Spider-Man is one of the most enduring and beloved comic book characters of all time. Given the age of the comic book movies, his popularity is only continuing to grow. There are few characters who have had so many separate film series in such a short span of time.
With the recent news that Spider-Man is done in the MCU, fans are worried about the cinematic future of the wall-crawler. But given with so many movies already made featuring the character, we know his legacy will go on no matter what. But which Spider-Man movie is the best? Check out the ranking of all Spider-Man films according to Rotten Tomatoes.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (52%)
The second film in the rebooted Spider-Man franchise continued to explore the mystery behind Spidey’s origins. The movie also introduced a new cinematic villain with Electro (Jamie Foxx), a new Green Goblin and drew from one of the most famous comic book storylines.
Just from the plot description alone, it’s pretty clear the movie was trying to do way too much. While some critics applauded the bold conclusion, the movie surrounding it was a mess. The dull villains, over-complicated mythology and sloppy sequel-baiting ended this series after two films.
Spider-Man 3 (63%)
Sam Raimi came off the highly acclaimed Spider-Man 2 and was ready to take some chances with the sequel. This film follows Peter Parker trying to save his relationship with Mary Jane while being corrupted by an alien symbiote which brings out his dark side.
Perhaps it was a mixture of overconfidence from Raimi and studio interference, but this was a strange film. The notorious dance sequences and depiction of Venom get a lot of hate, but there’s plenty of script problems too. Despite some fun action scenes, the movie is out of control, and not in a good way.
The Amazing Spider-Man (72%)
Following the disappointment of Spider-Man 3 and given Tobey Maguire’s age, it was decided that in 2012, the Spider-Man franchise would be rebooted. Andrew Garfield stepped into the titular role in the origin tale that saw Peter starting a romance with Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) while battling the deadly Lizard.
Garfield’s portrayal received a mixed reaction but his chemistry with Stone was a huge strength for the movie. The film was a fine effort to continue the character’s cinematic journey, however, it also felt like treading on similar ground for many critics.
Avengers: Infinity War (85%)
Though not the first time Spider-Man met up with the rest of the MCU characters, seeing him become a member of the Avengers was something special. Avengers: Infinity War was the long-awaited face-off with Thanos as he went throughout the universe, collecting the powerful Infinity Stones.
The movie was criticized by some for its overblown cast and frantic pace, but most critics hailed it as one of the most ambitious MCU films ever made. Spider-Man was a welcome fit in the large ensemble and got one of the most heartbreaking moments in the shocking climax.
Spider-Man (90%)
For many of us who grew up reading Spider-Man comics and watching Spider-Man cartoons, it seemed impossible that there would ever be a live-action film for the character. Surprisingly, it was the guy behind Evil Dead that made it happen.
The origin story found Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) facing off with the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) as he came to terms with his new powers. The movie was praised as a colorful and fun adventure that embraced a lot of the silliness of the comics.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (90%)
Spider-Man: Far From Home served as a sort of sequel to Avengers: Endgame and an epilogue to theMCU’s sprawling Infinity Saga. It followed Peter struggling with the aftermath of Endgame and his responsibilities as a hero. While trying to escape on a European class trip, he meets a new hero named Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal).
Despite dealing with the weight of Endgame, Far From Home succeeded as a great comedy. Critics continued to praise Tom Holland as the lead, Gyllenhaal as a great new addition, and the sweet and funny high school romance.
Captain America: Civil War (91%)
Though a Captain America movie at its center, this is the movie responsible for finally bringing Spider-Man into the MCU (temporarily). The movie followed Steve Rogers attempting to save his old friend Bucky as Iron Man and other interested parties hunt him down.
The movie remains one of the highest-regarded MCU entries. It was praised for its ability to handle the serious moments with the comic book fun. Tom Holland was cited for a scene-stealing debut as Peter Parker and for his chemistry with Robert Downey Jr.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (92%)
After making his impressive MCU debut, Spider-Man got his first solo film in the massive cinematic universe. As Peter continues to dream about becoming an Avenger, he tries to prove himself as a hero by taking on the dangerous Vulture (Michael Keaton).
Critics were quick to point out the high school setting and lack of an origin story helped keep this movie fresh. Holland continued to impress as the hero and Keaton provided a fun villain. The movie also used its inclusion in the wider MCU to great comedic success.
Spider-Man 2 (93%)
Spider-Man 2 continued Peter Parker’s journey as Spider-Man while he struggled with the complications of his life outside the costume. As he continues to disappoint his friend, loses his job and struggles in school, Peter must also deal with a new villain, Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina).
With the origin story out of the way, Raimi was able to really explore the character of Spider-Man and the result was something special. There is a lot of heart and humor inside this big-budget superhero movie, but the action scenes are also a huge improvement - especially the amazing train sequence.
Avengers: Endgame (94%)
After Thanos fulfilled his devastating goal in Infinity War, Endgame picks up as the remaining Avengers try to figure out what to do next. With nothing left to lose, they decide to enact a dangerous plan to undo what Thanos has done to the universe.
This is the biggest movie of the MCU and many critics agreed that it lived up to the immense expectations. Drawing from so much of the films that came before, Endgame was a deeply satisfying conclusion to this epic story.
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (97%)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is Spider-Man’s first animated feature film and proves that it might be the perfect format for the character. The movie follows Miles Morales, a young kid who gains the powers of Spider-Man only to discover he is not the only one.
This movie was one of the most acclaimed films of 2018. Critics praised the unique animation style which made for a beautiful and energetic adventure. The character of Miles helped give the character a fresh feel and a version of the famous superhero we want to see more of.
