Emma Roberts doesn't take the underwhelming Madame Web performance at the box office personally, but the actress thinks the film's reception could have been stronger.
The Space Cadet star recently visited the podcast Just for Variety, where she reflected on the Marvel film, which did poorly at the box office, making $100.3 million against an $80-100 million budget. Upon its Feb. 12, 2024 release, the S.J. Clarkson-directed movie received subpar reviews, which Roberts blamed partly on social media and "internet culture."
"Things work; things don’t work. Everyone likes to act like they can predict if they’re going to work or they’re not. And the truth is, you can’t," Roberts admitted around the 20:30-minute mark of the podcast. "Things do badly, and then they blow up later on TikTok. Things do well, but then you watch them, and you’re like, “This did well?” There is no secret."
"It’s about doing something goodish and it hitting at the right time. Everything else is like a wish and a prayer," she continued. "I’m not intimidated by failure, and I’m not intimidated by people having negative thoughts about something. I personally really loved Madame Web. I really enjoyed the movie. I thought everyone in it was great."
Adding that director S.J. Clarkson was Roberts' "reason" to be in Madame Web, the actress pointed to the unseriousness of "internet culture" as a catalyst for the film's poor critical reception.
"If it wasn’t for internet culture and everything being made into a joke, I think that the reception would’ve been different," Roberts said. "And that’s what bums me out about a lot of stuff, even stuff that I’ve done, is people just make such a joke out of everything now."
Roberts' response to the film is totally different from Madame Web lead Dakota Johnson, who emphathized with viewers who disliked it.
"But sometimes in this industry, you sign on to something, and it’s one thing and then as you’re making it, it becomes a completely different thing, and you’re like, 'Wait, what?'" she told Bustle. "But it was a real learning experience, and of course it’s not nice to be a part of something that’s ripped to shreds, but I can’t say that I don’t understand."
Related Stories
Emma Roberts on ‘Nepo Baby’ Criticism Unfairly Targeting Women: ‘Why Is No One Calling Out George Clooney?’
The 33-year-old actress—whose aunt is Julia Roberts and dad is Eric Roberts—argued against the stigma about working in Hollywood with family connections.
Dakota Johnson on 'Madame Web' Being ‘Ripped to Shreds’: 'I Can’t Say That I Don’t Understand’
Johnson faced criticism of 'Madame Web' head-on in her new 'Bustle' cover story.
The 'Madame Web' Reviews Are in and They're Not Pretty
The buzz surrounding the film has been bad since the first trailer was widely ridiculed upon its release.
