Marvel has countless heroes under its belt, but none of them are as popular as Spider-Man himself. Ever since the wall-crawler first swung onto the big screen back in 2002, he has gone on to star in numerous other projects, each with its own set of strengths and weaknesses.
That legacy now continues with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the fourth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to star Tom Holland as the webslinger, and the eleventh Spider-Man movie overall. Its history-making success at the box office is a sign of Spidey's enduring appeal and a reminder of how imperative he is to the MCU. But how does the film stack up to its predecessors?
Which Spider-Man movie can be crowned as the very best? Well, it's time to find out as we rank all 11 Spider-Man films from worst to best.
10. The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Unfortunately, one of Spidey's movies had to earn the last spot on this ranking. That being said, the many problems of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 are very well known, so let's start with the positives, shall we?
It is no secret that Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone had over-the-top chemistry as Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy in Marc Webb's saga, so even when everything around them was a bit of a letdown, they still managed to make the film a very enjoyable experience. Furthermore, no live-action Spidey project has managed to surpass The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in the VFX department, and the swinging sequences were the best of any film... until Brand New Day came our way. Still, many key details work wonders in Andrew Garfield's last film as the wall-crawler.
The film's greatest highlight came courtesy of the death of Gwen Stacy, which was beautifully adapted for the big screen. Granted, Norman Osborn wasn't responsible for this tragedy, and her passing didn't take place on a bridge. But the creative liberties taken with this sequence worked in the movie's favor.
Unfortunately, that's where the list of positives comes to an end for The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The movie was a mismatch of many different tones, as it took itself too seriously at times, yet some sequences were plagued with comic-book corniness. Furthermore, none of the film's three villains had fully fleshed-out arcs, as they all fought for the viewers' attention.
Characters like Black Cat and Norman Osborn appeared only to be set up for future spin-offs, and yet they were extremely forgettable. Audiences spend way too much time with storylines that weren't nearly as impactful, such as Oscorp's secret projects division or the death of Peter's parents. Besides, the otherwise beautiful relationship between Peter and Gwen was dragged down by a lot of back and forth between the two.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 isn't a terrible film, by any means. We've definitely seen worse comic-book movies and TV shows. Still, it is the least impactful entry in the hero's big-screen saga.
9. Spider-Man: Far From Home
Much like The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man: Far From Home isn't an outright terrible movie. However, it is definitely the most underwhelming entry in Tom Holland's saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It doubled down on a few of the problems that plagued Homecoming, such as Peter's over-reliance on Stark tech. Furthermore, Peter's arc in the film was certainly baffling, to say the least.
Prior to the release of Spider-Man: Far From Home, audiences had already watched Uncle Ben's death (twice), Harry Osborn's death, Captain Stacy's death, Gwen Stacy's death, Richard and Mary Parker's death, and yet the reason Peter is desperate to hang the suit in Far From Home is because of Tony's passing—a motive that wasn't nearly as impactful as all of the other tragic events listed above.
Spider-Man: Far From Home also has one of the most uninspired Spider-Man costumes as a whole courtesy of the Stealth Suit, which was specifically made to trick the world into believing that a new hero dubbed "Night Monkey" is protecting Europe while Spidey is back in New York. That way, no one would suspect the fact that Peter and Spider-Man just happen to be in Europe at the same time. Well, not only is this premise pretty illogical (since Night Monkey and Spider-Man happen to be the same height, powers, and voice), but by the end of the film, Peter wears a new Spider-Man suit in Europe regardless. All in all, it's clear the Night Monkey plot line was just an excuse to sell more toys.
Spider-Man: Far From Home is also guilty of featuring uninspired swinging and action sequences in which Peter fights against... drones. Furthermore, the VFX does not hold up even when compared to other movies such as Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2, which was released over two decades ago. Peter also spends a lot of time relearning some of the lessons he had already learned in Homecoming, and Sony failed miserably to convince audiences that Mysterio wasn't the bad guy prior to the film's release. Also, why did Peter fully trust a stranger he just met with military-grade technology?
