film. Originally set for release in July 2020, the film has been delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was set for January 2022, but the film was delayed to April 1, 2022, in part because of how well Spider-Man: No Way Home was performing at the box office, giving both films some space at the box office to prosper.
Sony has a lot riding on Morbius, as they want the film to continue the success from both Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage to continue Sony's Spider-Man Universe. Following Morbius, the studio also has plans for Kraven the Hunter starring Aaron Taylor Johnson and Madame Web starring Dakota Johnson. The studio has even started to spoil the film in the lead-up to the film's release, hoping to generate excitement for the future of the franchise in spite of early negative reactions to Morbius.
In a recent report from Deadline regarding the box office success and industry impact of Spider-Man: No Way Home, estimates for Morbius's opening weekend were revealed. According to Deadline's estimation, the film is expected to open at $50 million. That would make it the lowest opening weekend for a live-action Spider-Man film, but it would be above the opening weekend for Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, which opened at $35 million.
At $50 million, Morbius' opening weekend is far below the openings of Venom ($80 million) and Venom: Let There Be Carnage ($90 million), and far below any movie featuring Spider-Man. The lowest opening for a live-action Spider-Man was The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 2014 at $91 million. Morbius's opening weekend would be higher than that of Wonder Woman 1984, The Suicide Squad, and New Mutants, however, all those films opened during the COVID-19 pandemic and had opened when some theaters were either closed or had hybrid releases. However, Morbius' opening weekend would be higher than that of both Birds of Prey $33 million and X-Men: Dark Phoenix $32 million.
With a projected budget of $75 million, a $50 million opening weekend for Morbius would still be a win for Sony, as it could likely earn back its budget within two weeks of release domestically. The future for Morbius in the franchise remains unknown, but the filmmakers have teased a potential team-up between Morbius and other Spider-Man villains to form The Sinister Six. Leto has even teased wanting a crossover with Venom. Much of this will be determined by how audiences react to Morbius when it opens in theaters.
Source: Deadline
