Metal Gear Creator Hideo Kojima Offers Revealing Take on Venom: The Last Dance

Venom: The Last Dance has stirred up quite a buzz, sparking a range of reactions from fans. Now, none other than Metal Gear Solid mastermind Hideo Kojima has weighed in with his own review, and let’s just say it speaks volumes.

With a dismal 37% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, Venom: The Last Dance has not won over reviewers by any stretch. Fans, however, seem far more forgiving, giving the film a solid 80% on the site’s “Popcornmeter.” But if you’re curious about what gaming legend Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, thinks of this latest Venom outing, your wait for answers is over.

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Renowned for crafting Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima has become a cinematic tastemaker through his distinctive social media movie “reviews.” Kojima’s reviews come in two flavors: either enthusiastic, detailed posts that gush about a film or a brief statement indicating he simply “saw” it—often a hint that he wasn’t impressed. Kojima’s “I saw [movie]” posts are now a signature for films that don’t quite win him over, as he tends to avoid public criticism of other artists. His concise verdicts for movies like Captain Marvel (“saw Captain Marvel”), Madame Web (“saw Madame Web at the theater”), and Black Panther (“saw Black Panther at IMAX”) all conveyed restrained interest, while his 110-word Dune: Part Two review glowed with praise. So, it’s safe to say Sony’s Venom: The Last Dance may not have wowed Kojima, given his curt Twitter post: “Saw Venom: The Last Dance in IMAX,” accompanied by a quick snapshot of him at the cinema with posters and a program in hand.

Venom: The Last Dance marks the third installment following the financially successful Venom and Let There Be Carnage. Despite poor critical reception, both previous films drew massive audiences, with Venom earning $856 million and its sequel bringing in $506 million—a remarkable feat considering its release during the second year of the pandemic. However, Venom: The Last Dance has nothing left to offer Spider-Man fans, opening with franchise-low numbers in North America, earning just $51 million domestically, casting doubt on its box office trajectory. Internationally, though, it’s faring better, debuting with $124 million, which pushes the threequel’s global earnings to $175 million and boosts the franchise’s total to $1.5 billion. Still, the film faces an uphill battle to cover its $120 million budget, as it would need to make twice that to turn a profit. Critics believe The Last Dance missed the mark with fans from the onset as the trailers hinted at a step down in content, and audiences could sense it. While fans want each installment to raise the stakes, this one just didn’t deliver.

Venom: The Last Dance wraps up the trilogy that began with the blockbuster hits Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage. In this final chapter, Tom Hardy reprises his role as Venom, one of Marvel’s most layered and compelling anti-heroes. Eddie and Venom find themselves on the run, pursued by forces from both worlds, and are pushed to make a harrowing choice that will ultimately mark their last showdown. The film stars Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Peggy Lu, Juno Temple, Stephen Graham, Rhys Ifans, and Alanna Ubach. Directed by Kelly Marcel, who also penned the script from a story co-created with Hardy, the movie is produced by Avi Arad, Amy Pascal, Matt Tolmach, Tom Hardy, Hutch Parker, and Kelly Marcel.

Venom: The Last Dance is the latest comic book movie struggling at the box office, underscoring a broader trend. Just recently, Joker: Folie à Deux flopped despite following a billion-dollar blockbuster that brought Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar for Best Actor. The Marvels and Aquaman 2 also failed to match their predecessors’ billion-dollar earnings, continuing the genre’s rough streak. While Deadpool & Wolverine reignited interest, its success feels like an outlier amid recent superhero fatigue. Sony’s Kraven the Hunter, arriving in December, is expected to extend the studio’s string of lackluster releases after Morbius and Madame Web disappointed. For Venom: The Last Dance, a boost from fans could help it end on a high note—but time is running out.

Venom: The Last Dance is now playing in theaters.

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