Spider-Man has been involved in countless adventures. From comics and TV series to video games and, of course, the big screen, which is what propelled him to mainstream success. Speaking of the latter, today we wanted to compile a list of all the Spider-Man movies released to date. Get ready, because you might not even know some of them.
Spider-Man, a "classic" on the big screen
As we have just told you, if you thought that the first film that was published about this Marvel superhero was the one released in 2002, you are very wrong.
Specifically, there are three feature films starring this web-slinger before the first Tobey Maguire movie that most of us know. So, if you were wondering what the first Spider-Man movie in cinematic history was called, the answer lies in a rather little-known "trilogy" that few are familiar with.
The Amazing Spider-Man (1977)
In 1977, the TV series was released, and taking advantage of the longer duration of the pilot episode, it became the first feature film starring Spider-Man outside the USA. Its name was The Amazing Spider-Man , and it would set a path followed by other television series that ended up landing in cinemas throughout Europe, such as Battlestar Galactica.
In it we met Peter Parker for the first time, who in this case would face a mysterious enemy who controlled the minds of the most powerful people in the city. This he would have to do thanks to the powers that had been transferred to him by the bite of a radioactive spider. That is, the basis of the story that we already know but several years before.
Spider-Man Strikes Back (1978)
The second feature film, titled Spider-Man 2: Spider-Man in Action , arrived a year later in 1978, practically at the height of the superhero craze thanks to Christopher Reeve's Superman and Warner Bros. In this film, some students steal plutonium with the sole aim of gaining popularity by posing as terrorists who wanted to build a bomb. However, a villain discovers their plan and steals the plutonium to carry out his plan to blow up New York City. Spider-Man will have to act to try and prevent this from happening.
SPIDERMAN THE DRAGON CHALLENGE (1981)
Finally, we have Spiderman 3: The Dragon's Challenge , which premiered on TV in 1979 but did not reach Spain until 1981 in film format. As had been done on previous occasions with Spiderman, its creators took advantage of episodes that were somewhat longer than usual, or divided into two, to put them together and release them outside the US as if they were a one-and-a-half-hour film.
The story begins with Min Lo Chan, Minister of Industrial Development of the People's Republic of China, asking Jonah Jameson for help in finding evidence to clear him of a crime he did not commit. In this plan they end up involving Spider-Man (Peter Parker) who will have to travel to Hong Kong to solve everything.
The best known Spider-Man movies
Now, yes, we are going with a compilation with the best-known Spider-Man movies that have been published. If you haven't seen any of them, here's a little preview to whet your appetite.
Spider-Man (2002)
That first Spider-Man movie that we all surely know is Spider-Man , released in 2002 and starring Tobey Maguire, whose image has always been closely linked to the character because of the good reception his work as Spider-Man received.
Peter Parker lives with his aunt and uncle, who raised him as their own son after the death of his parents. One day, while visiting a laboratory, a radioactive spider bites Peter, granting him all his spider-like powers. Thus, he becomes Spider-Man, having to fight against all the dangers of New York and, in particular, against one of his nemeses: the Green Goblin , played by Willem Dafoe.
Spider Man 2 (2004)
The second installment of this trilogy arrived in 2004 with the title Spider-Man 2. It once again starred Tobey Maguire, who chose the responsibility of being Spider-Man over love. However, his relationships with his friends and acquaintances are threatened once again by the appearance of a new enemy: Doctor Octopus , played by Alfred Molina.
Spider Man 3 (2007)
Tobey Maguire starred in the final installment of the Spider-Man trilogy, Spider-Man 3, in 2007. Here we see a more mature Peter Parker who seems to have finally managed to balance his "normal" life with that of a superhero. However, unbeknownst to him, his suit is invaded by a symbiote that arrives from space, turning it completely black. Furthermore, it alters his personality, making him darker, more brash, and aggressive.
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
We had to wait until 2012 to see Spider-Man back on the big screen with the release of The Amazing Spider-Man . In this film, Andrew Garfield had the challenging role of portraying Peter Parker, but this time as a younger teenager. His parents had also passed away years before, and Peter was trying to discover his true identity until he found a clue. A secret his father had kept would lead him to become, once again, the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. At that moment, he would have to fight his nemesis, the Lizard.
