Film

Madame Web

Name: Madame Web
Genre: Action, Fantasy
Released: 2024
Cast: Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Celeste O'Connor, Tahar Rahim

Superhero

A Sony Spider-Man spinoff that tries to construct a female-led origin story around Cassandra Webb, a paramedic with precognitive powers. It's a standard action film stretched thin by its own mythology—watchable if you're committed to the Spider-verse, but it never quite justifies why this particular story needed telling.

TMDb rating

2.7

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like superhero films that are earnest and oddball rather than glossy, and you're happy with a lead who's more puzzled than heroic.

Skip it if you want the snappy wit and polished spectacle of the bigger Marvel films, since this one is slow to find its footing and its set pieces feel modest.

What it asks of you: Under two hours, but it lingers over exposition between short bursts of motion, so it asks for patience more than close attention.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

The Amazing Spider-Man 22014

If you want to understand where this universe is headed, this is essential context. It sets up the tone and stakes of Sony's Spider-verse approach with action sequences that actually land.

But It's bloated and scattered, juggling too many plot threads. Many consider it the worst Spider-Man film, and Madame Web doesn't improve on its foundations.

Venom2018

Tom Hardy's chaotic energy carries a similarly thin premise. It understands it's ridiculous and leans into it, making for a messier but more entertaining ride than Madame Web manages.

But Genuinely unhinged in ways that won't work for everyone. The film seems to be having fun at its own expense, which is jarring if you're looking for straight action.

Black Widow2021

Marvel's attempt at a female-led spy-action origin story. Scarlett Johansson anchors it with real presence, and it has genuine stakes and character work that Madame Web never achieves.

But Still feels like obligatory origin-story homework despite strong craft. If you find that subgenre exhausting, this won't convert you.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Madame Web

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Prey2022

Both try to build a female hero's origin through her discovery of powers she didn't know she had. Prey succeeds because it trusts its character and premise over CGI spectacle.

A prequel that actually justifies its existence. Dan Trachtenberg strips away bloat and uses a tight premise—a young woman hunted by an alien predator—to explore real themes about power and survival.

But It's lean to the point of spare. If you need big mythology and sprawling ensemble casts, you'll find it austere.

Eternals2021

Chloé Zhao brought real artistry to a sprawling ensemble origin story. The visuals are stunning and it takes itself seriously in ways that feel earned, not imposed.

But Ambitious but unfocused. Many found it dull or pretentious, and at nearly three hours it demands real commitment.

Dark Phoenix2019

Another attempt to tell a story about female power and destiny within a studio formula. It fails similarly, but at least it tries to dig into the emotional cost of what it's asking its characters.

But One of the weakest X-Men films. The studio interference is obvious, and it collapsed at the box office for reasons that become clear quickly.

Captain Marvel2019

A female superhero origin handled with genuine warmth and humor. Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson have real chemistry, and it knows what it's trying to say about identity and self-discovery.

But It's a fairly conventional origin story in hindsight. The film doesn't do much the MCU hadn't done before, and some of the action is workmanlike.

Wonder Woman2017

Gal Gadot becomes a genuine star here. Patty Jenkins directs with clarity and emotion, creating actual stakes and a protagonist you believe in and care about.

But The third act pivots to a more conventional action climax. Some feel the film loses its footing once it fully commits to being a superhero movie.

The Lost City2022

Action-comedy with strong ensemble chemistry and surprisingly solid direction from Aaron and Adam Nee. It's light, moves well, and the cast clearly enjoyed making it.

But It's pure formula with nothing to say. If you need substance beneath the action, this offers none.

Red Sonja1985

An early attempt at a female-led action fantasy that swung for the fences. It's genuinely strange and committed to its own weirdness in ways that modern studio films rarely are.

But It's cheap and occasionally baffling. The action is clumsy and some of it hasn't aged well, but there's charm in how little it cares about your approval.

Paprika2006

Both center women with precognitive or mind-altering abilities who must navigate how their power shapes their sense of self. Paprika explores this with psychological complexity instead of action beats.

Satoshi Kon's kaleidoscopic film about a psychiatrist and the dream-invading technology she's developing. It's visually inventive, genuinely disorienting, and deeply human about identity and the power of the mind.

But It's relentlessly weird and abstract. The plot gets willfully hard to follow, and if you need clear narratives and grounded visuals, this will frustrate you.

The Defenders1961

Three young women (among others) forced into alliance by destiny and threat, discovering powers they didn't fully understand. Where Madame Web treats this as backdrop, The Defenders makes it the emotional core.

Netflix's Marvel miniseries that actually understood how to weave multiple heroes into a cohesive story. Each character's arc matters, the dialogue crackles, and it builds genuine ensemble dynamics without betraying individual characterization.

But It's eight hours, and the final act commits fully to its Netflix-era melodrama. Patience required, and some of the CGI action won't satisfy if you want big blockbuster spectacle.