Spider-Man is kind of the definitive superhero of our time. He’s been so popular for so long that we have movie adaptations of him from the last 50 years. We’ve seen him live-action, animated, anime, and everything you can think of in between. <\/p>\n
Sure, Batman is pretty popular too, but I think Spider-Man edges him out because his stories are all these coming-of-age morality tales that are easier to identify with, and I think they cover the globe. <\/p>\n
But what’s the definitive ranking of the best Spider-Man movies of all time? <\/p>\n
I took a swing at formulating some of my own. <\/p>\n
Let’s dive in. <\/p>\n
16. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1977)<\/p>\n
– YouTube www.youtube.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Director: E.W. SwackhamerWriter: Alvin BoretzCast: Nicholas Hammond, David White, Michael Pataki, Hilly Hicks, Lisa Eilbacher<\/p>\n The very first feature-length live-action attempt at bringing the beloved character to life. It was bold to do it all live action at a time when you had to do all these stunts. <\/p>\n It was originally produced as a television pilot before receiving a theatrical release internationally; this 1970s artifact sees Peter Parker fighting a mind-controlling self-help guru. Not a great villain, but a start. <\/p>\n It\u2019s clunky, cheap, and goofy, but it officially started Spidey’s journey on the big screen.<\/p>\n 15. SPIDER-MAN: THE DRAGON’S CHALLENGE (1981)<\/p>\n – YouTube www.youtube.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Director: Ron SatlofWriter: Lionel E. SiegelCast: Nicholas Hammond, Robert F. Simon, Rosalind Chao, Michael Zaslow<\/p>\n The third spliced-together theatrical release from the 1970s Nicholas Hammond TV series. While it holds nostalgic B-movie charm, it feels more like an extended TV episode than a real movie, making it a fun oddity for completionists only.<\/p>\n 14. SPIDER-MAN STRIKES BACK (1978)<\/p>\n – YouTube www.youtube.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Director: Ron SatlofWriter: Robert JanesCast: Nicholas Hammond, Robert F. Simon, JoAnna Cameron, Michael Cole<\/p>\n This was composed of the two-part episode “The Night of the Clones” from the 1978 series; this international theatrical release pits Peter Parker against a villain trying to blow up the World Trade Center with a homemade nuclear bomb. <\/p>\n I would say they probably won’t use that plot again. <\/p>\n 13. THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN 2 (2014)<\/p>\n – YouTube www.youtube.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Director: Marc WebbWriters: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Jeff PinknerCast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, Campbell Scott, Embeth Davidtz, Colm Feore, Paul Giamatti, Sally Field<\/p>\n Oh, where do we begin? This movie, built on the very shaky foundation of its predecessor, tries a lot of stuff. It tries to deliver intrigue in its exploration of the Parkers\u2019 secret life and relationship with Norman. It tries to deliver tragedy in the untimely death of Gwen Stacy. It tries to deliver electricity with Electro. (Sorry.) <\/p>\n While Peter contending with his parents’ secret life should be rich, dramatic territory to mine, it fell flat here. <\/p>\n I appreciate that the writers tried to do something different, but ultimately the familial conflict doesn\u2019t add to the character in a meaningful way. <\/p>\n It\u2019s a pretty dull diversion. Gwen\u2019s death has no emotional impact whatsoever because it\u2019s telegraphed throughout the movie. <\/p>\n And Electro? Jamie Foxx tries his all to give the character dimension, but he\u2019s far from Spidey\u2019s greatest foe. <\/p>\n 12. SPIDERMAN 3 (2007)<\/p>\n – YouTube www.youtube.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Director: Sam RaimiWriters: Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi, Alvin SargentCast: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace, Bryce Dallas Howard, James Cromwell, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons<\/p>\n I remember the disappointment like it was yesterday. Spider-Man 3 was perhaps the most anticipated movie of my young adult life. <\/p>\n The three-year wait between the second and third installments was interminable. Then, the trailer hit. It blew us all away. This was the grand finale, and the first two films were great. Surely, this would deliver. <\/p>\n Surely, this would be even better than its predecessors. <\/p>\n Well. We were wrong. Very wrong. <\/p>\n What happened exactly? Well, Raimi\u2019s said that he had no interest in depicting characters like Venom, who the studio wanted in the film. He was forced to shoehorn the character into the movie alongside Thomas Haden Church\u2019s Sandman. And Harry\u2019s Green Goblin. <\/p>\n The franchise was built to climax with a battle between best friends. For Peter and Harry to square off once and for all. It was a relationship so beautifully drawn. A fight destined to deliver us cinematic greatness. <\/p>\n And yet\u2026 the film\u2019s numerous villains muddy this. It\u2019s a confused, overstuffed, and ultimately underwhelming movie. It gave us Emo Peter Parker gifs, but that\u2019s about it.<\/p>\n 11. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2012)<\/p>\n – YouTube www.youtube.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Director: Marc WebbWriters: James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent, Steve KlovesCast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen, Sally Field<\/p>\n Despite the world\u2019s collective disappointment with Spider-Man 3, expectations were high when this movie debuted. Spidey was back\u2026 but could this new iteration of the franchise possibly deliver the thrills of Raimi\u2019s work? The answer was no. <\/p>\n Now, the movie wasn\u2019t bad. We were forced to sit through Uncle Ben\u2019s death a second time, but Garfield and Stone have a (clearly very real) chemistry that carries the film through its narrative missteps. It sports perhaps the weakest villain of the series in Rhys Ifans’ Lizard. The Lizard’s evil plot seems to be… turning everyone else into lizards. In all the superhero movies ever, that has to be the weirdest evil plot ever, right? The Lizard even says he’s granting some gift to mankind with this transformation. <\/p>\n Really? Everyone wants to be Lizards? Why? This is a true head-scratcher. Maybe it all ties into that conspiracy theory about lizard people running the government. Lizard people plans aside, the action is boilerplate, and there isn\u2019t a great deal of tension. I\u2019d almost rather watch Garfield and Stone\u2019s awkward banter for two hours. Is that weird?