Marc Webb is in charge of directing this film in which Emma Stone or Rhys Ifans (yes, Otto Hightower himself from La Casa del Dragón) also participate. It divided the critics a lot but ended up finding its audience and a place in the filmography of the superhero.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro (2014)
Andrew Garfield also played Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro, released in 2014. Peter tries to keep the promise he made to Gwen's father to keep her safe, but his love for her prevents him from doing so. They are both in danger again when Electro, a new villain in this story, appears. Harry Osborn also makes an appearance as the Green Goblin.
Marc Webb returns to the director's chair, with Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, and Felicity Jones among the supporting cast. The film has the dubious honor of being the lowest-grossing installment in the entire franchise, which ultimately led to the cancellation of even a third film. Garfield himself blamed Sony for the disaster in an interview, stating that the film had a fantastic script but that pre-production, production, and especially post-production ruined everything, cutting things without reason and creating a final cut that strayed far from the original essence—at least, that's what the actor said.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
The first Spider-Man movie with Tom Holland , Homecoming, was released in 2017 and marked the actor's debut as the absolute protagonist, although it wasn't really the first time we saw Tom embody Spider-Man, since he had previously appeared in the Avengers movies as a "new Spider-Man," younger than ever.
After his experiences in the various installments of Phase Three of the MCU, Peter returns home to his Aunt May in Homecoming . However, he now has Tony Stark as a mentor, who will help him continue his path as a superhero. Although this young man tries to live a normal life as a teenager, the appearance of a new villain called Vulture forces Spider-Man to make his presence felt.
The film performed quite well at the box office , grossing an estimated $880,2 million. Critics also warmly welcomed it, particularly praising Holland's performance, which made him a worthy successor to the role of Spider-Man despite his youth. Homecoming garnered several awards and nominations, including Saturn Awards, Kids' Choice Awards, and Teen Choice Awards.
Spider-Man: A New Universe (2018)
In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, there was a brief hiatus from the latest trilogy of this superhero. Marvel decided to release an animated film about Spider-Man seen from a different universe: that of Miles Morales. Peter Parker has died in this world, but Kingpin manages to bring another Spider-Man from a parallel universe to teach Miles everything he needs to know to become Spider-Man. Ultimately, four versions of Spider-Man end up in the same universe by mistake and must try to return to their original universes before reality collapses.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
In 2019, Spider-Man: Far From Home was released , again starring Tom Holland. Trying to take a break from his duties as a vigilante in New York, Peter travels to Europe. However, against Parker's wishes, Nick Fury requests his help to fight creatures threatening the continent. Although he believes he's been aided by a new superhero who appears (Mysterio), the story may take an unexpected turn.
The film closed its first 10 days in theaters with $580.1 million worldwide, receiving generally favorable reviews from audiences, both for its lead cast and its storyline. It's worth noting that this film officially concludes Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
The third film starring Tom Holland as Spider-Man was also the craziest and funniest of the trilogy . As had been speculated for months before its release, Andrew Garfield's and Tobey Maguire 's Spider-Men also appeared in the film.
In No Way Home , Peter Parker's life has become a living hell after Mysterio reveals Spider-Man's identity to the world . Peter can no longer go to school, leave the house, or sleep peacefully. And not only because of the journalists and fans who hound him, but also because many people still believe Mysterio's version of events and consider him a murderer. For this reason, the teenager seeks help from Doctor Strange , who creates a spell to erase Peter Parker's identity from the public eye. During the process, Peter notices the fine print and interrupts Strange, causing a disruption in the multiverse . This is how the two previous Spider-Men and many of the villains we've met in previous films find themselves in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Critics praised No Way Home for being an original and fun film from beginning to end, with quite humorous situations and a constant breaking of the fourth wall that demonstrated the ability of a director like Jon Watts to direct projects as complex as this one.
The total collection of the tape is estimated at 1.901 million dollars, being the highest-grossing film of 2021, the one that has worked best of all Spider-Man titles and also the one with the highest grossing for Sony in its history.
