Spider-Man has starred in eleven films over four decades. Here’s every Spider-Man movie ranked, including Japanese Spider-Man and No Way Home
Out of the 11 Spider-Man movies since 2002, which Spider-Man movie is best? Though it may not be obvious considering all the Spider-Man movies in recent history, it took a long time for Hollywood to realize Peter Parker’s potential. Prior to Spider-Man’s blockbuster movies, he was the star of several series and TV films starring Nicholas Hammond, along with various acclaimed cartoons like Spider-Man: The Animated Series. In the 1980s and 1990s, directors Tobe Hooper and James Cameron tried bringing Spider-Man to the big screen, but were thwarted by failing production companies — and the legal battles that surrounded Spider-Man’s movie rights. Eventually, MGM gave Columbia Pictures the rights to Spider-Man, in exchange for James Bond’s license. Director Sam Raimi was hired, and between 2002 and 2007, produced the highly influential Spider-Man Trilogy. This ended when Raimi and Sony parted ways due to scheduling issues and creative differences.
Having retained the movie rights to Spider-Man, Sony rebooted the character in 2012 through Marc Webb’s divisive duology, in which Andrew Garfield replaced Tobey Maguire as the lead. Yet, Garfield and Webb were soon dropped in 2015 when Sony and Marvel Studios joined forces. The franchise was refreshed yet again in 2017, with Jon Watts in the director’s chair. Today, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker is an MCU mainstay. Watt’s latest installment, No Way Home, delighted critics and fans, and Sony’s animated Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Versehas won a slew of awards, including the Academy Award for best feature, with its sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse already slated for theatrical release on June 2, 2023. From his pizza-delivering days to his interdimensional battles, here is everything to know about the history of Spider-Man in film, including ranking all 11 Spider-Man movies so far from worst to best — and the upcoming Spider-Man movies that will soon be competing for the top spot.
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Honorable Mention: Italian Spiderman
Before ranking all the Spider-Man movies, Italian Spiderman (hyphen deliberately omitted) deserves an honorable mention, because although it’s not licensed by Marvel nor is it a serious project, it still has an incredibly important place in cinematic history. Italian Spiderman was a 2007 parody movie made by Australian filmmaker Dario Russo, released first as a trailer and then in full on YouTube. It was one of the earliest independent movies to go viral online, which is partly why it deserves recognition in its own right. Italian Spiderman was so good at parodying the exploitation movies of the 1970s and 80s that it still triggers discussion about whether Italian Spiderman is real? While it was never an official Marvel project, various Marvel personalities have taken incredibly warmly to the character. Both Phil Lord and Chris Miller have expressed their desire to put him in a future Spider-Verse project (via Cinemablend). Even Stan Lee was pleasantly amused when shown the Italian Spiderman movie (via What’s Trending), with the priceless response “They’ve done Spider-Man with a mustache… maybe we should have done that!”.
Italian Spiderman is deliberately shot like a movie from the 60s or 70s, and was marketed as a “lost” Spider-Man movie (hence why some today believe that Italian Spiderman was a real movie). It can’t be expressed just how little the titular, alter-ego-free Italian Spiderman(played by David Ashby but credited as “Franco Franchetti”) has to do with Peter Parker. That’s part of where the charm lies with Italian Spiderman though, as many licensed comic book movies from the period it parodies were just as nonsensical when it came to adapting their source material.
Indeed, Italian Spiderman drives a motorcycle, uses shotguns, and chain-smokes. He also doesn’t wear anything close to the iconicSpider-Man suit, instead having a mustache, burglar mask, and red turtleneck with a crudely drawn spider on the front. The “plot” of Italian Spiderman sees him charged with custody of a powerful asteroid, and his powers include being able to summon penguins at will. Italian Spiderman might have nothing to do with the Spider-Man of the MCU or Sonyverse, but he remains one of the most creative and hilarious interpretations of the brand to date. Plus, with two Into the Spider-Verse sequels on the horizon, a licensed Italian Spiderman cameo in a Marvel project could happen within the next few years.
