In true Dakota Johnson fashion, the actress has been very honest about her recent movie Madame Web – and why it bombed at the box office.

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The actress admitted in a new and very candid interview that it's "been hard to fake it" on the Madame Web press tour – and said she understands why the film was "ripped to shreds".

Speaking to Bustle, Johnson, who stars as the psychic Cassandra Webb, said of the reviews: "Unfortunately, I’m not surprised that this has gone down the way it has."

She added that, even on smaller movies, decisions are being made by committees – and that it's impossible for art to be made with numbers and algorithms.

Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb wearing a paramedics outfit and looking shocked, with her hair blowing across her face.
Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb in Madame Web. Sony Pictures Entertainment

Johnson explained: "It was definitely an experience for me to make that movie. I had never done anything like it before. I probably will never do anything like it again because I don’t make sense in that world. And I know that now.

"But sometimes in this industry, you sign on to something, and it’s one thing and then as you’re making it, it becomes a completely different thing, and you’re like, 'Wait, what?'

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"But it was a real learning experience, and 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."

Johnson went on to say of the press tour: "It’s hard for me to fake it. It’s hard for me sometimes to go along with the silliness of doing a press tour.”

Spider-Man spin-off Madame Web sees Johnson's character Cassandra team up with fellow Spider-Women Julia (Sydney Sweeney), Mattie (Celeste O'Connor) and Anya (Isabela Merced) – to fight the villainous Ezekiel 'Zeke' Sims.

The film is the fourth feature in Sony’s shared Spider-Man Universe, following Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and Morbius, and, with its multiverse focus, is an attempt to steer the franchise in a new direction.

While Madame Web, which has grossed $91 million worldwide, has surpassed Morbius at the box office, it's still below the lowest ever opening weekend for an MCU project from Marvel Studios – which was The Marvels, with $110.3 million.

The film was almost universally panned by critics, and currently has a critic score of 12% on Rotten Tomatoes (although a much higher audience score of 57%).

Madame Web is in cinemas now. Visit our Film hub for more new and features, or find something to watch with our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.

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Authors

Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.

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