Kraven the Hunter called a "drag", "disappointment", and a "waste of Aaron Taylor Johnson" in first reactions to new Sony Marvel movie

Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Kraven the Hunter
(Image credit: Sony Pictures Releasing)

The first reactions to Sony's latest Marvel movie Kraven the Hunter are in – and they're praising the R-rated action, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and little else.

Also starring Ariana DeBose (as Calypso), Fred Hechinger (as Kraven's half-brother Chameleon), Christopher Abbott, Levi Miller, and Russell Crowe (as Kraven's father Nikolai Kravinoff), the superhero flick sees Kraven (Taylor-Johnson) face-off against Alessandro Nivola's Rhino while navigating his complicated, antagonistic relationship with his dad.

"Kraven the Hunter is exactly the film you'd expect at this point. The film doesn't understand a single character it tries to adapt to screen and the whole movie often feels created by AI," writes The Direct's Russ Milheim.

"Kraven the Hunter is the perfect example to teach on film schools of how badly messed up your editing, story and performances," said This is For Reel critic Alex Kokke. "There's only one good action sequence, but awful stuff. Glad this universe is ending."

"So Kraven the Hunter... A big ol bucket of NAH. While I liked the action, it cutaway from it so quick one didn't get to enjoy it! AWFUL acting, terrible script and a waste of Aaron Taylor Johnson, who I actually enjoyed in the role! Wayyyy too quick, not a great story… farewell," tweeted Geekly Goods' Leo Rydel.

Not everyone disliked the movie, though. YouTuber Grace Randolph took to Twitter to praise the movie, gushing: So… I'm seeing other people post reactions so I guess the social media embargo has lifted….? I LOVED IT As good as the first Venom. I would watch it again!"

Check out some more reactions below...

Kraven the Hunter releases on December 13. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming major movie release dates for everything 2024 has in store until then.

Amy West

I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things TV and film across our Total Film and SFX sections. Elsewhere, my words have been published by the likes of Digital Spy, SciFiNow, PinkNews, FANDOM, Radio Times, and Total Film magazine.

Read more
Kraven the Hunter
Will there be a Kraven the Hunter 2? Is a Last Hunt adaptation up next?
Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunter post-credits scenes: does the Marvel movie have a post-credits scene?
Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunter ending explained: who dies, what happens to Sergei, and is Spider-Man in the movie?
Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Kraven in Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunter's take on Spider-Man villain Rhino is undoubtedly very weird – here's how it's different to the comic book original
Venom in The Last Dance
Scrapped Kraven the Hunter concept art reveals Venom connection cut from the movie
Captain America: Brave New World
First reactions to Captain America: Brave New World compare the Marvel movie to Winter Soldier, but point out some major issues
Latest in Superhero Movies
Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things 4
Stranger Things star Sadie Sink joins Spider-Man 4 and fans are already theorizing she might be X-Men’s Jean Grey
The cast of Thunderbolts
Marvel fans are revealing who they'd like to see added to the Thunderbolts lineup, from Moon Knight to a major Hulk villain
Batman and Catwoman talking
Robert Pattinson is hoping to team up with his The Batman co-star Zoe Kravitz on another project soon
The cast of Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts director says the new Marvel movie is inspired by Toy Story 3: "Can they get out of the trash can together?"
Robert Downey Jr announces his Doctor Doom casting at San Diego Comic-Con 2024
"He is so dialed in": Robert Downey Jr. is coming up with backstory and costume ideas for Doctor Doom ahead of Avengers: Doomsday
Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in The Batman
Robert Pattinson worries he will be a "f*cking old Batman" by the time filming on The Batman 2 finally starts
Latest in News
The New Thunderbolts leaping into action
Marvel's New Thunderbolts* comic steals the MCU's asterisk, and the reason why is just as big of a mystery
Pokemon Go players brace for the worst as Niantic is sold off for $3.5 billion: "This game is entering its death knell"
Stamp PSP
A 16-year-old pitch for a newly discovered first-party PSP game has me mourning the death of PlayStation's Japan Studio all over again
Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 Astarion actor Neil Newbon says he "got rid of" agents who deliberately kept him away from video game gigs: "They just didn't want me to do it"
Mass Effect
Jennifer Hale says she didn't see a single line as Mass Effect's Commander Shepard until it was time to record: "It was all cold reading on the spot"
Claymore
Over 20 years later, live-action adaptation of beloved Claymore manga and anime in development by Heroes star