Morbius Returns: Will February 28 Redeem the Vampire Disaster?

Summary

Morbius secures a place as the least disastrous film in Sony’s short-lived Spider-Man universe.
The vampire story saw financial disaster, low ratings, and a strong meme presence online.
Morbius will stream on Max on February 28, following previous releases on Disney+ and Netflix.

In February on Max, Morbius will have another opportunity to show whether it truly embodies a Vampire or not – for both newcomers and its devoted fans. After the premiere of Kraven: The Hunter, Morbius has likely solidified itself as the least catastrophic film in Sony’s six-film Spider-Man Universe that’s had a rocky start.

It’s now widely understood (if it wasn’t before) that the villain-focused franchise hasn’t been a hit, with only the Venom movies managing some positive critical and financial reception. Morbius, however, has become a box office bomb, but still holds a strong influence among comic book enthusiasts, although for all the wrong reasons. Its unexpected meme popularity even warranted a theatrical re-release barely two months after its initial release.

What Happens in Morbius?

It’s a Modern Vampire Story

In the film, Jared Leto portrays Dr. Michael Morbius, a scientist who won the Nobel Prize but declined it. After his self-made experiment to cure his rare blood disease goes wrong, he unwittingly transforms into a vampire. The experiment involved collecting DNA from vampire bats in a Costa Rican forest and combining it with human DNA, an endeavor funded and morally supported by his childhood friend, Milo, played by Matt Smith (before his role as Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon). Dr. Morbius creates a serum to cure his condition, but it comes with unexpected side effects: increased strength, enhanced senses like echolocation, and an unquenchable desire for blood.

Director	Daniel Espinosa
Writers	Matt Sazama Burk Sharpless
Initial Release Date	April 1, 2022
Cast	Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal, and Tyrese Gibson
Production Budget	$75 million
Box Office	$167 million

In an attempt to combat his monstrous instincts, Morbius relies on the synthetic blood he’d previously made, but its strength weakens over time. On the other hand, Milo yearns for the same power and disregards Morbius’ warnings, transforming into a vampire and going on a rampage. This leads to a conflict between Morbius and his old friend, escalating into a climactic battle where Morbius uses an anti-vampirism serum to defeat Milo. The only connection to Spider-Man in Morbius is found in the post-credits scenes, where Michael Keaton’s character, Adrian Toomes (Vulture), accuses Spider-Man of causing his entrance into another universe and suggests a potential collaboration with Morbius as part of a Sinister Six team.

What Is Happening With Morbius on February 28?

On the final day of February, comic book enthusiasts will get another opportunity to either praise or criticize one of the most disparaged comic book films of the past ten years – Morbius. This can be done conveniently from home as Morbius is set to stream on Max. The addition of Morbius enriches Max’s expanding collection of films, which currently includes hits such as A Different Man starring Sebastian Stan, the 2016 action-comedy Keeping Up With the Joneses featuring Jon Hamm and Gal Gadot, and the beloved crime thriller Den of Thieves.

MAX viewers will soon get the same opportunity that Disney+ and Netflix subscribers had back in 2022 and 2024.

How Was Morbius Received?

It Failed to Double Its Budget at the Box Office and Had Record-Low Ratings

In terms of financial performance, particularly at the cinema box office, Sony’s movie Morbius was a significant flop. According to Box Office Mojo, the film earned just $167.4 million worldwide, with $73 million coming from North America. This underperformance is notable given its production budget of $75 million. Despite opening at the top of the North American box office, Morbius experienced a disastrous -73.8% drop in its second week, which was the steepest among superhero films at that time. However, it didn’t hold the record for the lowest box office earnings within the Spider-Man franchise; that unfortunate distinction belongs to Kraven the Hunter, with its $60.9 million take.

The movie “Morbius” didn’t impress both critics and the comic book community at large. Although a few fans appreciate it, most do not. Despite its poor ratings, its mediocre box office performance doesn’t seem as disappointing due to the film’s low-to-average CGI and shallow character development, earning it a 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – the lowest among comic book films but not the lowest within Sony’s franchise, with “Madame Web” scoring an abysmal 11%. Unfortunately for Jared Leto, his role in this film marks his second failed venture into the comic book world following the criticism faced by his portrayal of the Joker in the 2016 film “Suicide Squad”. However, it’s important to note that the issues with “Morbius” do not involve Jared Leto himself.

Morbius Lives on as a Meme

“It’s Morbin’ Time”

Morbius and related films may have ceased their theatrical existence, yet they continue to thrive in the meme-filled digital landscape. Unlike other poorly received movies such as The Room, which gained recognition years later, Morbius made a splash almost immediately on social media. Phrases like “It’s Morbin’ Time” and “Morbiussweep” were everywhere, poking fun at the film’s supposed invincibility in ticket sales. However, this online popularity did not translate into box office success or a follow-up movie.

2025-02-09 17:25