Well, well, well—looks like someone finally picked up Kiss of the Spider-Woman. After weeks of speculation (and some less-than-stellar Sundance reviews), Bill Condon's Jennifer Lopez-led musical has been rescued from distribution limbo by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions. But let's be real: this isn't exactly a triumphant victory lap. More like a cautious, “Let's see if we can salvage this.”
Last month, the film premiered at Sundance to a collective shrug from critics. With a reported $40M budget and a star like J.Lo, you'd think buyers would be clawing at it. Instead? Crickets. Now, Lionsgate and Roadside—two studios known for mid-budget plays—are teaming up to give it a theatrical run, likely banking on Lopez's star power to push it into awards contention.
But here's the rub: musicals are a tough sell these days (Dear Evan Hansen, anyone?), and this one's already bruised from its Sundance reception. Variety, THR, and IndieWire weren't kind, calling it uneven, overstuffed, or just plain forgettable. Ouch.
Let's rewind. The original Kiss of the Spider-Woman (1985) was a critical darling, earning William Hurt an Oscar. But this remake? It wrapped shooting just seven months ago—why rush it to Sundance? A more strategic premiere at TIFF or even a quiet streaming drop might've softened the blow. Instead, buyers saw it raw, and the lukewarm response likely slashed its asking price.
Lionsgate and Roadside are clearly hoping for a Judy-style narrative—where a beloved star (Garland then, Lopez now) carries an otherwise shaky film to awards glory. But with zero Oscar buzz so far and a genre that's been box office poison (Cats, West Side Story's underperformance), this feels like a Hail Mary.
Look, I want this to work. Jennifer Lopez is a force, and Bill Condon (Dreamgirls, Gods and Monsters) knows his way around a musical. But the cards are stacked against Kiss of the Spider-Woman—rushed release, tepid reviews, and a market that's cold on song-and-dance films. If anything saves it, it'll be J.Lo's star power and Lionsgate's campaign hustle. But let's not kid ourselves: this is less a triumphant acquisition and more a cautious experiment.
“Do you think Jennifer Lopez can pull off an awards-worthy performance, or is this musical doomed to fade into obscurity?”
