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- Venom is one of Spider-Man’s most iconic villains, but Hollywood has never managed to capture his full potential due to poor creative decisions and studio interference.
- Sony’s Venom movies lack crucial elements: a Spider-Man connection, an R-rating for brutality, and strong villains. Instead, they lean into goofy humor that doesn’t fit the character.
- The only way to truly do Venom justice is to integrate him into the MCU alongside Spider-Man—but given Sony’s track record, fans shouldn’t hold their breath.
[Cover Picture by Marvel Entertainment / Columbia Pictures]
The Venom Movie Curse: Why We Still Don't Have a Good One
Venom should be an absolute cinematic powerhouse—a monstrous, scene-stealing antihero dripping with menace, chaos, and those razor-sharp teeth. He’s one of Marvel’s most iconic villains, a terrifying reflection of Spider-Man, and a fan favorite with decades of legendary comic book arcs. So why, despite multiple attempts, can’t Hollywood seem to get him right?
From Spider-Man 3’s cringeworthy debut to Sony’s standalone Venom films that lean more into slapstick than horror, every cinematic version of the character has left something to be desired. Fans dream of a dark, brutal, and comic-accurate Venom, yet each attempt stumbles somewhere between studio meddling, bizarre creative choices, and a frustrating lack of connection to Spider-Man.
So, is Venom doomed to an eternity of mediocre movies? Or is there still hope that one day, we’ll finally get the symbiotic terror we deserve? Let’s dig into why Hollywood keeps fumbling one of Marvel’s greatest characters.
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The Origins of Venom – A Perfect Comic Book Villain
Venom was first introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man #252 as an alien symbiote that attached itself to Peter Parker, giving him enhanced powers—but at the cost of corrupting his mind. When Peter rejected it, the symbiote found a new host in Eddie Brock, a disgraced journalist with a deep hatred for Spider-Man. This fusion created Venom: a hulking, monstrous version of Spidey with razor-sharp teeth, a grotesquely elongated tongue, and an appetite for destruction.
Venom’s popularity exploded, thanks in part to Todd McFarlane’s eerie, exaggerated artwork in the late ‘80s and ‘90s. Unlike many of Spider-Man’s other villains, Venom wasn’t just out to rob banks—he was a personal, psychological threat to Peter Parker, one that fans found uniquely menacing.
Naturally, it didn’t take long for Hollywood to take notice.
The Sam Raimi Disaster – Venom's First Failed Movie Appearance
Fans had been clamoring for Venom to hit the big screen ever since Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy began in 2002. But when he finally showed up in Spider-Man 3 (2007), it was a colossal letdown.
For starters, Raimi never liked Venom. He was forced to include the character at the insistence of Sony executives, who saw Venom’s popularity as a box-office guarantee. The result? A rushed, poorly developed version of Eddie Brock (played by Topher Grace) who lacked the intimidating physique and menace of his comic book counterpart.
Rather than being a hulking nightmare, this Venom felt like a whiny, petulant Smeagol knockoff. Add to that the infamous “Emo Peter Parker” dance sequence, and Spider-Man 3 became a pop culture meme instead of the epic Venom story fans had hoped for.
Sony’s Standalone Venom Films – The Missed Potential Continues
After Spider-Man 3, Sony still had the film rights to Venom but lost Spider-Man himself when Marvel Studios brought the character into the MCU. Instead of letting Venom rest, Sony decided to go all-in on a Venom solo movie…without Spider-Man.
Venom (2018) – A Toothless Antihero
The idea of a Venom movie starring Tom Hardy sounded amazing. Hardy is a phenomenal actor, and Venom’s monstrous design looked far better than the 2007 version. But there was a massive problem: the movie was rated PG-13.
Venom is a brutal, violent character who literally eats people. The idea of making his film family-friendly was ridiculous, and the result was an oddly comedic, watered-down take on the character. Instead of a terrifying force of nature, Hardy’s Eddie Brock was a bumbling loser with a goofy split-personality relationship with the symbiote.
The film’s villain, Riot, was a forgettable CGI mess, and the action sequences felt generic. Despite all this, Venom was a massive financial success, proving that audiences wanted a Venom movie—just maybe not this one.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) – Wasted Potential
If Venom had one saving grace, it was the mid-credits tease of Woody Harrelson as Cletus Kasady, aka Carnage. In the comics, Carnage is a total psychopath—a serial killer who bonds with a symbiote even more bloodthirsty than Venom.
Fans hoped that Venom: Let There Be Carnage would finally go all-in on the horror and violence, especially with Deadpool and Joker proving that R-rated comic book movies could be successful. But Sony once again insisted on PG-13.
The result? A neutered Carnage who, despite Harrelson’s best efforts, never lived up to his full potential. The film leaned even further into comedy, making Venom and Eddie into a bizarre buddy-cop duo. While some audiences enjoyed the campy humor, many felt it strayed too far from what a proper Venom story should be.
What Makes a Good Venom Story?
Venom needs three key things to work:
- A Connection to Spider-Man – Venom’s entire origin is rooted in Peter Parker’s rejection of the symbiote. Without that emotional hook, he lacks depth.
- Horror & Brutality – Venom should be terrifying. His stories work best when he’s a monstrous force of nature, not a wisecracking antihero.
- A Strong Villain – Whether it’s Carnage, Spider-Man, or another symbiote, Venom needs an equally compelling adversary to shine.
Sony’s Venom movies fail because they strip the character of these elements. Without Spider-Man, his origin is hollow. Without an R-rating, his menace is undercut. Without compelling villains, his movies feel generic.
The Future of Venom – Can It Be Fixed?
With Venom: The Last Dance set to conclude the trilogy, fans are hoping Sony will finally get it right. However, given the studio’s history (Morbius, anyone?), expectations are low.
There’s still one way Venom can be salvaged—by bringing him into the MCU properly. Tom Hardy’s Venom briefly appeared in the post-credits scene of Spider-Man: No Way Home, hinting at a possible crossover. If Marvel Studios takes the reins and reintroduces Venom with Spider-Man in the mix, there’s still hope for a truly great movie.
Until then, Venom fans will just have to keep waiting for the movie they deserve.
Stay connected with Woke Waves Magazine for more deep dives into the hits and misses of Hollywood’s biggest franchises. 🕷️🔥
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