Kraven the Hunter may be relatively new in the cinematic universe of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (or SSU, as Sony Pictures Entertainment often called it), but it’s about time that the Spider-Man Universe expanded to something more of the other iconic Spider-Man villains in the story.
Sony is releasing Kraven the Hunter starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson on October 6, 2023.
While that may seem about two months away, you might as well get started on binge-watching some of the key movies to get to know what to expect in the Spider-Man spinoff.
Here’s a list of relevant Marvel and Sony movies you have to start watching to understand Kraven the Hunter!
The Sam Raimi Spider-Man Trilogy (2002-2007)
Let’s be clear here: Kraven the Hunter is one of the Spider-Man villains, but most accurately called, ‘Spider-Man’s Number One Rival.’
So, what better option do we have but to start off with the very first Spider-Man known in the SSU, Tobey Maguire?
The Sam Raimi-directed trilogy offers more than three of the most popularly known Spider-Man villains namely, the Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Sandman, and of course, Venom.
Starting off with Maguire, for longtime fans, would serve as a refresher of sorts before we greet the new upcoming villain added to the Spider-Man Universe roster.
Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man Duology (2012-2014)
Did you know Kraven the Hunter was teased as early as in 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2?
Kraven wasn’t even supposed to get his own solo movie, but since The Amazing Spider-Man 2 director Marc Webb took interest in the character, he decided he wanted the anti-hero to make his own cinematic debut.
The Amazing Spider-Man duology has pretty much similar intentions with the Sam Raimi trilogy in depicting another Spider-Man version (Andrew Garfield’s) and of course, new additional Spider-Man villains such as Lizard and Electro.
The MCU’s Spider-Man Trilogy (2017-2021)
As for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in the MCU, well, let’s face it.
He has become the ‘modern’ Spider-Man to look out for, considering that the MCU is the center of the storyline and storytelling of it all.
It will all eventually boil down to coming together within one cinematic universe, especially since Tobey Maguire’s and Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker joined Holland in the MCU, specifically in Spider-Man: No Way Home, one of the earliest depictions of the multiverse creation and existence in the franchise.
Not to mention, even the coming of Eddie Brock and Venom (Tom Hardy) in potentially teasing their return in Spider-Man 4, as seen in the post-credits scene of No Way Home.
Venom (2018)
Serving as the first film in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, the Venom film introduces Eddie Brock in accidental possession of the ‘villainous’ symbiote known as ‘Venom.’
As a part of the SSU, it is highly likely that we’ll see Kraven the Hunter and Venom collide at some point, up against Spider-Man, considering they will all belong in the same universe.
In Venom, we’ll be seeing the symbiote villain collide with Brock, a different iteration from the one we saw in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man threequel.
A different side and a different story told in modern times, before the new Spider-Men get ahold of him.
RELATED: Where Does Spider-Man Live?
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
Of course, if you’ve seen the first film, what’s stopping you from watching the sequel?
Side-by-side, Venom: Let There Be Carnage introduces yet another beloved Spider-Man villain known as Cletus Kasady / Carnage, a violent red symbiote who works alongside the villain, Shriek.
As you can tell, the Venom franchise adds on to the list of Spidey villains any fans of the webslinger would want to get to know more before meeting Kraven the Hunter.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Who could forget the animated Spider-Man movies? In this case, we’re not seeing Peter Parker as the center of the story, but a different type of Spider-Man.
In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, we follow Miles Morales as he attempts to become the Spider-Man he has always dreamed of becoming.
Now, as the title implies, the ‘Spider-Verse’ is the equivalent of the MCU’s multiverse.
That said, the Spider-Verse is made up of different universes and realities of various kinds of Spider-people, including plenty of iterations of Peter Parker’s Spider-Man.
Morbius (2022)
Morbius is another part of the Spider-Man Universe, in which he is one of the anti-heroes known to Spider-Man in the MCU, who is known to be the antagonist up against the likes of Spider-Man, Blade, and Ghost Rider.
The official plot synopsis of the film reads:
Biochemist Michael Morbius tries to cure himself of a rare blood disease, but he inadvertently infects himself with a form of vampirism, instead. Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder, and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
The latest addition to the Spider-Man Universe is none other than Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Although the story still doesn’t feature the likes of Venom or any other iconic villains (unless you count their cameos as one), this sequel focuses on Miles Morales telling his own story, considering the little plot twist behind his identity as Spider-Man.
Miles Morales’ adventures won’t stop here, exactly, with Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse currently set to make its debut in 2024.
Although the following Marvel movies won’t be as crucial or as important to watch before Kraven the Hunter, these are more of afterthoughts, in case you’d want to know more about Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s background in the MCU, and of course, a possibility in connecting the SSU to the MCU.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Long story short, this is where we first see Aaron Taylor-Johnson make his debut in the MCU franchise.
However, Taylor-Johnson hailed a different role in this one and that is as Pietro, Wanda Maximoff’s brother, who is also known as Quicksilver, the blue speedster in the MCU.
Although his time was short upon debuting only to get eliminated in the same film, Avengers: Age of Ultron offers a little glimpse on how Taylor-Johnson’s Pietro is a whole lot less sinister than his upcoming act as Kraven the Hunter.
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Though Tom Holland’s Spider-Man had a lesser role and definitely lesser screentime in Captain America: Civil War, it’s where you could see how his Peter Parker grew up to be in the films that come after.
We get to see him grow from being this naïve little teenager who just wanted to meet the Avengers to becoming the man he was always meant to be, the hero he always looked up to in Iron Man and Captain America.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Similar to Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War is connected in depicting how Peter Parker grew up to be, facing new foes while working with new friends and teams along the way.
Even as a fifteen-year-old boy, he has had to grow up a lot faster and a lot quicker than he anticipated, not just as a fanatic in superhero work, but in gaining a bigger responsibility and the gravity behind transforming into one.
Not to mention, the feeling (trauma) of fighting battles and wars ‘til his very last breath. (Spoilers: he comes back to life in Avengers: Endgame).
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Now comes the aftermath. Upon returning to life, Peter Parker must face the reality of losing one of the few father figures he ever had growing up: Tony Stark.
Avengers: Endgame also portrayed the possibility of time traveling within the MCU, an event which ended up becoming an entirely new thing in Spider-Man: Far From Home, where Peter Parker faces the consequences of losing Tony.
See, after Tony sacrificed his life to save the world, he entrusted his technology to Peter Parker, though not as a symbol to replace his role as the ‘leader’ of the group, but because he believed in the kid’s potential to take over the torch he was always meant to take.
READ MORE: Kraven the Hunter: Origin, Powers, Goals & More
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