The unexpected success of "Venom" -- it's grossed over $500 million worldwide -- might mean that more "Spider-Man" movies are going to stay at Sony, instead of Marvel.

"Venom" is Sony's first "Spider-Man" without Marvel Studios since the lackluster debut of "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"  in 2014.

Although Marvel has its own Spidey in Tom Holland, Sony is likely going to keep cranking out Spider-Man-related movies now that "Venom" is a smash hit.

"If they consistently make films audiences want to see, Disney will have to buy Sony to get 'Spider-Man' back," Jeff Bock, a senior box-office analyst for Exhibitor Relations, tells Business Insider UK. "If ['Venom'] had failed, there is a chance Sony would have definitely returned to the bargaining table with Disney," says Bock. "Now, that's up in the air."

Sony has multiple "Spider-Man" projects in development, including one with Tom Hardy is already signed for two "Venom" sequels.

Meanwhile, we're also getting the animated "Spider-Man: Far From Home" next July.

How did we end up with two different Spider-Man franchises at two different studios?

In 2015, after "Amazing Spider-Man 2" flopped, Sony made a deal with Marvel in which Spider-Man could appear in the MCU, while Sony maintained distribution rights and creative control to 900 Marvel Spider-Man characters.

If "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" hadn't bombed, Sony planned to set up a "Sinister Six" spin-off. Instead, they worked with Marvel and Disney on "Spider-Man: Homecoming."

Sony "took a calculated risk with 'Venom,' and it's now going to be a series," Bock said. "It seems Disney needs Sony's 'Spider-Man' more than Sony needs Disney ... If they consistently make films audiences want to see, Disney will have to buy Sony to get 'Spider-Man' back."

[Via Business Insider UK]