11. Spider-Man ’77 & Sequels
Almost thirty years before Tobey Maguire first graced screens and kicked off all the Spider-Man movies in the 21st century as Peter Parker in 2002’s Spider-Man, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood actor Nicholas Hammond made his breakthrough playing Spidey in the 1977 direct-to-TV movie. Spider-Man ’77 was a prequel to the 1970s Spider-Man TV series, The Amazing Spider-Man, which ran from 1977 until 1979. Spider-Man ’77 produced two sequels of its own — Spider-Man Strikes Back in 1978 and Spider-Man: The Dragon’s Challenge in 1981. Hammond reprised his role as Peter Parker for both movies, which saw Spidey up against gangsters and corporate criminals instead of his usual rogue’s gallery. Stan Lee has writing credits, and Spider-Man ’77 managed to gross $9 million worldwide in territories where it had a theatrical release (around $43 million adjusted for inflation).
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Spider-Man ’77 is dated, and it definitely doesn’t have enough going for it to rank any higher than the bottom end of any tiered Spider-Man movie list. However, it was always going to struggle to compete since it lacked both the multimillion-dollar budget and effects work of the Spider-Man movies released since. That doesn’t mean it should be written off as unimportant to Spider-Man film history, however. While the practical effects are questionable even for the era, Hammond proved all the way back in the 70s that Peter Parker’s friendly neighborhood antics worked off the page, paving the way for Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy nearly three decades later. Just as Adam West’s campy antics in Batman ’66 are still a valid part of The Dark Knight’s cinematic history, so too is Nicholas Hammond’s Kung-Fu chopping, rope-throwing Peter Parker an essential stepping stone toward the Sam Raimi trilogy, Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man, or the Tom Holland MCU iteration fans know and love in the 2020s.
10. Japanese Spider-Man (1978)
Of all the Spider-Man movies with actual movie rights, the 1978 Spider-Man movie from Japan (dubbed by both fans and Marvel Studios as “Japanese Spider-Man“) is definitely the strangest when compared to the source material. However, despite using guns and having a Power Rangers or Gundam Wing style Mech, Shinji Tōdō’s character Takuya Yamashiro is a canon Spider-Man. He’s appeared in multiple Spider-Verse comics and is confirmed to be a featured character in Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse. Much like the Italian Spiderman parody, Takuya has very little in common with Peter Parker. Instead of the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Takuya Yamashire goes by the alias of the “Emissary from Hell”. Much like Spider-Man ’77, Japanese Spider-Man was a television tie-in for the TV show of the same name, which ran from 1978 to 1979.
The changes to Spidey’s backstory for the Japanese iteration were deliberate. Spider-Man was brought to Japan due to a partnership between Marvel Comics and Toei toys, with the former concerned Peter Parker’s Westernized background wouldn’t be as popular with Japanese audiences. In layman’s terms, Toei were interested in the aesthetic and premise of Spider-Man but didn’t want anything to do with Peter Parker. From this business decision, Takuya Yamashiro was born, and Japanese Spider-Man even had his own rogues’ gallery, mostly made up of outlandish Godzilla-sized monsters. Interestingly, this version of Spidey’s influence stretches beyond the Spider-Fandom. His mech, Leopardon, proved to be such a hit with Japanese kids that Toei adapted the concept for several shows, including Battle Fever J — the precursor to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. If there was no Japanese Spider-Man, there simply wouldn’t be any Power Rangers. It’s this cultural impact that earned it a spot above Spider-Man ’77, although both are very much products of their time and are virtually incomparable to recent films.
9. Spider-Man 3 (2007)
The first modern Spider-Man movie is still mocked by fans over ten years since release, even more than all the Spiderman movies above it on this list. Without the excuse of “being a product of its time,” Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 is still the weakest of the Spidey lot. Set a year after Spider-Man 2, the situation looks very positive for Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker. He has finally balanced his superhero duties alongside his career, and he plans to propose to his girlfriend, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). But this harmony is soon shattered by the threat of the New Goblin (James Franco), the Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), and a certain black symbiote from outer space.