There are many problems with Spider-Man: Far From Home, but there is also a lot of enjoyment to be found with it. Mysterio was a tricky villain to adapt on the big screen, but the movie found a perfect way to do so, and his illusion sequences were simply flawless. Additionally, for as much as most action sequences weren't nearly as memorable, the spider-sense scene in the third act was spectacular. It was also a refreshing change to see the wall-crawler outside of New York, and it is perhaps one of the few MCU projects that directly dealt with the repercussions of the sudden return of half of the life in the universe, so extra points for that.
8. Spider-Man 3
Once crowned the very worst Spider-Man movie ever made, Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3 isn't as terrible as we were once led to believe. Perhaps its biggest downfall was the inclusion of too many characters and arcs that could've otherwise worked really well in separate projects.
If you were to look just at Sandman's arc, you'd find a conflicted man who isn't inherently evil and is just trying to do anything in his power to support his daughter. Harry also had a compelling story that saw him forget the past, get close to his former best friend, and then tragically remember that Peter was somewhat responsible for the death of his father. Granted, Eddie Brock's revenge arc could've been handled way better... but the character didn't get nearly as much screen time as he should've because the New Goblin and Sandman were also in this picture.
Tonally, Spider-Man 3 was also a bit of a mismatch. The film is responsible for giving us the infamous Tobey Maguire dancing meme (which we all know is a bit ridiculous), and just a few scenes later, audiences witnessed Peter accidentally hit MJ and Eddie Brock go to a church to ask for his archnemesis to die.
Gwen Stacy was also in Spider-Man 3 to add a little friction to Peter and MJ's relationship, but we could've honestly done without her in such a crowded movie. And don't get me started on how the film retconned the events of the first Spider-Man movie to make Flint Marko Uncle Ben's killer (which was just such a baffling decision).
But despite these problems, Spider-Man 3 is a very fun movie. It has some incredible action sequences, such as the Sandman vs. Spidey fight in the underground subway tunnels, or the final battle in which the New Goblin and the friendly neighborhood hero team up. Additionally, the VFX hold up insanely well for a 2007 movie, and (dances aside), it was awesome to see Peter finally don the Symbiote Suit.
7. The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is not as talked about as other Spider-Man movies, and there's a good reason for this. On the one hand, it isn't as divisive or controversial as Far From Home, Spider-Man 3, or The Amazing Spider-Man 2, meaning it doesn't spark as much conversation. On the other hand, it isn't as acclaimed or beloved as other blockbusters such as No Way Home or Across the Spider-Verse, so it isn't nearly as memorable. Instead, The Amazing Spider-Man walks the fine line of being a good Spider-Man film, but that alone is an impressive feat.
Perhaps one of the biggest "weaknesses" of The Amazing Spider-Man is that it retells some of the same story beats found in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, but in a less impactful way. Furthermore, it is well known that fans felt Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker acted too "cool" for its own good, and that characters like Sally Field's Aunt May or the Lizard weren't nearly as memorable as Rosemary Harris' Aunt May and Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin. But even then, Mark Webb's first Spidey film is a solid origin tale.
One of the aspects I personally like the most about The Amazing Spider-Man is its portrayal of Peter Parker. It's a controversial take, I know, but let me explain. Peter wasn't a saint in the original Stan Lee and Steve Ditko comics published back in 1962. Instead, he had an "edge" that was simply missing in Tobey's saga.
Peter wasn't a perfect do-gooder in the source material, as he even organized a ring fight in the middle of his class to beat Flash in front of everyone. Granted, Peter eventually lets himself be beaten to protect his secret identity, but he was always moments away from doing something not-so-nice.
Personally, I feel Andrew Garfield's portrayal of Peter Parker was simply spot-on when it came to the original version of the character (leaving the whole "cool skater" thing aside). After all, audiences finally got to see more of his tech-savvy side. Granted, others might argue that Andrew's take on Peter simply wasn't it, which is fine as well. But from an objective standpoint, The Amazing Spider-Man had great VFX, an incredible chemistry between Peter and Gwen, and a spot-on portrayal of the wall-crawler who was much quippier than its predecessor. The result is a good Spider-Man adventure that never quite crosses into "amazing" territory but stands taller than other live-action installments.
