Face It Tiger, This is My Spider-Man Movie Ranking.
I have just rewatched Spider-Man: No Way Home…and I am still not okay. Like many people, Spider-Man has been my favorite superhero since I was a kid, with the movies and cartoons being big parts of my childhood. What made the most recent movie so special and emotional for me was the fact that the MCU Spidey made me fall in love with this character and it’s history all over again.
Since viewing the “final” iteration of the web slinger in the MCU, I have been having withdrawals and started to consume media featuring the character all over again. This includes purchasing The Spectacular Spider-Man (aka the best Spider-Man cartoon) on DVD, started playing Spider-Man on the PS4 even though I am not a gamer, and, of course, rewatching all of the movies. Naturally, I knew I had rank them, because why not? I love these movies, even if many are silly or bad, and I love discussing them. So let’s dive in shall we? (Side note: This is just one fangirls opinion, sorry if our opinions differ.) (Also, there may be spoilers for all movies, but I will do my best not to give anything away that hasn’t been widely known yet.)
9.) The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Oh boy, where to begin with this tangled up mess?! The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a perfect example of a film where the studio gets too involved. Too many villains, too many plot lines, it’s truly a mess. Jaime Foxx is truly awful as Electro, Dane DeHaan is a weak and cringey Harry Osborn, and Paul Giamatti is wasted as Rhino. Not to mention, the whole storyline with Peter trying to learn about his parents really goes no where and theres a failed attempt to set up The Sinister Six. Heck, Shailene Woodley was originally supposed to play Mary-Jane in this movie, with her scenes eventually cut, and Felicity Jones plays a character name Felicia leading many to believe she was supposed to be Black Cat. Why couldn't we have just focused on one villain and one or two storylines?
Despite all of these criticisms, I do have a soft spot for this disaster. Andrew Garfield is still a great Spider-Man and I feel bad that he never got his third movie. Emma Stone is good as Gwen Stacey, and her chemistry with Garfield is still incredibly sweet. Many of the action scenes are still good, and the Spidey suit is A LOT better than the one in the previous film. Despite all of this, the movie is hot garbage, but it’s my hot garbage.
8.) Spider-Man 3 (2007)
This movie is pretty infamous for being one of the worst films of the franchise, but I don’t find it as bad as the others. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still pretty awful. This is the first example of the studio pushing for too many characters while the director didn't want them. Gwen Stacey is a pointless addition, Topher Grace is incredibly miscast as Eddie Brock, and his evil counterpart Venom is completely wasted. The storyline with the black suit is rushed, Emo-Peter has become a meme, and the infamous dance scene is what many considered to sink this ship.
But as always, there are a few things to admire. Thomas Haden Church is great and the scene where Sandman is born is the highlight of the entire movie. The relationship between Peter and MJ, while it has problems, actually feels realistic, and amnesia Harry is the most enjoyably silly part. Had director Sam Raimi been able to keep the story down to what he wanted, them maybe this movie could’ve been good. But instead, it’s just a beautiful mess.
7.) The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
After the disappointment that was Spider-Man 3, plans for a fourth film were scrapped in favor of a darker reboot, because it was 2012 and everything had to be darker and grittier. The result was really nothing special, just a bit of a meh film. Andrew Garfield really is fantastic as the titular, but it would’ve made much more sense to place this version of the character in college or adulthood instead of high school (Garfield was 27 making the first film and he looks it.) The relationship between Peter and Gwen is very well developed and the two have excellent chemistry, and many of the action scenes are very well done.
The thing that really brings this movie down for me is that I find it a bit boring. Dr. Connors is a bland villain, but the fact that he wants to turn everyone into lizard people is just plain hilarious. And once again, the storyline with Peters parents just isn’t all that interesting. Every time I watch this movie, I find myself not really caring about whats going on. It was definitely a good set up for the new franchise, but ultimately it would fail. Bonus points however for having one of the best Stan Lee cameos.
6.) Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
The second full-length film to feature the character in the MCU, Far From Home had a lot to tackle. Being the first movie to come out after the acclaimed Avengers: Endgame, a lot had to be done in the story. Peter, having to deal with the loss of his mentor Iron Man, just wants to relax on his school trip. Of course, that doesn't happen. Tom Holland once again proves to be a great Spider-Man, many of his classmates are great, the romance with MJ is well developed, the effects and action scenes are some of the best, and this movie packs many emotional punches.
The reason I consider this the weakest of the MCU trilogy is because of our villain, Mysterio. The character itself is interesting, but Jake Gyllenhal just doesn’t work for me. His entire evil plan monologue has me rolling my eyes every time I watch this, and as a whole, I find his performance to be rather hit or miss. I think he was going for camp and it really didn't work well. Thankfully, his performance doesn’t take away from what a good movie it is. This movie also starts to drag a little as it goes on, it’s a very slow paced film in the middle. Overall, still a decent movie and I’m glad it wasn’t the last time our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man was in the MCU.
