Every Spider-Man Movie Is Returning To Theaters To Help Save The Box Office (And Sony)
BY RYAN SCOTT/MARCH 18, 2024 8:00 PM EST
Sony Pictures has confirmed what had long been speculated: all eight live-action "Spider-Man" movies will return to theaters next month, starting with Sam Raimi's 2002 superhero classic and ending with Tom Holland's 2004 remake, starting October 18th and running week-long from Monday-Sunday. Audience interest remains to be determined but even low attendance levels could make these rereleases just what theaters need right now; also helping Sony make up lost box office revenue due to another Marvel project falling far short of expectations.
Sony will celebrate Columbia Pictures' centennial with a series of screenings known as Spider-Mondays this year to commemorate their 100th Anniversary and release all eight superhero movies that originally premiered between April 15 and 29 in their original order; so fans can look forward to "Spider-Man" (April 15), "Spider-Man 2" (April 22), "Spider-Man 3" (April 29),"The Amazing Spider-Man" (May 6),, "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" (May 13), "Homecoming" (May 20), Far From Home (May 27), and finally No Way Home (June 3).
Re-releases can be hit-or-miss affairs. "No Way Home's" 2022 re-release grossed just shy of $10 million worldwide just months after ending its $1.9 billion, record-setting run at the box office; on the flip side, 2022's re-release of original "Avatar" earned $76 million - so the right movie at the right time can draw quite an audience - especially considering we are dealing with an $8 billion franchise here!
Can these Spider-Man re-releases make up for the sins of Madame Web?
Say Sony movies average $10 million each in box office receipts; that would represent an $80 million boost for theaters at a time when theaters could use an infusion. Even after "Dune: Part Two" and "Kung Fu Panda 4" helped, 2024 domestic ticket sales are down nearly 10% year over year at this same point in 2024, even after these films generated significant return for them both. For Sony, doing this represents free money: They may spend some on marketing expenses for these titles but that will amount to very minimal outlay; any money collected will almost instantly become profit for them with nothing to lose for them personally or cinema audiences alike: everyone wins when everyone involved!
At its heart lies great potential. Raimi's "Spider-Man" movies (particularly their first two installments) have become beloved classics among fans who never got a chance to watch them before on the big screen. Although some might balk at attending more renowned flicks such as "Spider-Man 3" or "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," but hits far outweigh misses when it comes to these beloved classics; perhaps these timeless offerings could help even at a time when superhero films seem stagnant at box office performance!
Sony's "Madame Web," another superhero fatigue movie, underperformed at the box office as expected - grossing only $97 million globally thus far (even less than "Morbius"). So looking at it another way, this entire endeavor may help Sony recover some lost revenues they anticipated making off of its failed "Spider-Man" spin-off movie starring Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland!
Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" will hit theaters for public screening on April 15, 2024.