The Web-Slinger’s Big-Screen Legacy
The Marvel Cinematic Universe might be catching its breath, but Spider-Man never stops swinging. Since Tobey Maguire first squeezed into the red-and-blue suit back in 2002, the wall-crawler has anchored three separate franchises, crossed over into the Avengers, and even kicked off the multiverse saga.
With Spider-Man: Brand New Day on the horizon, it’s the perfect moment to look back. Every live-action Spider-Man film, ranked from the ones you’ll happily rewatch to the ones you’d rather forget. Spoilers ahead — obviously.
14. Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Oh, Sam Raimi. What happened? The third entry in the original trilogy is a mess of epic proportions. Too many villains, an emo Peter Parker dance sequence that still haunts the internet, and a Venom who deserved so much better.
There are flashes of greatness — the Sandman origin scene is genuinely moving — but the whole thing collapses under its own weight. Even Tobey’s goofy charm can’t save it.
13. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Andrew Garfield’s second outing tried to do everything at once: set up a Sinister Six, introduce Harry Osborn, kill Gwen Stacy, and sell toys. It succeeded at none of them.
That said, the chemistry between Garfield and Emma Stone is electric. The final swing — Peter catching Gwen, failing, holding her body — is the single most heartbreaking moment in any Spider-Man movie. It’s just a shame everything around it is so bloated.
12. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
The immediate follow-up to Endgame had big shoes to fill. It didn’t quite get there. Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio is fun, but the film’s European vacation vibe feels more like a teen comedy than a superhero epic.
The post-credit scene, though? That’s the real kicker. Mysterio revealing Peter’s identity to the world changed everything — and made us wish the movie before it had been a little sharper.
11. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Tom Holland’s debut was a breath of fresh air after the grim Amazing series. A high-school Peter Parker who actually acts like a teenager? Revolutionary.
Michael Keaton’s Vulture is arguably the best MCU villain of the first three phases. But the film leans a little too hard on Iron Man’s shadow, and the final battle feels small. It’s good — just not great.
10. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Rebooting a franchise five years after Spider-Man 3 was a bold move. Andrew Garfield brought a brooding intensity to Peter Parker, and the skateboard-era aesthetic is pure 2012.
The Lizard is a forgettable villain, and the mystery of Peter’s parents goes nowhere. But Garfield’s Spider-Man is witty, agile, and genuinely fun to watch. He deserved better scripts.
9. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
This one’s a nostalgia bomb, and it works. Tobey, Andrew, and Tom sharing the screen? The theater I was in screamed. And cried. And screamed again.
But as a film, it’s more fan service than storytelling. The plot is held together by coincidence and multiverse logic that barely holds up. Still, when the three Spider-Men swing together, you forgive everything.
8. Venom (2018)
Technically a Spider-Man adjacent film, but let’s be honest — Venom is his own thing now. Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock is unhinged, hilarious, and weirdly endearing.
The movie is a buddy-comedy disguised as a superhero flick, and it works. No Spider-Man, no problem. The symbiote’s “we are Venom” moment is pure chaos, and I’m here for it.
7. Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
The sequel doubles down on the weirdness. Woody Harrelson’s Carnage is a delight, and the Venom-Eddie dynamic gets even more unhinged. It’s short, silly, and knows exactly what it is.
Not high art, but a solid time. And the mid-credit scene teasing Venom in the MCU? Chef’s kiss.
6. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
The animated sequel is a visual masterpiece. Every frame is a painting, and the multiverse concept is pushed to its absolute limit. Miles Morales’s journey is emotional, complex, and deeply personal.
It ends on a cliffhanger that’s frustrating as hell, but you can’t deny the craft. This is what happens when you let artists go wild.
5. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
The first animated Spider-Man film was a revelation. It didn’t just tell a great Miles Morales story — it reinvented what an animated movie could look like. The comic-book aesthetic, the soundtrack, the voice cast. All flawless.
This is the film that made audiences fall in love with Spider-Man all over again. It’s a near-perfect origin story.
4. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) — Wait, I already did this
Okay, I made a mistake. Let me redo this properly.
The Real Top 5
Now we’re getting to the good stuff. These are the films that define Spider-Man on the big screen.
5. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Yes, I’m bumping this up. The fan service is heavy, but the emotional core is real. Tom Holland’s Peter Parker loses everything — his aunt, his identity, his friends — and chooses to start over. Alone.
The final scene, where Peter walks away from MJ and Ned, is genuinely heartbreaking. It’s a Spider-Man movie about sacrifice, and it lands.
4. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
I ranked this at 6 earlier, but I’m revising. The animation is groundbreaking, and the story — Miles vs. the Spider-Society — is the most ambitious Spider-Man narrative ever put on screen.
It’s a cliffhanger, sure. But what a cliffhanger.
3. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
The gold standard. Sam Raimi’s sequel is a superhero movie about being a superhero — the cost, the burden, the impossibility of it all. Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker is broke, failing school, and losing the girl. Relatable.
Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock is a tragic villain, and the train sequence is still one of the best action scenes ever filmed. This is how you do a sequel.
2. Spider-Man (2002)
The one that started it all. Raimi’s original is a love letter to the comics — campy, earnest, and full of heart. Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin is unhinged perfection, and the upside-down kiss is iconic for a reason.
It’s dated in places, but the soul is timeless. Without this movie, there’s no MCU, no multiverse, no Holland. We owe everything to it.
1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
I already ranked this at 5, but let me be clear: this is the best Spider-Man movie ever made. It’s not even close.
Everything about it works — the animation, the story, the characters, the music. Miles Morales is the most relatable Spider-Man yet, and his journey from scared kid to hero is perfect. The moment he leaps off the building and learns to swing? Chills.
It’s a masterpiece. If you haven’t seen it, stop what you’re doing and watch it now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Spider-Man movie?
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) is widely considered the best, thanks to its groundbreaking animation and heartfelt story.
Which Spider-Man movie is the worst?
Spider-Man 3 (2007) is generally ranked the lowest due to its overcrowded plot and tonal shifts.
Will there be a new Spider-Man movie?
Yes, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in development, with Tom Holland expected to return.
