Marvel fans were surprised to find a major movie based on a Marvel Comics character quietly added to the Disney Plus platform. To be honest, a Marvel movie on the Disney Plus streaming service may not sound like news, but it is pretty unexpected when you take into account just which movie it is.
Over the years, Disney Plus has become a hub for films based on comic book characters - mostly because it houses almost all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. That means that there is an abundance of MCU movies to enjoy in the library simply because they are Disney productions. And yet, every so often, the streamer will add one that Disney had no involvement in - classic or a production from a different company. This might be one of the most surprising yet.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a new arrival on Disney Plus
Venom: Let There Be Carnage has officially arrived on Disney Plus. The infamous Sony / Marvel movie was added to the streamer's line-up on January 22, meaning that it is now available for US subscribers to watch for the first time ever. It joins the original 2018 movie on the platform.
The reason that fans might find the film's arrival surprising is that the Disney-owned Marvel Studios didn't produce this one. No, as Sony owns the movie rights to a host of Spider-Man characters, the film isn't directly connected to the MCU and therefore exists in its own universe. Moreover, the Sony movies have a standing deal with Netflix, which means that they stream there first. After a period of time has passed, they can surface on another streamer such as Disney Plus.
Starring Tom Hardy, Let There Be Carnage was initially released back in 2021 and it very quickly became one of the most divisive movies starring a Marvel character. While the first Venom movie was well-received by fans for just how ridiculous it was, the second attempted to recreate that formula and ultimately struggled to do so - with a contrived plot that lacked the absurd humor and entertainment value that the first one thrived on.
One of the elements that fans weren't thrilled about was its overly dark tone, which made the funny moments both stand out for the wrong reasons while also being far and few between. That darkness stemmed from main villain Cletus Kasady, a.k.a. Carnage (played convincingly by Woody Harrelson), who was admittedly a sight to behold. The mismatch of tones didn't serve the movie well, and fans largely consider it the worst of the three Venom movies.
The Venom trilogy is a part of Sony Pictures' Universe of Spider-Man Characters, which has officially concluded after a number of spinoffs struggled to resonate with fans (And earned spots among the worst superhero movies ever made). From Madame Web and Morbius to Kraven the Hunter, fans questioned the idea of a Spidey Universe without Spider-Man himself. This argument was also put forward to acknowledge the directionless of the Venom movies that, while entertaining, didn't have much substance. That said, the Venom movies were highly successful - grossing a combined $1.8 billion worldwide.
The first two Venom movies are now streaming on Disney Plus. The third, Venom: The Last Dance (2024), is expected to be added at a much later date.