Morbius Early Reviews: Promising Start, But Lackluster & Forgettable
The first set of reviews for Morbius are officially in, as critics share their first impressions of the Jared Leto movie. Sony's Spider-Man Universe is continuing to get fleshed out as Sony brings more iconic Spidey villains from panel to screen. Similar to Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock in Venom, Leto's titular character is being depicted as an anti-hero rather than a super-villain, pulling straight from the lore. While Morbius was originally slated to hit theaters on July 10, 2020, like most films back then, it got pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starring Leto as Michael Morbius, the plot revolves around a scientist who manages to cure a rare blood disease that in turn transforms him into a living vampire. With his new abilities, Morbius While it's tied to Sony's Spider-Man Universe, the Multiverse is said to play a factor, particularly because of Michael Keaton's Adrian Toomes, a.k.a. the Vulture, from Spider-Man: Homecoming. How Morbius factors into Sony's larger Spider-Man plans remain to be seen, as other characters like Kraven and Madame Web are also getting solo films tied to the same universe.
After multiple delays, Morbius is finally arriving in theaters in multiple countries as of this week. As with most blockbuster films, the first set of critical reviews are making their way online, giving fans the early impressions from press members. Check out several spoiler-free samples of what various reviewers are saying about Sony's latest Spider-Man related film:
Molly Freeman, Screen Rant
As a result, Morbius isn't a must-watch entry in Sony's Spider-Man Universe. Those already interested in seeing Morbius may find something to enjoy, especially with Leto and Smith's performances. Perhaps the biggest thing the movie has going for it are its MCU connections, which were teased with Michael Keaton's Adrian Toomes (aka Vulture) showing up in the first trailer. However, these connections are rather minimal and quite puzzling. So while Marvel movie die-hards may be excited by Vulture's appearance, casual fans or those who don't enjoy superhero movies as much will be fine skipping this one.
Emma Kiely, Collider
In classic Marvel style, we know that this may not be the last time we’ll see Dr. Michael Morbius. If the post-credit kicker is to be believed, he's sure to pop up in other superhero vehicles and potentially have his own sequels. Despite Morbius being utterly forgettable, I have hope that if the character is given the right care and attention, an interesting antihero could rise from the narrative ashes of his solo outing. But for now, Morbius is the Sony Marvel universe’s first major disappointment in a while.
Kyle Anderson, Nerdist
Morbius is just not good. There’s no two ways about it. It just feels lazy and unfinished. Milo has no last name; we never know what kind of disease he and Morbius have; they can’t seem to agree on what Morbius’ vampire face should look like from scene to scene. I didn’t like the first Venom movie but at least it felt like someone made it; Morbius feels like a movie that was willed into existence by the incepted dreams of Columbia Pictures execs. It needs to be in order for one more member of the Sinister Six (who are just antiheroes, obviously) to join the squad.
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
After a promising start, Daniel Espinosa’s long-delayed film only intermittently matches the intensity of the lead performance, and the script by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless becomes thin on story, stringing together chaotic outbursts and action clashes that build to a painstakingly foreshadowed “sibling” faceoff. None of that seems likely to deter the geek faithful, even if this new entry in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe often seems a lot like a boilerplate Venom installment, without the humor.
Brian Truitt, USA Today
Most of the MCU movies and some of the recent DC films like “The Suicide Squad” are case studies on how to best introduce obscure superhero personas onto the screen. The gonzo “Venom” movies know and proudly own what they are. “Morbius” misses all those lessons and seems to be stuck among the more lackluster films from the early to mid 2000s a la “Elektra.” Even the mid-credits scenes that attempt to bring Leto’s role into a larger landscape wind up being more confusing than cool.
Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly
This being adjacent to the MCU, of course, it's not really over; there's one telling post-credits scene, and then another, featuring a famed alumnus some will undoubtedly have already predicted, and others will soon have spoiled for them by the internet. Whatever elaborate offshoots and cross-pollinations those last moments promise, though, this particular bat man's future is most likely in fans' hands. Because there's still one superpower Morbius doesn't have: the license to green-light a sequel.
In general, the most common thread with the early Morbius reviews is the lack of structure and execution. Many also seem to be in agreement that, unlike Venom, Morbius feels like it's relying more on other films and universes rather than its own mythology as they attempt to expand Sony's Spider-Man Universe. But even with the loose ties to the MCU that the reviews hint at, it's not a good sign if Morbius can't pull in the same type of engagement for the titular character and the other players.
While Morbius may be more of a lifeless vampire rather than a living one to critics, it may be a different story for regular moviegoers. Both of the Venom films ended up even having a higher audience score on Rotten Tomatoes in comparison to the percentage from critics, which may be the same case for Morbius. It's worth noting that early box office projections for Morbius' opening weekend are looking at lower numbers than Venom: Let There Be Carnage. As Morbius arrives in theaters in most countries this week, time will tell what the future will look like for Sony's latest anti-hero.
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