<\/p>\n 10. SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (2019)<\/p>\n – YouTube www.youtube.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Director: Jon WattsWriters: Chris McKenna, Erik SommersCast: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, JB Smoove, Jacob Batalon, Martin Starr, Marisa Tomei, Jake Gyllenhaal<\/p>\n Stepping into a post-Endgame world was a tall task. You sort of had to rebuild the lore once again, but Far From Home leans into the teen-European-vacation vibe to give Peter room to breathe. <\/p>\n Jake Gyllenhaal\u2019s Mysterio is a visual treat with his illusion-based set pieces, making for a fun, globe-trotting adventure that pushes Tom Holland’s Spidey straight into adulthood.<\/p>\n 9. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016)<\/p>\n – YouTube www.youtube.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe RussoWriters: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeelyCast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland<\/p>\n Spider-Man\u2019s grand entry into the MCU stole the entire movie and launched a star in Tom Holland. With just a quick bedroom chat alongside Tony Stark and an iconic airport battle sequence, Tom Holland instantly proved that a younger, high-school-aged Peter Parker could work beautifully in a modern cinematic landscape.<\/p>\n 8. AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019)<\/p>\n – YouTube www.youtube.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe RussoWriters: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeelyCast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Bradley Cooper, Tom Holland<\/p>\n Though Spidey’s screen time is concentrated in the epic final battle, his return from the Snap and emotional reunion with Tony Stark form the heart of Peter’s MCU character arc<\/a>, setting the stage for his post-Iron Man legacy.<\/p>\n 7. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018)<\/p>\n – YouTube www.youtube.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe RussoWriters: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeelyCast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Zoe Saldana, Josh Brolin<\/p>\n Peter Parker goes to space, gets the Iron Spider suit, holds his own against Thanos on Titan, and delivers one of the most heartbreaking, improvised lines in superhero movie history (“Mr. Stark, I don’t feel so good…”). <\/p>\n A massive ensemble piece where Spidey truly shines.<\/p>\n 6. SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (2023)<\/p>\n – YouTube www.youtube.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. ThompsonWriters: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Dave CallahamCast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Velez, Jake Johnson, Jason Schwartzman, Issa Rae, Karan Soni, Daniel Kaluuya, Oscar Isaac<\/p>\n Building on the foundation of its predecessor, Across the Spider-Verse is a jaw-dropping visual masterpiece. <\/p>\n There were times in this movie that I had no idea how they were doing what they were doing, but I was along for the ride and holding on for dear life. <\/p>\n It pushes the boundaries of animation to its absolute limits, elevating Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy’s story with deeper emotional stakes, an unforgettable soundtrack, and an unprecedented exploration of fate vs. free will.<\/p>\n 5. SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017)<\/p>\n – YouTube www.youtube.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Director: Jon WattsWriters: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Jon Watts, Christopher Ford, Chris McKenna, Erik SommersCast: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Donald Glover, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Bokeem Woodbine, Marisa Tomei, Robert Downey Jr.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll be honest. By the time this film was released, I had serious Spider-Man fatigue. We already had two incarnations of the character, and while Marvel\u2019s involvement in the project was encouraging\u2026 what more could a Spider-Man origin story really offer?<\/p>\n Working from Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley\u2019s smart, nuanced script, Jon Watts crafted a superhero film for the ages. Michael Keaton\u2019s Vulture is the most compelling villain we\u2019ve seen in a superhero film since Heath Ledger\u2019s Joker. <\/p>\n Yeah, I said it. The pre-prom car confrontation between Keaton and Holland is the tensest, pulse-pounding scene in the history of the franchise. It features no web-slinging. No explosions. Not even a hint of action. It\u2019s human drama. And it\u2019s amazing. So is this movie.<\/p>\n 4. SPIDER-MAN (2002)<\/p>\n – YouTube www.youtube.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Director: Sam RaimiWriters: David KoeppCast: Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Cliff Robertson, Rosemary Harris<\/p>\n The film that built an empire. Raimi\u2019s debut was stunning. It set the standard for what a superhero movie should be. I had never seen the spectacle on such a grand scale. <\/p>\n The movie\u2019s fun, tense, thrilling\u2026 if you don\u2019t enjoy it, you may not have a soul. You\u2019ve heard Uncle Ben\u2019s words a thousand times – with great power comes great responsibility. <\/p>\n Peter\u2019s arc is about learning this lesson. And he does, in the most heartbreaking way. Not only does he have to put his romance with Mary Jane on hold, but he\u2019s also harboring a terrible secret (Norman was the Green Goblin!) that puts him at odds with his best friend Harry. <\/p>\n By the end of the movie, Peter\u2019s no longer a plucky neighborhood teenager. He\u2019s an adult carrying a great burden. In short, he\u2019s Spider-Man.<\/p>\n 3. SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (2021)<\/p>\n – YouTube www.youtube.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Director: Jon WattsWriters: Chris McKenna, Erik SommersCast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jacob Batalon, Jon Favreau, Jamie Foxx, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Benedict Wong, Tony Revolori, Marisa Tomei, Andrew Garfield, Tobey Maguire<\/p>\n Pure, unadulterated fan service executed with genuine heart. No Way Home brought three generations of Spider-Man cinema together under one roof, using multiversal chaos to deliver profound closure for Garfield and Maguire while giving Holland’s Peter Parker his most tragic and authentic Spider-Man reset yet.<\/p>\n 2. SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE (2018)<\/p>\n