Disney+ Sci-Fi Superhero Thriller Loved By The Internet And Hated By Critics
Now available on Disney+, Morbius, one of the films set in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, has a reputation which is a far cry from other highly regarded Spider-Man films. In fact, it could be said that the movie is best appreciated as a meme.
It’s Morbin’ Time!
At the heart of Morbius is Dr. Michael Morbius, a brilliant scientist grappling with a debilitating blood disease. As he attempts to cure himself, his experiment inadvertently turns him into a living vampire. Gifted with vampiric abilities, he is thrust into a life of chaos, battling internal and external forces and grappling with his monstrous transformation.
The Origins Of Morbius
The character of Morbius first debuted in 1971’s Amazing Spider-Man #101, crafted by the writer Roy Thomas and artist Gil Kane. Initially a nemesis to Spider-Man, Morbius evolved from villain to anti-hero over time, gracing the pages of a few of his own solo comic book titles.
Jared Leto
Oscar-winning actor Jared Leto brings the character of Dr. Michael Morbius to life in the film adaptation. Known for his roles in Dallas Buyers Club, Fight Club, and Suicide Squad, Leto brought his method acting style to the set, but that wasn’t enough to save the film. The consensus was one of missed potential, with mentions of uninspiring storytelling marring the viewing experience.
It Was Morbin’ Time At The Razzies
In fact, Morbius left one of its biggest marks at the Golden Raspberry Awards—an award show that honors “the ‘worst’ in contemporary cinema.” The film was heavily represented with multiple nominations. Among the awards it was up for were Worst Picture, Worst Director for Daniel Espinosa, Worst Actor for Jared Leto, and Worst Screenplay for Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless. Notably, Jared Leto and Adria Arjona won the awards for each of their respective nominations.
Morbius Found An False Summer In Memes
Interestingly, the film gained a second life in the realm of internet memes, quickly permeating social media platforms such as Twitter and Tumblr, with ironic praises and exaggerated claims about the film’s success.
From mocking its box-office figures to poking fun at specific plot points, these memes have added a unique twist to the movie’s reception. The film’s shortcomings served as fertile ground for the creation of memes that turned the movie’s failures into comedic gold on the internet, where contributors on the Morbius Dischord channel began referring to themselves as Morbheads.
Through memes, fans ironically lauded the film, triggering tags like #MorbiusSweep, pointing to an imagined monumental success. These humorous takes and shitposts have fueled online discussions, contributing significantly to the film’s notoriety. The memes have even persuaded viewers to jokingly call for a sequel, to the point of actor Jared Leto chiming in by posting a video of himself reading a fake Morbius 2 script.
Sony Embraced The Memes, And They Shouldn’t Have
Embracing the unexpected popularity, Sony re-released Morbius in theaters. Unfortunately, even the virality of the memes couldn’t bolster its performance at the box office, with the re-release meeting a similar fate as the initial run.
No MCU For Morbius
Despite being based on a Marvel character, Morbius does not exist in the MCU. Instead, it is situated within Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, permitting creative flexibility and storytelling potential beyond the MCU’s established plots. Spider-Man himself, on the other hand is allowed to be part of the MCU based on an agreement reached between Sony and Disney in 2016.
Stream Morbius on Disney+ to see what all the fuss is about.
