Full Breakdown
Matt Smith Reacts to Keanu Reeves Watching *Morbius* on a Flight
7/3/2026, 12:47:57 PM
The Podcast Moment: Surprise and Humor
During Brittany Broski’s “Royal Court” podcast, host told Matt Smith that Keanu Reeves had been seen watching *Morbius* on a British Airways flight. Smith reacted with disbelief, shouting “F*** off, you are joking!” before joking that Reeves “must have been on the Valium” and stating he would never watch the film on a plane.
Background: *Morbius*’ Release and Meme Afterlife
*Morbius* debuted in April 2022 as part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Sony delayed the film six times between 2020 and 2022 because of pandemic-related scheduling reshuffles. Directed by Daniel Espinosa and starring Jared Leto, the film opened at No. 1 with $39 million but fell 74 % in its second weekend, one of the steepest drops for a superhero title. Critics panned it, and it quickly became a meme, spawning the fake catchphrase “It’s Morbin’ Time,” a line that never appears in the movie. Sony re-released the movie in about 1,000 U.S. theaters in June 2022, earning roughly $300 k.
Key Figures & Groups
Matt Smith (Milo), Keanu Reeves (subject of the anecdote), Jared Leto (Dr Michael Morbius), Sony Pictures Entertainment (producer/distributor), and Brittany Broski (podcast host) are the primary individuals involved.
Data & Statistics
Budget $75 million; worldwide gross $167.6 million. Rotten Tomatoes: 15 % critic score, 71 % audience score. Opening-week U.S. revenue $39 million, second-week drop 74 %. Re-release (June 2022) earned ? $300 k across ~1,000 theaters.
Official Statements & Responses
Sony acknowledged the film’s poor performance and, after the meme-driven buzz, issued a limited theatrical re-release, saying the aim was “to give fans another chance to see the movie.” The studio later confirmed no further live-action SSU projects are planned, shifting focus to the MCU’s upcoming *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* and a third animated *Spider-Verse* film.
Criticism & Opposition
The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey gave *Morbius* two stars, calling it “shameless corporate desperation.” NME’s one-star review called the plot “slight” and characters “transparent.” IGN rated it 5/10, citing “shoddy computer-digital fights” and an overly serious tone.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources treat Reeves’s in-flight viewing as a reported anecdote rather than a verified fact; the claim appears in media coverage without direct confirmation from Reeves or the airline.
Verbatim Quotes
- “F*** off, you are joking!” — Matt Smith, on the podcast.
- “I love Keanu Reeves.” — Matt Smith, praising Reeves.
- “He was on the valium or something.” — Matt Smith, joking about Reeves’s state.
- “you just have to roll with it. What else are you gonna do? It's a film, at the end of the day, we’re not saving lives. For whatever reason, it didn’t quite work out and… It is what it is.” — Matt Smith, Rolling Stone interview.
What’s Next for the Sony Spider-Man Universe
With *Morbius* effectively the last live-action SSU entry, Sony’s future plans center on the MCU-aligned *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* and the upcoming animated *Spider-Verse* sequel, leaving the fate of further SSU adaptations uncertain.