6. Spider-Man: Homecoming
Since the wall-crawler already had two previous franchises under his belt, Marvel decided to do something completely unique with Spider-Man: Homecoming. While the MCU didn't tell an origin story per se, it did spend an entire movie shaping the hero we all know and love.
See, the version of Spider-Man fans are familiar with usually prefers to fly solo and doesn't rely on other heroes to save the day. However, throughout most of Homecoming's screen time, audiences were presented with the exact opposite scenario. Granted, this creative decision was made so that the character could evolve and become a true iteration of Spider-Man right at the very end. However, it was also disappointing to learn that the hero's true in-character debut would happen in another movie.
But despite this critical shortcoming, Spider-Man: Homecoming is a fun, harmless adventure with low stakes designed to be a coming-of-age story. It is also home to one of the MCU's best villains ever crafted, and the Vulture twist was executed perfectly. Tom Holland's energy as Peter Parker in the film was absolutely contagious, and at long last, the friendly neighborhood hero was allowed to share the screen with other Marvel characters such as Iron Man.
5. Spider-Man
From this point onward, every film we're about to discuss is so spectacular that there's a case to be made that each one is the best Spider-Man project in at least one aspect. When it comes to Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, this is, without a doubt, the best origin story for the friendly neighborhood hero on the big screen.
It is universally agreed that Tobey isn't exactly the best Spidey ever, as his take on the character wasn't as quippy as fans were expecting. Furthermore, Peter and MJ didn't exactly have the best chemistry ever, and the Green Goblin's design left a lot to be desired. But if you were to ignore these problems, then you'd have an amazing film that forever changed the superhero landscape.
Sam Raimi's Spider-Man absolutely deserves its flowers for paving the way for the MCU to become the juggernaut it currently is. Beyond that, the film features the best live-action Spider-Man villain ever; it has astonishing effects that still hold up to this day, and a tragic origin story that's pretty faithful to the source material (even allowing audiences to see Peter's brief time as a wrestler).
Sam Raimi's Spider-Man wasn't trying to set up any future sequels or spinoffs. It was just attempting to create a memorable adventure starring one of the best superheroes ever created, and it succeeded big time. Maybe it lacks the iconic moments or heart of other films we're about to discuss, but it doesn't take away from the fact that it is truly spectacular.
4. Spider-Man: No Way Home
Plot-wise, Spider-Man: No Way Home could very well be one of the weakest Spider-Man films ever created. Out of the blue, Ned has magical abilities; it is never really explained how a memory-erasing spell broke the multiverse; and even if all three versions of Peter did their best to try and give the villains a second chance, most of them should've returned to their original universes to die all the same. The film is also infamous for featuring dull color grading and uninspired shots where New York feels empty. But despite these shortcomings, there's no denying that this was a truly once-in-a-lifetime cinematic event that acts as a love letter to Spider-Man as a whole.
Performances in Spider-Man: No Way Home are flawless, as Tom Holland, Zendaya, Andrew Garfield, Willem Dafoe, and Marisa Tomei all brought their A-game. Furthermore, even if the film features multiple characters, the story definitely works in favor of Tom Holland's Peter Parker.
At long last, the wall-crawler finally got to learn what it was like to lose someone close to him (aside from Tony Stark), and the film perfectly set him up for a more "classic" portrayal of the character moving forward. Furthermore, he paid a high price to save the day, which is how many iconic Spider-Man stories should go.
May got to do more this time around, acting as Peter's moral compass. It was also nice to see MJ and Peter as a couple (even if it would all go sideways by the end). But most importantly, it's impossible not to smile when watching the three friendly neighborhood heroes sharing the screen. Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire's versions of Peter Parker were more than just glorified cameos, as they prevented Tom's character from heading down a dark path.