What is the order to watch the Spider-Man movies
Since we've seen that the superhero films are organized into blocks, figuring out the viewing order isn't too complicated (they simply go from the oldest to the most recent, that is, in chronological order ). However, given Spider-Man's appearances in other films after his entry into the MCU—which can be a bit more confusing—we've included the correct viewing order below:
The Sam Raimi Trilogy (with Tobey Maguire)
1.Spider-Man (2002)
2.Spider-Man 2 (2004)
3.Spider-Man 3 (2007)
The Marc Webb Bilogy (with Andrew Garfield)
4. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
5. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Spider-Man in the MCU
6. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
7. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
8. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
9.Avengers: Endgame (2019)
10. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
11. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
What do we know about Spider-Man 4?
Since No Way Home , Holland's future as Spider-Man has once again been uncertain. Sony has already hinted at wanting to make a third Amazing Spider-Man film with Garfield , which wouldn't be incompatible with the MCU since this character is from an alternate reality, and would also serve to give Holland's Spider-Man a bit of a break, though we're sure (whether it's confirmed or not) that he'll continue to play the superhero.
In mid-2022, a leak from journalist Jeff Sneider of The Anker turned everything upside down. Apparently, Marvel is adamant about making a fourth installment of Stan Lee's character with Tom Holland in the lead role. However, the journalist maintains that there is still no agreement between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
On the other hand, Sony is also keen to milk Spider-Man for all it's worth. As we mentioned, No Way Home has become the studio's highest-grossing film . But that's not all. Their license allows them to work with the web-slinger as long as they produce content. Otherwise, the rights revert to Marvel, something they've been avoiding for 20 years, despite now working with them in a purely symbiotic relationship. Therefore, it's not unreasonable to expect a new spin-off with Garfield while Holland takes a break after a busy few years working on numerous projects.
For now, Spider-Man's future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is uncertain, and all we know is that nothing related to the character was mentioned at the recent San Diego Comic-Con—despite the confirmation of many other future MCU titles. However, given the success the superhero has already enjoyed with Holland's portrayal, we can be sure we'll get a new installment sooner rather than later . There's too much money at stake to let it slip away.
Spider-Man animated films and series
We've talked at length about the live-action films of this legendary superhero, but there's another area where he's also been quite successful over the years: the world of animation . Peter Parker (and other alternate versions of him) have also starred in entertaining animated movies, some of which have been very well received by critics, both professional and fans, and have even won awards that demonstrate their high quality.
These are all the animated films and series we have about Spider-Man.
TV series
- Spider-Man and his amazing friends (1981): This is a TV series where we saw Spider-Man along with Iceman and Firestar. It lasted 3 seasons.
- Spider-Man (1994): released in the US, it is the longest to date in this format starring our superhero. There was even a crossover with the X-Men.
- Spider-Man Unlimited (1999): this is a spin-off of the 1994 proposal that in Spain was known as The return of Spider-Man. It had planned 2 seasons of 13 episodes each but was finally eliminated from the grid after the first.
- The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008): known in our country as The spectacular Spider-Man, is an animated series that had three seasons planned, but only reached two due to the legal problems that arose between Disney (which bought Marvel during that time) and Sony.
- Ultimate Spider-Man (2012): It was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko themselves.
- Marvel's Spider-Man (2017): continuation as a replacement for Ultimate from 2012, in it we have, for example, Gwen Stacy or Miles Morales, among others.
- Spidey and his amazing friends (2021): known in Spain as Spidey and his super team, It is a children's TV series where we see younger versions of the main characters.
Movies
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018): the best breath of fresh air we have received within the spider universe in a long time. Spider-Man: A new universe, which is how it was baptized in Spain, is an adaptation of the Spider-Verse comics, produced by Sony Pictures Animation together with Marvel and has even won the Oscar for Best Animated Film in 2019 (in addition to winning the BAFTA, Golden Globe, Annie and Film Critics Award in the same category). A complete success among the public, with great box office receipts and which you can currently see on Disney+.
- Spider-Man: Across from Spider-Verse (2023): This is a sequel to the 2018 film and focuses on the alternative universes of the Spider-Verse. Spider-man: Crossing the multiverse (title in Spain) also received very good reviews, being considered a worthy successor to the previous one with a good reception at the box office, although without as many awards as the first. It can also be seen on Disney+.
- Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (yet to be released): it has not yet set foot in movie theaters but is expected to do so in 2024, being the third part of this fun and entertaining animated trilogy. It is currently delayed, with no official date, due to the SAG-AFTRA strike.