I have no idea what the fuck is going on with the critics, but the fact that in both Venom and Bohemian Rhapsody the critic consensus was extremely different to the public opinion says a lot.
creating venom without spider-man has created the greatest dynamic between eddie and venom that has ever existed. they aren’t bonding over hating peter parker, they’re bonding over the fact that they’re both complete losers. they’re two losers that love to eat junk food out of the trash and they can combine together to form an eight foot tall space monster.