Matt Smith reacts to Keanu Reeves watching Morbius on a flight

Matt Smith reacted with stunned disbelief and sharp jokes after learning Keanu Reeves was spotted watching Smith's 2022 superhero flop Morbius during a British Airways flight, telling Brittany Broski's Royal Court podcast he adores Reeves but would never pick that movie himself. The clip spread fast online, turning a routine travel anecdote into one of the week's most shared entertainment moments.

Smith, known for Doctor Who and House of the Dragon, appeared on Royal Court on July 1, 2026. Host Brittany Broski told him Reeves had previously been seen watching Morbius on a plane. Smith's response blended genuine admiration for the John Wick star with unfiltered humor about the film's reputation.

Key Takeaways

• Keanu Reeves was spotted watching Morbius on a flight, prompting Matt Smith's viral podcast reaction.
• Smith praised Reeves as a movie star and guardian angel while mocking the in-flight movie choice.
• Smith joked Reeves must have scrolled deep into the British Airways library or been on the Valium or something.
• Morbius (2022) was a critically panned Sony Spider-Man Universe flop that later became an internet meme.
• Smith has previously said the film was thrown under the bus but that he has made peace with its reception.

What did Matt Smith say about Keanu Reeves watching Morbius?

Smith's reaction was immediate. The Independent reported he exclaimed, "F*** off," when Broski said Reeves was once spotted watching Morbius on a flight, then added, "You are joking." When asked what he watches on flights, Smith answered, "Not f****** Morbius."

Smith said Reeves must have really gone through the BA library to get to that. When Broski suggested Reeves might have been drunk, Smith joked he was having a moment and on the Valium or something. He quickly clarified the jabs targeted the film, not Reeves: "No, but what a legend. I love Keanu Reeves, I just want to make that really clear."

Before the Morbius reveal, Smith had gone full fanboy. Yahoo reported he called Reeves a movie star who "just looks like an angel" and said, "If you were to get a guardian angel in life, please God, let it be Keanu Reeves." He also praised Reeves's 1990s filmography from Point Break onwards.

Why did the Morbius flight story go viral?

The clip spread because it pairs two beloved Hollywood figures with one of the decade's most ridiculed blockbusters. Morbius became a meme long before Reeves's flight viewing resurfaced it. Smith laughing at his own flop while insisting he loves Keanu gave the story the self-aware humor that thrives on social media.

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What is Morbius and how did the film perform?

Morbius arrived in April 2022 as part of Sony Pictures' Spider-Man universe. The Independent reports Jared Leto starred as Dr. Michael Morbius, a Nobel-winning biochemist who becomes a vampire-like being, with Smith playing Milo, Morbius's childhood friend and rival. The budget was about $75 million; worldwide gross reached roughly $167.6 million.

Reviews were harsh. Yahoo noted a dreadful C+ CinemaScore and weak critical reception. IGN gave the film 5/10, calling the origin story one that "lacks fangs and bite." The Independent's Clarisse Loughrey rated it two stars. Despite opening at No. 1 in the U.S., it suffered a steep 74% second-weekend drop.

Sony later leaned into meme culture, re-releasing the film in June 2022 after the catchphrase "It's Morbin' Time" went viral despite that line never appearing in the movie, per The Independent.

How has Matt Smith talked about Morbius since its release?

Smith has been candid about the film's failure for years. The Independent and Yahoo cite a Rolling Stone UK interview in which he said Morbius was "thrown under the bus" but added, "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."

IGN notes there is no sign Smith's character will return in Sony's live-action Spider-Man Universe, which currently has no further SSU movies in production. The Keanu Reeves flight anecdote shows Smith can finally joke about Morbius without embarrassment.