Every Film From Worst to Best

Few films have made their mark on cinema quite like Spider-Man. Since first swinging onto the big screen in 2002, our favourite friendly neighbourhood hero has become one of cinema’s most iconic characters, inspiring references and memes that transcend the films themselves and being reimagined across multiple generations, franchises and even universes.

And with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker soon returning to our screens with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it would be fitting to explore all the films that have brought us to this moment, from emotional coming-of-age tales and blockbuster action to groundbreaking animated adventures; every Spider-Man movie has its own strengths. So, with great power comes great debate – here’s our ranking of every Spider-Man film from worst to best.

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10. Spider-Man: Homecoming

Aside from his debut in Captain America: Civil War, Homecoming is Holland’s first solo Spidey movie and finally solidifies Spider-Man’s place in the MCU. Unlike the previous iterations, it skips Peter’s origin story, instead opting to show the balance of being a normal teenager as well as fighting crime… with Tony Stark as your mentor.

Unfortunately, compared to the rest of the Home trilogy, Homecoming is the most forgettable of the three. It’s a fairly base-level Spider-Man film, acting more as an introduction to Holland’s Spider-Man and his place in the MCU than anything else. It’s still an enjoyable watch, but it doesn’t leave quite the same lasting impression as the films that followed.

9. Spider-Man 3

Although it gave us some memorable moments, including a symbiote Spider-Man and a ‘bad boy’ Peter Parker, unfortunately, Spider-Man 3 never quite reaches the heights set by the first two films in Sam Raimi‘s trilogy.

In the third instalment, Peter goes up against a whole new crop of villains, develops a darker alter ego, faces his nemesis and finds himself caught in a love triangle. While it still has plenty of memorable moments, it’s overshadowed by the strength of the other Spider-Man films, which is why it lands lower on my ranking.

8. The Amazing Spider-Man 2

For many, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is their least favourite Spider-Man film, largely due to its clunky yet chaotic plot, but as a fan of Andrew Garfield‘s Spider-Man, there are still plenty of elements to love.

As Peter Parker continues to juggle his romance with Gwen Stacy while protecting the streets of New York, he is constantly grappling with how to keep her safe. But things soon become even harder as Electro arrives, Harry Osborn returns, and Peter uncovers more about his past.

One of the reasons this film isn’t lower on my ranking is because I admire the fact that it goes to places many blockbuster films wouldn’t, by not giving every character a happy ending. It’s a shame we never got to see where Peter’s story went from there.

7. The Amazing Spider-Man

There are many haters of The Amazing Spider-Man films, but I am not one of them! Garfield stars as Peter Parker, who, after being bitten by a genetically altered spider at Oscorp, gains newfound spider-like powers and soon finds himself stepping up to save the city from a familiar reptilian villain.

One of the reasons I enjoy this film so much is that it’s just as much a love story between Peter and Gwen as it is a superhero film. That romance gives the story its heart, although it may not appeal to those expecting a more action-driven Spider-Man adventure.

6. Spider-Man: No Way Home

It was difficult to rate this film because it was a massive cultural event, yet the film lacked what made some of the others so great. In No Way Home, we see Holland, Garfield, and Maguire’s Peter Parker’s finally meet after a spell created by Doctor Strange to hide Peter’s identity goes wrong, instead opening the multiverse.

It’s one of the biggest superhero events ever put to screen, but I can’t help feeling it’s remembered more for its cameos than its story. The reveals of Garfield and Maguire in cinemas made for one of the best cinematic experiences I’ve ever had, and I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed audience reactions quite like it. But beyond those unforgettable moments, No Way Home relies heavily on nostalgia, with much of its emotional impact coming from the return of beloved characters rather than its own story.

5. Spider-Man: Far From Home

As hinted at in the title, in Far From Home, Peter Parker finally goes beyond New York on a school trip in Europe, but, in true Spider-Man fashion, things start to go wrong, meaning Peter’s trip is a little less relaxing as he has to face four destructive elemental monsters. Soon, he meets Mysterio, a fellow superhero with mysterious origins, who is supposed to help Peter, or so Peter thought.

