Welcome back to the MCU, Spider-Man. After a five-year hiatus, Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” This should come as no surprise, but Spider-Man is arguably the most popular hero in Hollywood right now.
Don’t believe me? According to Deadline, “Brand New Day” is tracking to earn between $167 million and $173 million on opening day. “Brand New Day” has a legitimate shot at surpassing the opening domestic opening-weekend record of $357.1 million set by “Avengers: Endgame.”
There’s something about that teenage kid with spidey senses that audiences love. I’m one of those fans, having seen every single live-action “Spider-Man” movie of the 21st century. With “Brand New Day” in theaters, which Spider-Man adventure is the best? Let’s swing into the rankings.
9. ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’
I am on the record that Andrew Garfield is the best Peter Parker. Garfield’s portrayal of Peter made it cool to be a nerd. One moment, Peter can explain genetic mutations; the next, he’s wooing Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). But “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” isn’t solely a Peter Parker movie; it’s a Spider-Man movie, and “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” fails to deliver.
This sequel has a too-many-villains problem. Max Dillon, aka Electro (Jamie Foxx), is an electrokinetic being out for revenge on those who wrong him. Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan) becomes the Green Goblin and wants to kill Spider-Man. Yet the true villain might be Oscorp, the corporation behind Dillon and Osborn. Will the real bad guy please stand up? We do owe this film a debt of gratitude because if it hadn't failed critically, would Tom Holland have ever put on the Spidey suit?
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8. ‘The Amazing Spider-Man'
This list is a tough blow for Garfield, who deserved better movies. You could make the case that “The Amazing Spider-Man” is better than “Spider-Man 3,” but I won’t. I’d rather watch the messy third movie in Tobey Maguire’s trilogy than Garfield’s first crack at Spidey.
“The Amazing Spider-Man” played the hits for the character's origin story. A spider bites Peter, Uncle Ben dies, and Spider-Man starts protecting the city. Making Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), who became the villainous Lizard, and adding the George Stacy (Denis Leary) subplot, especially the promise involving Peter, were effective story decisions. The biggest knocks against "The Amazing Spider-Man" are its timing and overall quality. Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” told the better origin story first.
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7. ‘Spider-Man 3'
If you thought “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” had a too-many-villain problem, wait until you watch “Spider-Man 3,” the third and final film in Raimi’s superhero trilogy. The first villain (if you even consider him one) is Flint Marko/Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), an escaped convict and sand shapeshifter. Next up is Eddie Brock (Topher Grace), Peter’s rival who embraces the symbiote to become Venom. Finally, Peter’s best friend, Harry Osborn (James Franco), becomes the new Goblin out for revenge against Spider-Man.
Did I also mention that Peter (Maguire) is possessed by the symbiote, leading to a new hairstyle, black clothes, and awful dance moves? It turns out, Peter’s biggest conflict is his relationship with Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). Overstuffed doesn’t even begin to do this movie justice. I would love to watch the version where Raimi picks one villain and one villain only.
6. ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’
It’s an overused phrase, and one that I keep using, but “Spider-Man: Far From Home” is “Spider-Man’s European Vacation.” It’s the one where Peter (Holland) wants to enjoy his summer vacation and take a break from being Spider-Man. Unfortunately, that’s not how having superpowers works. While in Europe, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) recruit Spider-Man to help fight the Elementals.
“Far From Home” had the unfortunate task of being the first MCU movie after “Avengers: Endgame.” Therefore, the movie had to address some of “Endgame’s” plot points, including Tony Stark’s death and the return of those who disintegrated via Thanos’ snap. Without those elements, “Far From Home” works much better as a teen romance and a superhero romp. In my best Christopher Walken-Bruce Dickinson voice, "I gotta have more Gyllenhaal.”
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5. ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’
For many fans of the Holland trilogy, this movie might be their favorite. “Spider-Man: Homecoming” chronicles the most innocent version of Spider-Man. After experiencing what it’s like to fight alongside the Avengers, Peter wants to step up his efforts as a crimefighter in New York City. Adrian Toomes, better known as Vulture (Michael Keaton), and his criminal exploits provide Peter with a chance to prove to himself that he can protect the city.
However, Peter’s bigger challenge is convincing Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) to trust him to make the right decision. “Homecoming” is a coming-of-age story disguised as a superhero movie. It’s about a nervous teenager trying to do right and not mess things up. Thanks to a memorable twist with Vulture and the Holland-Downey dynamic, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is an ideal first solo outing for Holland.
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4. 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'
It's a new day not only for Spider-Man but also for the MCU. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" feels like the start of a new trilogy, as it chronicles Peter's transition into adulthood. After Doctor Strange's spell, Peter has focused solely on his work as Spider-Man. While the city might be safer, Peter faces battles of loneliness and depression. To make matters worse, Peter's body experiences a new mutation that makes it difficult to control his powers. Whatever is going on, Peter must fix it quickly if he wants to defeat a mysterious new enemy wreaking havoc over the city.
After a decade in the MCU, Holland finally gets to play more of a grown-up. He continues to be an excellent Spider-Man, and you can totally see him playing this character in at least two more solo outings. "Brand New Day" definitely benefited from being more of a street-level story. However, the movie introduces too many characters and lacks a true villain. When that villain finally shows their face, "Brand New Day" focuses too much on their backstory as Spider-Man takes a backseat in his movie.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now in theaters
3. ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’
There is nostalgia, and then there is “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” When Maguire and Garfield walked through those portals, I felt alive again. My crowded theater erupted in applause as the “Spider-Men” formed a superhero trio. After “Far From Home,” the world knows Peter is Spider-Man. When Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) attempts to cast a spell to reestablish Peter’s secret identity, it causes a ripple effect in the multiverse, inviting a handful of Spider-Man’s rivals from other dimensions.
I’m typically against the overuse of CGI, and this movie was clearly shot on so many soundstages due to the pandemic. That said, “No Way Home” really did a number on me emotionally. Peter’s goodbyes to Aunt May (Marissa Tomei), Ned (Jacob Batalon), and MJ (Zendaya) are some of the most heartfelt moments in the trilogy. “No Way Home” is a shining example of how to feature multiple villains and heroes in one storyline.
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2. ‘Spider-Man’
Many fans will point to 2008 as the year that changed superhero movies thanks to the success of “Iron Man” and “The Dark Knight.” That year certainly ignited superhero culture. However, I view 2002 as the year that changed everything, and Raimi’s “Spider-Man” (with apologies to 2000’s “X-Men”) is the movie that revolutionized the modern superhero movie.
Raimi’s Spider-Man is the hero for the working class. He’s a poor teenager from Queens who transforms into Spider-Man after being bitten by a genetically engineered spider. It eventually leads to a thrilling showdown with Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), who happens to be Harry’s father, Norman Osborn. Raimi fundamentally understands the essence of Spider-Man with one line of dialogue: “With great power comes great responsibility.”
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1. ‘Spider-Man 2’
When I made this list, I didn’t even think twice about the top spot. “Spider-Man 2” is on the shortlist for the greatest superhero movie of all time. After the events of “Spider-Man,” Peter struggles to balance his duties as Spider-Man with his desire to have a personal life. This stress leads Peter to give up being Spider-Man. This crisis of faith could not have come at a worse time, as Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) terrorizes the city.
My favorite superhero movies all have excellent villains, and Molina’s performance — which shows how hubris can corrupt even the best of us — is exquisite. It’s a technical masterclass with Raimi behind the camera. It’s a superhero movie with action and heart. Most importantly, “Spider-Man 2” is a human story, one about sacrifice and responsibility. That’s always going to be a winning formula.
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