Summary
Spider-Manhas been a success since his comic book days, going on to appear in multiple games, TV series, and movies. As a regular teenager trying to balance his personal life with the arduous journey of becoming a superhero, Spidey has created a catalog filled with great stories. In terms of movies, the web-headed superhero has spread his webs across ten movies since his first live-action Hollywood appearance in 2002.
Each with their own representation ofSpider-Man, these movies present different aspects of the hero, and even different versions, as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales put on the mask at times. Be it because of how they develop their characters, depict comic book villains, or build up the hero’s origin story, there is a wide range of narratives inthe bestSpider-Manmovies.
As one of the most polarizing superhero movies out there,Spider-Man 3wraps up the Sam Raimi trilogy starring Tobey Maguire on a somewhat controversial note. While it did provide iconic scenes and a lot of fan-service moments, the movie lacked in terms of story, attempting to do too much in a short amount of time.
With Eddie Brock as Venom, Harry Osborne as the Hobgoblin, black suit Peter Parker, and Sandman, this movie had a great list of villains, but it did not manage to give a worthy finale to the trilogy by giving enough focus to each of them. All in all, it still manages to be an entertaining watch despite some cringe-worthy moments and tumultuous storylines, which stopped it from reaching the heights of its predecessors.
Despite its promising start, the superhero’s reboot failed to reach its full potential, with the second installment lacking in so many ways. With an unfocused narrative,The Amazing Spider-Man 2disappointed fans with an overstuffed plot similar toSpider-Man 3,with a plethora of villains that are never fully explored.
Yet it still managed to bring some crucial storylines to life, including one ofthe saddest deaths in all theSpider-Manmoviesas the hero fails to save Gwen Stacy. Overall, this movie had potential, with a talented cast, a solid predecessor, and great moments, but its overarching, overbloated narrative failed to reach its full potential.
8Spider-Man: Homecoming
An Entertaining Adventure Wrapped In A Simple Story
As a fun and entertaining starting adventure to introduce the hero to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU),Spider-Man: Homecominghas its ups and downs. The movie is at its best when keeping things simple and straightforward in a classic Spider-Man adventure, especially considering it did not focus on giving the hero an origin story (again).
Yet it does not go much deeper than that, showcasing a colorful depiction of the superhero trying to prove himself as worthy of entering the MCU. While its refreshing and simple narrative did justice to the hero’s legacy, it was mostly a set-up story that lacks the narrative complexity that Spider-Man can have, especially since the film relied a lot on the MCU’s legacy.
7Spider-Man: Far From Home
A Fun Spider-Man Adventure That Establishes The Hero In The Post-Endgame MCU
Tom Holland’s portrayal of Peter Parker and Spider-Man has brought so much to all of his movies, including toSpider-Man: Far From Home’soverarching story. As one of thehighest grossingSpider-Manmovies, theFar From Home’snarrative does a great job at portraying Peter Parker’s personal struggles, Spider-Man’s responsibility, and teenage romance.
Combining some comedic fun with darker themes as Peter Parker struggles to come to grips with Iron Man’s death, the movie’s narrative definitely tells an interesting story. With the villain revealing Spider-Man’s identity in a series of great plot twists, the narrative does have its highlights despite still relying on the overarching MCU narrative to give it all context.
As the first reboot following the Sam Raimi trilogy, Andrew Garfield stepped into Spidey’s shoes, doing a great job at portraying the web-headed superhero, especially his witty banter when wearing the mask. Retelling the hero’s origin story in a very similar way,The Amazing Spider-Manbrought a similar narrative to its predecessors but with some added details to make it a tad more innovative.
However, its new elements were not enough to make this story stand out, especially considering that not a lot of time passed between the franchises. Overall, it managed to bring a great cast to a well-known story that did not have the complexity to rise beyond the original, despite great character relationships and emotional moments.
Probably the biggestSpider-Manmovie event ever, along with one of thebest crossovers in the entire MCU,Spider-Man: No Way Homepresented the reunion of all three live-action Spider-Men. The movieis filled with Easter Eggs and electrifying moments, as Tom Holland’s Peter Parker tries to define what it means to be his own version of Spider-Man.
Even though the story has its fair share of plot holes, it still managed to give a complexity to the MCU’s Spider-Man that had been lacking previously, allowing him to mature into the superhero he wants to be. With an emotional and fitting ending, it provides a well executed narrative that has more positives than negatives, especially considering how it was able to set up the character for the future.
After the success of the Sony animationSpider-Man:Into the Spider-Verse,its sequel managed to keep up that pace with an animation worthy of its name. While there is no agreement on which is the better movie, in terms of story,Spider-Man:Across the Spider-Verseprobably has the highest highs, featuringincredible and unique versions of the superherofrom across the multiverse.
However, the movie ends on a cliffhanger, as it is only part one of a two-part story. Despite its incomplete status, the second installment of Miles Morales' story comes with incredible moments as the young hero defies everyone to come to his own definition of what it takes to be Spider-Man in a Spider-Verse filled with its own rules.
3Spider-Man
A Simple Yet Influential Template For Superhero Movies
There is a reason why this movie is considered an important step for the superhero genre in becoming what it is today, as Sam Raimi introduced the iconic wall-crawler to audiences in a comic book movie that serves as a template for so many others. WhileSpider-Manis simple, and it does not innovate on the genre by today’s standards, this narrative plays on the strengths of the genre nonetheless.
Not only introducing Peter Parker as a relatable character,Spider-Manalso brought one of the character’sbest and scariest villainsto life. This movie not only inspired the tone of other superhero movies, it gave a narrative anchor to otherSpider-Maninstallments as well, making theSpider-Manfranchises what they are today.
2Spider-Man 2
A Great Spider-Man Story And A Sequel To Remember
Even thoughSpider-Man 2has a lot of elements that made it stand out upon its release, it really shines through its story, which proves that a good superhero story does not have to innovate on every level to be great. As asuperhero movie with a story worth watching,Spider-Man 2follows the hero’s complex emotional journey as he questions whose duties are more important: Peter Parker, or Spider-Man
As Peter Parker struggles with all of his relationships, including one with his mentor turned villain, this sequel improves on the original by taking a special interest in its characters. The narrative is gripping from start to finish, aided by memorable moments and action-packed scenes that still flourish 20 years later.
1Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
A Fresh Take On Spider-Man With A Heartfelt Message And Bold Storyline
With a fresh new perspective as Miles Morales takes on Spidey’s webbed mantle,Spider-Man:Into the Spider-Versebrought a breath of fresh air to a well-known and well-loved superhero. Focusing on the story of a different Spider-Man as he comes into contact with other Spider-Men from across the multiverse, Miles Morales is a young hero trying to overcome his fears to save the people he loves.
This movie has a breathtaking art style, an incredible soundtrack, and a plethora of Easter Eggs, yet it stands out for its flawless story that, when everything comes together, feels like a comic book come to life. By delivering a heartfelt message through a complex protagonist,Into the Spider-Verseranks as one ofthe bestSpider-Manmovies ever madewith its bold, unmatched storytelling making it a warm and worthy watch.