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Like Alien 3 and X-Men: The Last Stand, Spider-Man 3 has a bad reputation for finishing a popular film series with a whimper instead of a bang. But emo street-dancing aside, it’s safe to say that Spider-Man 3 isn’t as bad as its lingering notoriety would suggest. Peter’s airborne fight with the New Goblin and his subway tussle with Sandman are still thrilling affairs. And speaking of Spider-Man villain Sandman, the character is the star of the movie’s standout scene; the moment when his disintegrating hands cannot hold his daughter’s pendant is heartbreaking thanks to an affecting combination of detailed CGI and a touching score.
It’s a shame that this deftness is rarely seen elsewhere in the film. Spider-Man 3 is filled with many subplots and misunderstandings, and, buckling under their weight, it plods from one sequence to the next. When Mary Jane is kidnapped for the third time in the series, the movie’s tiredness is palpable, and a lot of this is due to the inclusion of one character: Venom. Sam Raimi famously disliked this villain, but Sony and producer Avi Arad pushed for his inclusion. As a result, Venom — and the symbiote arc at large — feels undeveloped, as do Bryce Dallas Howard and James Cromwell’s Gwen and George Stacy, respectively. Raimi’s dissatisfaction is evident throughout Spider-Man 3, which remains a dark and disappointing stain on Spider-Man’s movie past.
8. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 came seven years after Spider-Man 3. Despite this gap — and the backlash Raimi’s movie received — it repeated many of Spider-Man 3‘s failings. Marc Webb’s second Spider-Man adaptation sees Andrew Garfield wrangle Electro (Jamie Foxx), the darkness spreading from Oscorp and Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), and the mystery of his parents’ death, all while trying to repair his troubled relationship with Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). Unfortunately, what makes The Amazing Spiderman 2 stand out from all the Spider-Man movies is how it crammed too many ideas into one feature.
In their attempts to copy The Avengers’ huge success, Sony pivoted from the grounded approach in Webb’s first The Amazing Spider-Man movie to mimicking Marvel Studios’ breezier, jokier output in the Spidey sequel. On top of this, they tried to set up a shared universe of their own. While the new tone actually benefits this historically light-hearted character, the over-abundance of plots did not. Sony was clearly setting up the next installment, as well as a Sinister Six movie, but both derail The Amazing Spider-Man 2‘s story, and it is all the more frustrating that both of these planned films never arrived.
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However, there is still enjoyment to be had in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Spider-Man’s opening chase is exhilarating, as is his confrontation with Electro in Times Square. But the keys to this film are Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. The two actors were dating at the time and the result is the kind of easy, authentic chemistry that many other films have failed to generate. In fact, Gwen Stacey’s death in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 remains one of the best-acted, most affecting scenes in the history of superhero movies.
7. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Despite not being as warmly received as all the Spider-Man movies before it, Spider-Man 3 made so much money that plans for two more sequels began in earnest. The original cast was set to return, along with director Sam Raimi, who was disappointed in how Spider-Man 3 had turned out and planned to restore the series’ glory. Yet in 2010, Raimi departed the project, saying that he couldn’t produce a quality film within Sony’s strict production schedule. Spider-Man 4′s leading man and lady departing in solidarity with Raimi. As such, Sony moved forward with a rebooted franchise, now with director Marc Webb, Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man, and the added prefix of “amazing.”
Webb’s new take on Spider-Man’s mythos initially promised to tell the untold story of Peter Parker’s absent parents, yet it mostly just remixes Spidey’s origins. The bullied, nerdy Peter is re-imagined as an awkward loner, and Mary Jane Watson and the Green Goblin are exchanged for Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) and the Lizard (Rhys Ifans) respectively. Indeed, there’s a constant conflict between old and new within the film. Webb and co. clearly want to try something different, but they’re constrained by the comics (not to mention that Raimi’s original movie already told Spidey’s story very successfully).
The Amazing Spider-Man tries to embellish these familiar story beats, but the film often feels unfocused when it does. The power of Uncle Ben’s death is diluted because of the changes made to its surrounding plot. Similarly, Peter’s prolonged search for Ben’s murderer isn’t a bad idea. However, in the context of the film, this amendment hampers Peter’s arc. His transition from being a cocky kid with powers into a fully-fledged superhero isn’t as defined as it should be.
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Still, The Amazing Spider-Man is overall a fairly solid outing for the wall-crawler. The late James Horner’s beautiful score elevates every action sequence, and the new cast performs admirably — particularly Martin Sheen, who looks and sounds exactly as Uncle Ben should. Marc Webb’s edgier adaptation would have been received far more warmly if it had arrived later than it did — as would Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man.
6. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Although the world is pressuring Spider-Man to step up as its premier hero, Peter Parker desires the opposite. After Spidey was disintegrated by Thanos (Josh Brolin) in Avengers: Infinity War and lost his beloved mentor shortly after he was resurrected in Avengers: Endgame, Peter craves nothing but a relaxing summer vacation with his classmates in Europe. But super-spy Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) has other ideas. A new and dangerous threat has emerged, and to combat it, Fury must pair the reluctant superhero with the enigmatic Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal).
It does take director Jon Watts some time to find his groove late in Spiderman: Far From Home’s first act, but his increasingly confident direction spawns slicker, more spectacular action sequences and compelling character moments that often rival its predecessor. Moreover, the film boasts some of the finest, most psychedelic visuals to exist (thus far) in the MCU — courtesy of Far From Home‘s Mysterio. Die-hard fans may have already guessed Mysterio’s twist prior to his explanatory monologue, yet this doesn’t undermine Gyllenhaal’s brilliant performance or the fact that he brings forth one of the meatiest socio-political commentaries contained in a Spider-Man — or Marvel — movie yet.
However, Spider-Man: Far From Home has to work hard to reorient Spidey’s world post-Endgame and establish his nation-hopping exploits abroad, with spies, Skrulls, and the possibility of the multiverse to boot. Removed from familiar settings and containing numerous MCU ties, the film often doesn’t feel like Spider-Man is the focus of his own adventure. And the inclusion of EDITH in Far From Home leaves something of a sour taste, starkly contrasting with what’s been established – in terms of both Spider-Man’s morality and the wider world he inhabits.
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5. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
The Amazing Spider-Man 2’s disappointing reception prompted Sony to eventually share the character with Marvel Studios, which has since been a boon for all the Spider-Man movies. Sony still retains the characters’ film rights and produces every new film, but Marvel creatively dictates Spidey’s franchise and can use him in the MCU. In Marvel’s world of superhero teams and alien invasions, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker wants to leave his high school behind, especially after Captain America: Civil War. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) rebuffs Peter due to his age and inexperience, but when the villainous Vulture starts selling dangerous weaponry in Peter’s neighborhood, the fledgling hero sees an opportunity to do some good – and make a name for himself.
Though Spider-Man had already appeared in Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming stood as a new rebirth for the franchise, which meant that there were quite a few changes made to his mythos. For example, Uncle Ben’s death is only alluded to, and Spidey now uses a hi-tech costume. This re-configuring did not sit well with some die-hard fans, yet it’s completely understandable why Sony and Marvel made these changes. Indeed, it’s hard to deny that the majority of these changes to the youthful hero worked to great effect.
For Spider-Man: Homecoming, Jon Watts took notes from teen comedies of the 1980s, and the result is a tone and pacing that is utterly suitable for Spider-Man. Sprightly and savvy, the teenage Peter Parker in Homecoming captures the humor — and the rebellious spirit — of Spider-Man in a way that few adaptations have been able to. The film is assisted, in no small way, by Tom Holland’s tremendous talents, along with Michael Keaton, who makes for a formidable foe. Lending the film a chilling gravitas, Keaton’s tense car ride with Holland in Homecoming’s third act is undoubtedly one of the finest confrontations that the genre has to offer.
4. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
In the wake of Far From Home’s shocking post-credit scene, Peter’s life has never been more stressful compared to all the Spider-Man movies – or under such scrutiny. Disheartened by the impact that his double life has had upon his loved ones, and desperate to regain some semblance of privacy and control, Peter seeks out Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) for a magical remedy. But when Peter’s indecision inadvertently causes a mystical misfire, the multiverse is opened, and Spidey gets a whole lot more than he bargained for.