5.) Spider-Man (2002)
The one that started it all! The first in the Rami trilogy, Spider-Man was considered a game changer for superhero movies. Nowadays, it’s consider to be a bit corny and we love it for that reason! Tobey Maguire is great as Peter Parker and a decent Spider-Man, despite what the people who made fun of his cry face will make you think. Kristen Dunst is honestly kind of bland as the girl next door Mary-Jane Watson, but this movie is what gave us one of the most famous kiss scenes of all time.
The highlight of the entire movie is Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin. He just chews up the screen every time he’s on camera and it’s a ball to watch. My biggest complaint for the movie is that it doesn’t look very good. The colors aren’t great and the CGI looks like it belongs in a video game not a big budget blockbuster. And yes, some of the performances and relationships between characters can be weak. But this movie is quotable as hell, has many iconic moments, and gave us J.K. Simmons as the best portrayal of J. Jonah Jameson ever seen.
4.) Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
After his debut in Captain American: Civil War, many were excited to see if Tom Holland could pull off playing the character in his own movie and how it would differ from it’s predecessor’s. He was met with widespread acclaim, as was this movie! Holland captures the awkward nerdiness of Peter Parker and the quippy fast talking Spider-Man perfectly! The movie also pays homage to classic teen comedies and brings a lot of laughs.
Michael Keaton takes on the role of the villainous Vulture and he’s truly terrific. He’s sly, he’s creepy, and a real threat. Plus, the twist with this character was unexpected upon first watch. Marisa Tomei is an adorable Aunt May, and Robert Downey Jr.’s appearance as Iron Man is not overly done. The action scene are incredibly well done. Overall, this was a refreshing take on the Spider-Man mythos.
3.) Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Often regarded as one of the best superhero films of all time, Spider-Man 2 is a classic. Peter in this movie just goes through it all: his grades are dropping, he struggles to keep a job, the Daily Bugle keeps attacking Spider-Man, Mary-Jane becomes engaged to someone else, and his powers seem to be slipping away. Some might find it slow, but the struggle he faces make for an engaging story. And the “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head” sequence is an iconic moment.
But the movies biggest strength is Doctor Otto Octavius a.k.a Doc Ock. Alfred Molina was born to play this character and he is perfect. The tragic backstory of how he became Doc Ock is one of the best villain transformations in cinema. And let’s not forget the action scenes, from Doc Ock killing a medical team to the train sequence, every action scene is shot beautifully. It might be a little slow and a bit of a downer, but to me, it’s the best of Sam Raimi’s trilogy.
2.) Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Everything we have seen so far has been leading up to this. With his identity revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. But when a spell goes wrong, Peter finds himself facing off against dangerous foes from different dimensions. One word to describe this movie…EPIC! Tom Holland put his all into this, making me laugh, cry, and everything in between. Benedict Cumberbatch is also a delight, as always, and he isn’t overused too much.
The return of iconic villains also makes for a great time. Lizard and Sandman play small parts, but still good, Jamie Foxx is a much cooler Electro, Alfred Molina is once again a treasure, but the real scene stealer is Willem Dafoe. Instead of the campy Green Goblin of the past, he is a tortured and terrifying Green Goblin. And now for a brief SPOILER WARNING in 3, 2, 1…
Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire returned and it was perfection. I will never get over seeing this movie in theaters for the first time. My theater screamed when both first appeared and I started to cry once Maguire stepped through that portal. While both are great, and have great chemistry with Holland, Garfield steals every scene he’s in. The reason this finale is my favorite of the franchise is because Holland’s Peter has gone through his arc. What the others went through in one movie, Holland had this journey spread out throughout the trilogy. He has finally become the Spider-Man we’ve been waiting for. This movie is something that only happens once in a lifetime…
1.) Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
…But Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse did it better. This is the ultimate movie for a Spider-Man fan! All of the homages and jokes in regards to the comics and past projects are hysterical! And it marks the first big screen appearance of Miles Morales. After being bitten by a spider and the death of Spider-Man, Miles must join forces with other spider powered individuals from different dimensions to stop the powerful Kingpin.
I’ve already mentioned the humor and moments that Spidey fans will appreciate, but everything else about this movie is perfection! The animation is gorgeous, the original soundtrack is a whole bop, and the voice cast is spectacular! Some standouts are Liev Schreiber as Kingpin, Jake Johnson as our mentor Peter B. Parker, Nicolas Cage (yes really!) as Spider-Man Noir, and John Mulaney as Spider-Man. It was also refreshing to see a Spider-Man origin story with someone other Peter Parker. Miles is an incredibly interesting character and the leap of faith scene is one of my top ten favorite scenes in cinema of all time.
I could honestly go on and on about why this movie is a masterpiece, but I’ll save that for another day. Let me put it this way, if this movie wasn’t made, then we probably wouldn’t have had No Way Home. It’s a movie that made realize how important Spider-Man is to me. And in my opinion, it’s the best Spider-Man movie of all time. And I can’t wait for the sequels!
What’s your favorite Spider-Man movie? Shall I do this with any other franchises? I’d love your feedback! Thank you so much for reading, and remember, “With great power, comes great responsibility.”
