Ruben Fleischer still can’t figure out why critics hated 'Venom'

Venom director Ruben Fleischer has opened up about the poor reviews for the super successful blockbuster, admitting that if there was one thing he would change about the film it would be the critical response.

Even though audiences around the world couldn’t resist Tom Hardy’s turn as Eddie Brock, helping it to a box office haul of £661.5 million ($856.1 million), film critics and reviewers were much, much harsher on the film. So much so that it only has a score of 29% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Read More: Tom Hardy is co-scripting ‘Venom 2’

Fletcher recently admitted to Fandom that he is still puzzled by the critical response to Venom, even suggesting that their devotion to Marvel might have clouded their judgement.

“I was really bummed that people didn’t like it because it’s a crowd-pleasing movie and I’m not sure if there was just blowback against Sony or people just worship Marvel.”

“But I was really surprised that the critics [were gunning for it] because audiences really enjoyed the movie.”

“And so many people who’ve seen it just appreciated that it was a fun superhero movie. So I was a little surprised. I don’t know what they were expecting.”

Read More: Andy Serkis to direct Tom Hardy in 'Venom 2'

Rotten Tomatoes’ critically consensus for Venom describes the standalone blockbuster as “like the comics character in all the wrong ways,” calling it “chaotic, noisy, and in desperate need of a stronger attachment to Spider-Man.”

Unfortunately for Fleischer, he won’t be able to win the critics over again with Venom 2. That’s because the filmmaker was too busy with Zombieland: Double Tap to return for it, which is instead being directed by Andy Serkis, will pit Tom Hardy’s Venom against Woody Harrelson’s Carnage, and will be with audiences on October 2, 2020.