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The first thing to say about No Way Home is that it is certainly the biggest Spider-Man movie in terms of its scale and ambition. But to quote the titular wall-crawler himself, this is both a blessing and curse. Between Peter’s home life and the various Spider-Man villains, the earlier parts of No Way Home spend a lot of time working to get numerous, disparate parts in position. Sometimes it’s successful, sometimes it’s decidedly clunky. This is also the case with some of the clumsy CGI (No Way Home‘s surprisingly complex Lizard) and even the awkward staging of some conversations. Several characters are regretfully side-lined for prolonged stretches, and there are a couple of subplots and interactions which need more air to breathe — as will many fans, who will be gobsmacked by what unfolds.
Moreover, Spider-Man: No Way Home is so infectiously gleeful at what it is doing that many viewers will be able to forgive its shortcomings. The enthusiasm that Watts and company have for Spider-Man is fully on display in this third installment, and they are clearly wise to various criticisms regarding both their series and Marvel’s output at large. No WayHome‘s Easter eggs and Marvel references only add to this celebratory tone. Aside from the odd slip-up, No Way Home readily tackles the MCU’s famous pathos/bathos imbalance; the grief and sacrifice that define Peter Parker come to the fore, allowing Tom Holland and his cast mates to shine even brighter.
Indeed, No Way Home contains plenty of welcome developments that will be talked about by Spidey-aficionados for some time — though its MCU trappings and intense focus on Spider-Man’s previous movies mean it will neither convince nor welcome the uninitiated as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse does. But whether viewers see it as a calculated, corporate cash-in or an earnest celebration of a beloved character, No Way Home will, in spite of its messiness, likely please them in some shape or form.
3. Spider-Man (2002)
After Blade and X-Men began to bring superheroes to wider recognition, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man arrived and cemented their place in pop culture. The very first Spider-Man movie in the Raimi timeline set the bar for later entries. It swiftly broke records, became the biggest movie of 2002, and has been named one of the most revered superhero movies of all time. It’s now almost two decades old, but it’s still clear these successes — and the adulation that Spider-Man continues to receive — are well-deserved. From Peter’s first web swing to that infamous upside-down kiss, Sam Raimi’s affection for the character is apparent throughout. Out of all the Spider-Man movies before the MCU, Spider-Man remains the most earnest and thorough telling of Spidey’s origins.
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Furthermore, Spider-Man also gifted J.K. Simmons’ J. Jonah Jameson. Irate and constantly heckling, Simmons’ casting has been unanimously referred to as a perfect hiring, one of the best in the genre’s history. Moreover, it’s very telling how Webb and Watts’ Spider-Man movies avoided recasting Jameson. In the same way, Tobey Maguire is still praised for his shy and endearing take on the character, even if many fans decry his lack of one-liners (this is a criticism that has grown in recent years, especially since many subsequent adaptations have doubled down on Spidey’s wit).
Despite Spider-Man’s light touches of humor, the film is not afraid to go to some dark places. The way in which the Green Goblin attacks Aunt May is very unnerving, as is his assault on Spider-Man in the third act. The latter is particularly bloody for a superhero movie and may turn off younger viewers. Still, it’s hard to deny just how important this movie is, and just how rousing it can be, especially during Spider-Man’s finale where Danny Elfman’s soundtrack simply makes that end sequence soar. It’s a dated but simultaneously timeless masterpiece.
2. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Spider-Man 2 isn’t just one of the best Spider-Man movies — it’s also one of the greatest superhero movies of all time. Moreover, the fact that director Sam Raimi managed to improve upon Spider-Man is no mean feat either. Two years after the death of Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson) and Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) has kept his vow to fight crime. New York may be safer, but his personal life is in tatters. He’s struggling in college, verging on bankruptcy, and is forced to watch as Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) prepares to marry another man. And the situation goes from bad to worse when Peter’s new mentor, Otto Octavius, becomes Doctor Octopus.
There’s little to say about Spider-Man 2 that hasn’t already been said. Even so, it’s remarkable that the film gets so much that’s right about the character. Spider-Man 2‘s Tobey Maguire is at his best in the role, and he capably encapsulates Peter’s heartache, his torment, and his humor. Raimi’s Peter may not be the motormouth of the comics, but Maguire gets more opportunities to sass people than he did in the first film. He also sells many of Peter’s pratfalls — and spells of bad luck — with perfect comic timing.
