Key Takeaways:
– Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man was widely appreciated by fans and critics alike.
– ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2' didn't perform as expected mainly due to packed narrative and high expectations set by Sony.
– High competition from other big movie releases at the same time might have affected its success.
– Andrew Garfield is set to star in a romantic comedy alongside Oscar nominee Florence Pugh.
Spider-Man is one of the most beloved characters in the Marvel universe, and Andrew Garfield's interpretation of the superhero in the 2012 film was a big hit. His performance offered a mix of relatable humor, wit, and emotion that resonated with viewers worldwide, catapulting the film to worldwide box office success.
The Pitfalls in the Spider-Man Sequel
Post the successful run of the first movie, a sequel ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2' was released in 2014. It was directed by Marc Webb and again starred Garfield alongside Emma Stone. However, unlike the first one, the sequel didn't garner the same love or success.
Critics pointed out a convoluted plot and the inclusion of too many characters as primary reasons for its underperformance. Despite the praise for Garfield's and Jamie Foxx's performances, the film only made $700 million at the box office, falling short of its predecessor's earnings of over $758 million.
The Role of Sony's Expectations
Before the release of the sequel, Sony Pictures Entertainment, the production house behind the film, had set the bar quite high. As per a Variety report, Sony had hoped that ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2' would join the elite billion-dollar club at the box office. This ambitious goal now seems unrealistic in hindsight.
Analysts believe this high goal was an attempt to recover from some previous unsuccessful films. Sony might have set such high expectations as a psychological trick to pull audiences into supporting the film.
Unfavorable Release Dates and Competition
The poorly timed release of ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2' might have contributed to its lower-than-expected performance. The film was released right after ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier' and was followed soon after by ‘X-Men: Days Of Future Past', both of which were very popular. The month also saw the release of ‘Godzilla', adding to the competition.
The combination of a crowded release month and the incredible billion-dollar expectation from Sony was likely the primary cause for the sequel's underperformance.
Garfield's Latest Venture
Despite the sequel's poor performance, Garfield's portrayal of Spider-Man was universally praised. Since then, he has taken up versatile roles in various productions. In his latest film ‘We Live In Time' (produced by A24 and directed by John Crowley), Garfield will share the screen with Oscar nominee Florence Pugh.
The film is a sweet romantic comedy tracing the evolving relationship of a chef and a divorcee over a decade. The film's trailer displays great chemistry between the two actors.
‘We Live In Time' is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and is eagerly awaited by fans and critics alike. The film will hit the theatres on October 11th. Meanwhile, ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2' is currently streaming on Netflix.
