Emma Roberts Defends Madame Web, Blames 'Internet Culture' for Making 'Such a Joke Out of Everything Now'

Emma Roberts is coming to the defense of Madame Web.

The actress played Mary Parker in the superhero movie, alongside a cast that included Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Adam Scott and Zosia Mamet.

Madame Web, directed by S.J. Clarkson, bombed at the box office in February and was met with ridicule by some critics and moviegoers.

"I personally really loved Madame Web. I really enjoyed the movie," Roberts, 33, told Variety in an interview promoting her latest film, Space Cadet. "I thought everyone in it was great. The director, S.J. Clarkson, I think, did an amazing job. She’s the reason I wanted to do that movie."

"If it wasn’t for internet culture and everything being made into a joke, I think that the reception would’ve been different," the American Horror Story star continued. "And that’s what bums me out about a lot of stuff, even stuff that I’ve done, is people just make such a joke out of everything now."

Roberts explained that people in the industry can't guess what will pop and what will flop with audiences.

"Things work; things don’t work. Everyone likes to act like they can predict if they’re going to work or they’re not. And the truth is, you can’t," she said. "Things do badly, and then they blow up later on TikTok. Things do well, but then you watch them, and you’re like, 'This did well?' "

"There is no secret," Roberts continued. "It’s about doing something goodish and it hitting at the right time. Everything else is like a wish and a prayer. I’m not intimidated by failure, and I’m not intimidated by people having negative thoughts about something."

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In a March interview with Bustle, Madame Web's lead actress, Johnson, 34, said of her experience on the project: "Sometimes in this industry, you sign on to something and it’s one thing, and then as you’re making it it becomes a completely different thing, and you’re like, 'Wait, what?' "

"But it was a real learning experience, and of course it’s not nice to be a part of something that’s ripped to shreds, but I can’t say that I don’t understand," said the Fifty Shades of Grey star.

Roberts' Space Cadet is now on Prime Video. Madame Web is currently streaming on Netflix.