3. Tobey Maguire
Tobey Maguire might not be the original live-action Peter Parker from a technical standpoint (Nicholas Hammond played him first) but he is the first to so many Spider-Man fans who grew up watching the Sam Raimi trilogy, and he was the first to bring the character to the big-screen. His performance was so impeccable that it left an unbelievable impression on the legacy of Spider-Man – and it’s easy to see why.
Maguire portrayed the role in Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man 3. During that time, he evolved the character, becoming more confident with each scene. His Peter was more nerdy than the others, with the first movie leaning into the isolation that he felt and showcasing how good-natured he truly was. He was also one of the most well-rounded versions of the character, with Maguire portraying him in a more authentic manner than we had seen at the time – helped in no small part by the fact that the Raimi movies often felt more human than most superhero movies.
Yes, the characterization of Peter in Spider-Man 3 might be questionable, but Maguire committed to his performance throughout all three movies, gifting the world with the definitive version of Peter Parker for a whole generation. Seeing him back in the role in the MCU’s Spider-Man: No Way Home was such a fulfilling moment for fans of the original trilogy and it’s no surprise that even now, 15 years after the third installment, fans are still calling for Spider-Man 4.