Kraven the Hunter was the latest film in the Spider-Man adjacent universe Sony was building. While the initial trailers looked promising, moviegoers didn’t flock to the theaters. Despite being released during the holiday season, it only took in a modest $25 million over the course of its theatrical run. However, in today’s streaming world, many people choose to wait. Since dropping on Netflix, Kraven the Hunter has been racking up the watch hours.
Kraven the Hunter Doing Well On Netflix
This is yet another movie that has had lackluster box office results but found success on streaming services like Netflix. Kraven The Hunter was considered an “R-rated flop” but now has climbed to third place on Netflix’s U.S. Top 10 charts. As of March 18, the movie has 7.1 million views and 15 million hours viewed on the popular streaming service. This isn’t just a one-off phenomenon. It’s a pattern we’re seeing more often.
Sony’s strategic partnership with Netflix helps Movies like Madame Web find a second wind upon hitting the platform, proving that streaming numbers can sometimes speak louder than box office returns. This is the new reality. Going to a movie theater is expensive, and many people are okay with waiting a few months to watch a movie in the comfort of their own homes.
New Measure For Success?
While blockbuster performances are traditionally seen as the ultimate success measure, Kraven The Hunter highlights the growing influence of streaming. It reminds us that the narrative of a movie’s success is no longer a linear path. Instead, it fans out in various directions, offering second chances to films that might have been overlooked initially. More films can become cult classics since discovering them is so easy.
As audiences, we benefit from this shift, gaining access to more varied and diverse storytelling. The movie industry will have to figure out how it can measure the success of a movie. What does the number of watch hours on a streaming service mean for a film? We don’t really know. It’s great the movie is getting the exposure, but bills can’t be paid in views.
The evolution of Kraven The Hunter from box office flop to Netflix sensation shows the power of streaming. It’s a new era for storytelling, where second chances aren’t just possible, they’re increasingly probable. As we continue to embrace the streaming revolution, it will be interesting to see how the success of films is measured in this new day and age.