Characters from the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe, such as Doctor Strange, Happy Hogan, and even Matt Murdock, also showed up to the party, and yet Spider-Man: No Way Home never feels overcrowded. Action sequences were also a step up from previous Spidey films in the MCU, and that brief but spectacular sequence of the three Spider-Men swinging in the Statue of Liberty will always live rent-free in our minds.
3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
As mentioned before, the top 5 Spider-Man movies are so incredible that it's hard to say which one surpasses which. Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse are both fantastic projects, each with its own set of strengths. The former is more hopeful and uplifting than the latter, but there's no denying that the sequel was larger in scope and had even better animation techniques.
Both films feature fantastic characters who represent different facets of Spider-Man, and action sequences across the two are nothing short of stellar. The only area in which Across the Spider-Verse falls "short" (which, to be frank, isn't even a problem in itself) is that it is clearly designed to be just one half of a bigger, cohesive story.
The ending of Across the Spider-Verse is meant to set up bigger things to come, rather than to bring a natural conclusion to Miles Morales' arc. The same can also be said for Miguel O'Hara and the film's villain, the Spot. But that little detail aside, this animated project is just as good as Spider-Man tales get, and we can't wait to see how its sequel will bring the trilogy to an end.
2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
This is what Spider-Man films should be about. When the wall-crawler was created all the way back in 1962, one of his defining traits was that anyone could be behind the mask. While heroes like Iron Man are millionaires and Thor is, quite literally, a god, Peter is just a normal teenager from Queens who ended up becoming one of the biggest glimmers of hope in the superhero world. So when Sony decided to create an entire animated movie based on this concept, it was already set up for major success.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse not only does a fantastic job of showcasing that anyone could be Spider-Man, but it is also filled with heart, laughs, and very emotional moments. The animation style is simply beautiful to look at, and it was a breath of fresh air to see Miles Morales steal the spotlight on the big screen for the very first time in cinematic history.
The many Spider-Man variants in the film all have distinct personalities, and yet each one represents what makes the hero so great. Furthermore, it was incredible to see characters like Ghost-Spider and Spider-Man Noir finally get the recognition they deserved. This is a feel-good movie that will never fail to lift your spirits and remind you why Spidey is so beloved by audiences worldwide.
1. Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Spider-Man 2
It turns out recency and nostalgia biases are equally strong.
It was a really tough task to rank the top two entries on this list. Both of them follow Peter Parker at his lowest, and from that point onward, they follow divergent paths that are equally entertaining to see. Most importantly, it's clear that Brand New Day and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 were made with love and care, despite a few shortcomings here and there. The two blockbusters are so close in terms of quality that they are equally deserving of the top spot on this list.
Both films act as a Peter Parker story first, and a superhero epic second. However, the timid teenager from Queens had a little more to chew in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2, as we saw him struggle to balance his job with taking care of his relationships, doing homework, showing up to classes, paying the rent, and even attending small appointments like aiding May in moving into a new home.
On the other side of the coin, Brand New Day gives us a refreshing take on the character in which Peter does everything in his power to distance himself from his personal life... but as a result, the man behind the mask doesn't get nearly as much to do.
On the flip side, audiences get to spend a lot of time with Spider-Man in Brand New Day. Furthermore, the supporting characters of the latest MCU movie are much more fleshed out, too. Jean's arc is executed to perfection, and both the Punisher and Hulk serve as warning signs about all the things Peter shouldn't do. Speaking of which, the superhero fantasy is also much larger in Brand New Day, given that it features many characters from the extended Marvel Universe. Unfortunately, this can also make the film a little bit crowded at times, while Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 never had that problem.
Pacing-wise, there's a small period towards the first half of Brand New Day where things move a little slowly. While Spider-Man 2 doesn't have this problem, its action and swinging sequences pale in comparison to the MCU's latest project. All things considered, these two movies have their own strengths and weaknesses, but they both succeed at telling a fantastic Peter Parker story acclaimed by fans worldwide, so why shouldn't they share the crown?
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