Tom Holland's Career Crisis: Trapped by Spider-Man Success
The Spider-Man star's attempts to diversify his acting portfolio have repeatedly stumbled at the box office. From animated disasters to dramatic misfires, Holland faces the same franchise trap that ensnared his Marvel predecessors.
Tom Holland finds himself locked into the Spider-Man universe, with Marvel and Sony holding the keys. His ventures beyond the MCU have consistently disappointed audiences and critics alike. The young actor, despite his massive popularity, walks a precarious path that mirrors the struggles of other superhero stars.
Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and Henry Cavill all fell into similar traps. Their non-franchise projects barely registered with moviegoers. Holland made his debut as the web-slinger in Captain America: Civil War back in 2016, becoming the third actor to portray Spider-Man in live action.
Fans embraced him immediately. Three solo films followed, each more successful than the last. His Spider-Man trilogy alone generated nearly $4 billion worldwide. The character became inseparable from Holland's public image, especially after he began dating co-star Zendaya.
Animation Adventures Gone Wrong
Spies in Disguise paired Holland with Will Smith in 2019, marking Blue Sky Studios' final feature film. Holland voiced Walter Beckett, a young scientist who transforms cocky agent Lance Sterling into a pigeon. The premise had potential, and critics responded positively. Audiences stayed away. The film earned $172 million against a $100 million budget.
Dolittle reunited Holland with Robert Downey Jr. in 2020, but their post-Avengers collaboration proved disastrous. Universal reportedly lost between $50-$100 million on the project despite its $251 million box office take. The film won a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Remake. Holland voiced Jip, a loyal wolfhound, in what became a critical and commercial embarrassment.
Onward brought Holland together with Chris Pratt for a Pixar adventure about two elf brothers trying to resurrect their father. Critics loved it, earning an 88% Rotten Tomatoes score. The box office told a different story. The film lost approximately $67 million, earning just $133.3 million against its $200 million budget.
Dramatic Attempts Fall Short
The Devil All the Time showcased Holland's range in a Netflix thriller alongside Robert Pattinson and Sebastian Stan. His performance as Arvin Russell earned critical praise for its intensity and Southern accent. The film itself received mixed reviews due to its dark tone and lengthy runtime. A limited theatrical release meant few people witnessed Holland's dramatic capabilities.
Cherry marked Holland's reunion with the Russo Brothers outside the MCU. He underwent extreme physical transformation, gaining weight to portray a marine before losing it to play a drug addict. Critics praised his commitment and performance. The Russo Brothers' direction and writing received harsh criticism, continuing their post-Endgame struggles.
Big Budget Disasters
Chaos Walking should have succeeded. Holland and Daisy Ridley led the cast, Doug Liman directed, and the source material had a devoted fanbase. Instead, the film became a $100 million disaster, earning just $27.1 million worldwide. Extensive reshoots and rewrites couldn't save the project from its 21% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Originally scheduled for March 2019, the film faced nearly two years of delays. Test screenings went poorly, forcing major changes that made the final product feel disjointed. The COVID-19 pandemic dealt the final blow to any hopes of recovery.
Uncharted proved Holland could still draw crowds, earning over $400 million globally in 2022. Critics remained unimpressed, giving it a 41% Rotten Tomatoes score. The video game adaptation offered nothing new for Holland's career, essentially casting him as another action hero. Sony announced a sequel, but production remains stalled due to Holland's packed schedule.
Nolan's Epic Could Change Everything
The Odyssey represents Holland's biggest opportunity to break free from his superhero image. Christopher Nolan's adaptation features Holland as Telemachus alongside Matt Damon's Odysseus. The star-studded cast includes Charlize Theron, Anne Hathaway, and Zendaya.
Holland called it "the job of a lifetime" during a GQ Sports interview. He described working with Damon and Hathaway as a dream come true, saying they had always been his heroes. Universal's backing and Nolan's post-Oppenheimer momentum suggest this could be Holland's breakthrough dramatic role.
Filming took place in Morocco and Sicily, with a July 2026 release date set. The project marks Holland's collaboration with one of Hollywood's most respected directors, potentially opening doors to more serious dramatic work.
Earlier coverage examined how Holland's most compelling work actually came from his dramatic performances rather than his superhero roles. Those powerful dramatic turns demonstrated his range beyond the Spider-Man suit, suggesting untapped potential that mainstream audiences have yet to fully appreciate.