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Opposite him is Alfred Molina as Octavius. Though he’s a far more maniacal figure in the comics, Molina delivers such a layered and sympathetic rendering of Doctor Octopus that he is frequently named one of the best-ever superhero movie villains. Certainly, in the shared tragedies of Peter and Otto, Spider-Man 2 serves as a brilliant study about the pitfalls of power, and the sacrifices that come with superheroism. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also spectacular to watch. The infamous train fight remains a whirlwind of action and one of the finest displays of Spider-Man’s powers onscreen. And if the theatrical cut is outstanding, the release of Spider-Man 2.1 only enhances that experience, especially with the now-classic scene of J.K. Simmons’ Jameson prancing about in Spider-Man’s discarded costume.
1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
It may be one of the most recent entries on this list, but it’s already clear that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one of the all-time greats. As the ever-growing comic book movie genre diversifies, all the Spider-Man movies risk MCU-adjacent superhero fatigue eventually setting in. There are only so many times that audiences will want to watch characters receive their powers and save the day, after all. Yet, by delving into the previously untapped potential of alternate realities, Sony defied the odds. Directors Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman have produced a poignant and innovative movie that is reinvigorating Spiderman and the rest of his fellow caped crusaders.
Into the Spider-Verse follows Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), who lives in a world where Spider-Man has been operating for some time. However, things soon change when he reluctantly receives the same wall-crawling powers as Peter Parker. With the Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) dabbling in various dimensions – and threatening all of reality in the process – Miles must join forces with several unstable Spiderman variants from across the Spider-Verse to save the multiverse.
Writers Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman crafted a film that’s very aware of Spider-Man’s place in pop culture, from his usage in memes and merchandise to his status as a comic book titan. Into the Spider-Verse probes every part of Spider-Man’s legacy, but its metatextuality never feels smug, and nor does it lose sight of what makes Spidey such a beloved, special character. His core ethos of power and responsibility are re-examined not just as Peter Parker’s (Jake Johnson) motto, but a code for everyone to access. In short, anyone can be Spider-Man.
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But Into the Spider-Verse isn’t just a heartfelt love letter to the wall-crawling hero – it’s also the funniest and most endearing Spider-Man movie yet. All of its thrilling chases and fights are packed with quips and jokey asides, and its attention to detail is frankly astounding. With nearly every frame of Into the Spider-Verse hiding a secret reference, and all of its characters rendered in different animation styles to reflect their home universes, the Spider-Man movie brings comic book worlds to life like never before.
Into the Spider-Verse simply fizzes with unbridled energy, warmth, and wit that’s unlike any other aforementioned Spider-Man film. Because it is predominately Miles and Peter’s story, audiences may not get to spend as much time with Peni Parker (Kimiko Glenn) or Spider-Man Noir (Nicolas Cage) as they’d like to, but given that Into the Spider-Verse will soon be the start of a trilogy, it seems very likely that their short screen-times will be rectified in the two upcoming movies. Time will ultimately reveal its legacy, but even at this stage it’s clear that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one of the best animated movies — and superhero films — ever made.
Across The Spider-Verse Could Be The Best Spider-Man Movie So Far
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse part 1 may actually rise to the challenge of becoming the best of all the Spider-Man movies. A huge part of what has made Into the Spider-Verse successful is its unprecedented animation style — a love letter to the comic book aesthetic. Now that it’s been done, though, the sequel will need to continue to push creative and conceptual boundaries to avoid feeling stale. This seems likely to be the case, as Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse‘s producers have revealed that each Spider-Verse will continue to have its own art style.
While Into the Spider-Verse brought variant Spider-People (and one Spider-Pig) to Miles’ world, the sequel will see him bounce around to different universes himself. This can be seen in the many new Spider-Man variants revealed in the Across the Spider-Verse trailer, the most promising of which is What If…? and One More Day’s Mayday Parker – aka Spider-Girl. Hilariously, the trailer also gave viewers a glimpse of the Bombastic Bagman, a Spidey variant with links to the Fantastic Four. These developments are just the tip of the iceberg of surprises that audiences can expect, which should help Across the Spider-Verse step out of its predecessor’s shadow and could even make it better by further diversifying the cast, the storytelling, and the art. With Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse part 1’s release date slated for June 2, 2023, fans don’t have long to wait to determine whether it’s the new best Spider-Man movie.