The grand reveal at the end of this film still haunts me, marking the first time Peter Parker’s identity was properly exposed on screen and setting up the emotional events of No Way Home. It was also refreshing to see Spider-Man step away from the familiar streets of New York, with Far From Home striking a balance between a teenager trying to enjoy a school trip, navigate his feelings for MJ and spend time with his friends, while carrying the weight of being an undercover hero.

4. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is catapulted across the multiverse, where he meets the ‘Spider Society’, a team of ‘spider people’ who are charged with protecting the multiverse’s existence. But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself up against the others and must set out on his own to save the people he loves the most.

The multiverse has been an ongoing theme in more recent Marvel films, but Across the Spider-Verse executes it brilliantly; although it doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessor, it remains an ambitious and visually breathtaking sequel. Expanding the Spider-Verse with a wide range of new Spider-People, raising the stakes for Miles Morales as he begins to question his destiny, and ending on a cliffhanger that left audiences desperate for the trilogy’s final chapter.

3. Spider-Man

In his first foray onto the big screen, Tobey Maguire brings the friendly neighbourhood hero to life in Raimi’s aptly named Spider-Man. This is the first (of many) times we see Peter Parker’s origin story as he’s bitten by a genetically altered spider at Oscorp, endowing the nerdy but endearing high school student with amazing powers to become the superhero known as Spider-Man. But with great power comes great responsibility, and Parker finds himself head-to-head with Norman Osborn, who became the Green Goblin as a result of a science experiment gone wrong, creating a Jekyll-and-Hyde-like persona. When the Green Goblin wreaks havoc on New York, it’s up to Peter to save the day.

As the first film in Raimi‘s Spider-Man trilogy, the 2002 blockbuster quickly became a smash hit, making history as the first movie to surpass the $100 million mark in a single weekend. It also gave us some of the franchise’s most iconic moments, from the unforgettable upside-down kiss to quotes like, “I missed the part where that’s my problem,” as well as Uncle Ben’s timeless wisdom, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Solidifying the film as a cinematic classic.

2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Unlike the majority of this list, Into the Spider-Verse adapts Spider-Man differently as the first animated film in the Spider-Man franchise and follows teenager Miles Morales after he is bitten by a radioactive spider in an abandoned metro station and gains powers akin to Spider-Man. Whilst wrestling with the impact of these new powers, Miles discovers a super collider created by Wilson “Kingpin” Fisk, causing others from across the Spider-verse to be transported into his universe.

The film quickly gained critical acclaim for its stunning yet unique comic book-inspired animation, making it an absolute wonder to watch on the big screen. But its visuals aren’t the only reason it has become such a modern classic, with Daniel Pemberton’s iconic score, an unforgettable soundtrack featuring Post Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower”, and a relatable hero in Miles Morales, whose coming-of-age journey makes him easy to root for.

1. Spider-Man 2

Somehow, two years later, Raimi managed to top the first of his trilogy with Spider-Man 2. Burnt out from bearing the brunt of being New York City’s hero, Peter Parker decides to retire the suit. But when, you guessed it, a science experiment goes wrong, Peter’s role model Dr Otto Octavius becomes Doc Ock, an evil villain with crazy robotic tentacles; Peter has to decide whether to protect his peace… or his city.

In true Raimi fashion, Spider-Man 2 is darker and grittier than its original counterpart as Peter has to navigate his personal life and his feelings for Mary Jane Watson whilst his childhood best friend and son of Norman Osborn harbours resentment for what Spider-Man did to his father. Yet it also carries lighter moments, with the film’s standout moment being the iconic train sequence as we see Spider-Man save the lives of everyone on board, and in return they respect his identity (if only it were that easy for Holland’s Peter Parker).

To this day, Spider-Man 2 remains one of the greatest live-action Spider-Man films ever made, with many considering it the benchmark for comic book movies.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens in UK cinemas on July 29th.

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