--- title: "Kraven the Hunter: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/kraven-the-hunter/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/kraven-the-hunter" critics_score: 43 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Kraven the Hunter (2024): what the critics said Critics' score 43 from 15 reviews: 2 positive, 5 mixed, 8 negative. The reviews for Kraven the Hunter are mostly negative, and the spread is wide: a handful of critics report a surprisingly good time, while others call it a lifeless slog. The complaints cluster around the script and the plotting, which many find incoherent or laboured, and around cheap-looking effects; several also doubt whether Aaron Taylor-Johnson carries the film. Where praise appears it goes to the supporting cast, with Russell Crowe’s turn as the oligarch father and Alessandro Nivola’s villain singled out more than once, and to the bloodier action allowed by the R rating, which even sceptical critics tend to credit. A recurring and faint compliment is that it improves on Morbius and Madame Web. The dissenters are worth noting: The AV Club calls it the most coherent and fun of the Sony Spider-Man films, Deadline praises Chandor’s tight direction and Taylor-Johnson’s performance, and The Times finds it goofy but consistently entertaining. ## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger Rating B-. 11 December 2024. While not without flaws, Chandor's film is the most coherent and fun entry in the Sony Spider-Man Universe series, with confident direction and efficient action that sets it apart from predecessors. It understands the silly freedom of shedding continuity better than earlier installments. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/kraven-the-hunter-review) ## Total Film — Neil Smith Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 11 December 2024. The review highlights how the R-rating enables bloodthirsty action that helps elevate the film above typical comic-book fare. The critic notes the decent action sequences as a saving grace amid other shortcomings. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/marvel-movies/kraven-the-hunter-review/) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 11 December 2024. The action is fine but rarely exciting, and the film feels derivative and generic as the beginning of the end for Sony’s Spider-Man Universe; Taylor-Johnson lacks star power here amid vague plotting and backstory. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/kraven-the-hunter-review-aaron-taylor-johnson-1236245428/) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2024. The earnest but goofy origin story approaches campiness yet lacks quality overall, with dodgy CGI and missing exposition; it offers dumb fun mainly through unintentional humor and supporting performances. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-12-12/kraven-the-hunter-marvel-sony-aaron-taylor-johnson) ## Little White Lies — Hannah Strong Rating 1/2/1. 11 December 2024. A woeful, silly slog with clunky exposition and poor CGI that fails to lean into its absurdity; better than Morbius or Madame Web but still not worth the effort. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/kraven-the-hunter) ## Radio Times — Jeremy Aspinall Rating 2/5. 12 December 2024. The film is sadly underwhelming with a leaden script that lacks zing, though the action has some highlights and it is better than prior Sony Spider-Man Universe entries like Morbius and Madame Web. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scifi/kraven-the-hunter-review/) ## The New York Times — Robert Daniels Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 13 December 2024. Built on brawn but limited by incomprehensible plotting and dodgy one-liners, the film is merely another defanged Sony comic-book excursion. The anticlimactic fights and silly elements keep it from being enjoyably bad. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/13/movies/kraven-the-hunter-review.html) ## Empire — Ian Freer Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 11 December 2024. The critic finds the film a limp and uninvolving superhero origin story that fails to capture fun or coherence despite some brutal action moments. Chandor's direction and the thin script are singled out for criticism, with praise reserved for Russell Crowe's performance. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/kraven-the-hunter/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 11 December 2024. A lacklustre introduction to the character that reaches new levels of creative exhaustion; Taylor-Johnson brings intensity but neither the character nor his backstory are compelling. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/kraven-the-hunter-review/5200016.article) ## The i Paper — Christina Newland Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 13 December 2024. The film is described as a muddle of disjointed plotlines and characters that fails to cohere into an engaging standalone story. Director J.C. Chandor's visual work and some action sequences receive praise, but overall it is called a dud that is neither enjoyably bad nor entertaining. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/kraven-the-hunter-muddle-marvel-movie-3426181) ## RogerEbert.com — Simon Abrams Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2024. The film is an overstuffed, undercooked slog with lifeless characters, ham-handed performances, and aimless action that fails to capture any joy or spark. It is a charmless stinker polished just enough to make one resent it. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/kraven-the-hunter-marvel-film-review) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich 11 December 2024. Sony’s Spider-Man Universe concludes poorly in this misfire, only salvaged somewhat by an inspired performance from Alessandro Nivola as the villain. The film ends with a shirtless whimper rather than any real impact. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/kraven-the-hunter-movie-review-1235075341/) ## The Guardian 11 December 2024. The critic finds little to enjoy beyond Russell Crowe's robust turn as the bullying Russian oligarch father. The origin story is deemed laborious, generic and lacking the craziness that once made superhero films watchable. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/dec/11/kraven-the-hunter-review-russell-crowe-busts-up-laborious-superhero-yarn) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney 11 December 2024. The critic finds the film a punishingly dull and turgid origin story that fails to ignite excitement despite its action and blood. Chandor's direction and the cast's efforts are undermined by wooden performances and incoherent plotting. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/kraven-the-hunter-review-aaron-taylor-johnson-marvel-jc-chandor-1236083842/) ## The Telegraph 11 December 2024. The review deems the film a total disaster and a new low for the extended Spider-Man Universe. It criticises the lead performance, lack of humour and perfunctory action sequences. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/kraven-the-hunter-review-aaron-taylor-johnson/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★★☆☆. 12 December 2024. The critic calls it a goofy delight that remains ludicrous but consistently entertaining. A knotty family psychodrama is noted but the cartoonish tone is embraced over any deeper ambitions. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/kraven-the-hunter-review-marvel-movie-qk65c6wcp) ## Vulture 11 December 2024. The movie is a collection of eccentric characters in search of a compelling narrative, hampered by uneven direction and a lack of genuine interest in its protagonist. It explores the inner workings of a guy audiences never cared about, alongside underwhelming action. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-kraven-the-hunter-is-weird-guys-in-search-of-a-movie.html) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 December 2024. The critic had a surprisingly good time with this ultraviolent R-rated origin story that plays more like a mob movie. They single out Aaron Taylor-Johnson's spectacular action- and character-driven performance and J.C. Chandor's tight, exciting filmmaking. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2024/12/kraven-the-hunter-review-aaron-taylor-johnson-marvel-1236200914/) ## /Film — Witney Seibold Rating 5/10. 11 December 2024. The critic finds the film incoherent and filled with worn-out superhero tropes but notes that its badness pairs with the lead character's blustering confidence to create a certain whimsical charm. Kraven himself is portrayed as an arrogant yet charming antihero whose skills make his attitude feel earned, allowing viewers to laugh along despite the surrounding mess. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1735558/kraven-the-hunter-movie-review/) ## The Wrap — Bill Bria Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 11 December 2024. The film arrives too late to the Sony-Marvel party and is held back by its comic-book trappings. The critic singles out the real hands-on brutality of the action sequences as a highlight amid the mess. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/kraven-the-hunter-review-sony-marvel-aaron-taylor-johnson/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 1/5. 11 December 2024. The critic calls it a vacuous, lifeless superhero movie that wastes its cast and director's talents, resembling the worst 2000s comic book films. Occasional action beats and performances like those of Russell Crowe and Alessandro Nivola provide fleeting entertainment amid an overall damned effort. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/kraven-the-hunter-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/kraven-the-hunter.md