Emma Roberts has a theory about why “Madame Web” tanked big time.
In a new interview with Variety published Friday, the actor, who played Mary Parker in the film, explained why she thinks the movie earned an unfavorable reception on the internet.
“Things work; things don’t work,” Roberts said. “Everyone likes to act like they can predict if they’re going to work or they’re not. And the truth is, you can’t. Things do badly, and then they blow up later on TikTok. Things do well, but then you watch them, and you’re like, ‘This did well?’”
“There is no secret. It’s about doing something goodish and it hitting at the right time,” she continued. “Everything else is like a wish and a prayer.”
Directed by S.J. Clarkson, “Madame Web” is set within Sony’s Spider-Man universe and follows a paramedic named Cassandra “Cassie” Webb (Dakota Johnson), who develops clairvoyance and uses it to protect three young girls against a dangerous villain.
The film, which hit theaters in February, was overshadowed by poor reviews, including an 11% rating and a 57% audience approval score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite the criticisms, Roberts said that she’s “not intimidated by failure” or “by people having negative thoughts about something” she’s done as an actor.
“I personally really loved ‘Madame Web.’ I really enjoyed the movie. I thought everyone in it was great,” she said. “The director, S.J. Clarkson, I think did an amazing job. She’s the reason I wanted to do that movie. If it wasn’t for internet culture and everything being made into a joke, I think that the reception would’ve been different.”
“And that’s what bums me out about a lot of stuff, even stuff that I’ve done, is people just make such a joke out of everything now,” she added.
Meanwhile, Johnson previously said that she’s “not surprised” that “Madame Web” “has gone down the way it has,” telling Bustle in March that “of course it’s not nice to be a part of something that’s ripped to shreds, but I can’t say that I don’t understand.”