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One of the most critically despised superhero movies of all time that Roger Ebert surprisingly loved has found a new free streaming home. These days, comic book adaptations are all the rage, but they were still relatively new when this action-horror hybrid hit theaters in 1997. As such, even though it was panned by the majority of people who saw it, it still managed to become a box office success due to sheer curiosity.
Directed by Mark A.Z. Dippé from a script by Alan B. McElroy, the film stars action icon Michael Jai White as a covert government assassin who is double-crossed by his boss (Martin Sheen) and set ablaze. Sent straight to hell, he strikes a deal with one of its rulers to return to Earth to see his beloved wife, but only if he’ll lead an evil army in the coming Armageddon. Reincarnated as a twisted version of his former self, he must choose whether to fulfill Hell’s command, or defy it.
Hitting theaters on Aug. 1, 1997, Spawn was an adaptation of Todd McFarlane’s hugely successful comic book series published by Image Comics. Also starring John Leguizamo as the clown-like demon known as The Violator, it managed to take in almost $90 million in box office receipts against a $40 million budget. Currently, the dark superhero action movie is unavailable to stream on any platform, but all that will change come May 1 when it makes its way to its new free streaming home of Tubi.
Roger Ebert Called ‘Spawn’ an “Unforgettable” Movie
Sitting with just a 17% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear that the bulk of them despised Spawn. Many thought it was a missed opportunity given how popular the source material was, calling it more style over substance. However, there was one person who went against the grain: Roger Ebert.
“Spawn is best seen as an experimental art film,” the legendary critic wrote in his 3.5 out of 4 review back in 1997, adding that though it has a “pretty sappy plot,” “Michael Jai White makes a powerful Spawn with a presence both menacing and touching, and Clown is an inspired villain with one wicked one-liner after another.” He would go on to call the comic book adaptation “unforgettable,” writing:
“So the way to view the movie, I think, is to consider the story as the frame – necessary, but upstaged by what it contains, which in this case is some of the most impressive effects I’ve seen […] As a visual experience, Spawn is unforgettable.”
HBO’s ‘Spawn’ Adaptation Is Far Superior to the Movie
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While Spawn may have been a big disappointment when it was released in August 1997, its small-screen counterpart was a much larger hit. Debuting a few months earlier on HBO, the animated adaptation of Spawn lasted for three seasons, and is viewed by many as the definitive version of the character.
The proof is one again in its Rotten Tomatoes score, because while the live-action version may only have a Popcornmeter rating of 37%, the animated series holds a whopping 96%.
