Credit: Sony Pictures/Marvel StudiosNow that Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) has finally swung into theaters worldwide, it’s time to look back at the friendly neighborhood hero’s Hollywood career over the past 24 years.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, Brand New Day marks Tom Holland’s fourth solo outing in the MCU’s Spider-Man series, following Homecoming (2017), Far From Home (2019), and No Way Home (2021).
Holland also appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe crossover films, Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019), bringing his total appearances so far to seven.
But before Spidey first swung into the MCU, the character had already enjoyed five theatrical outings across Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey Maguire and The Amazing Spider-Man duology featuring Andrew Garfield’s version. In total, that’s 12 Spider-Man movies.
Of course, that’s only counting the live-action films—there’s also the animated Spider-Verse series, which will conclude with its third film next year with Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (2027).
Now, let’s rank all 14 Spider-Man movies from worst to best.
Two things to note before we swing into action. There are spoilers ahead for Brand New Day, and we’re judging every film based on how well it works as a Spider-Man story—not simply whether it’s a great movie.
Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame (2019) is one of the best MCU films ever. However, despite Peter Parker/Spider-Man’s dramatic return at the end alongside several other characters following the “Blip,” unfortunately, his appearance is limited only to that third act.
Watching Holland’s Spidey battle Thanos (Josh Brolin) with the likes of Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), and Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) at his side is a feast for the senses.
But if we’re measuring Endgame as a Spider-Man movie first, then sadly, it has to go at the bottom because Spidey’s screentime is far too “itsy bitsy.”
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) is a mixed bag, to say the least. While there are many fans who hail it as one of the best Spidey films ever, others think it’s an unfocused, bloated mess with poor pacing and far too many characters. Unfortunately, we agree with the latter.
Sure, the animation in this sequel is as stunning as the first (provided you’re not prone to headaches), and it’s one of the more emotionally impactful Spider-Man films (always a plus). But it’s hard to tell whether this is a Gwen Stacy movie, a Miles Morales one, or neither.
Hailee Steinfeld and Shameik Moore shine as their respective Spideys, but the film is ultimately weighed down by all the other Multiversal versions of the character.
Here’s hoping next year’s Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is as focused as the first film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018). But Across should have stayed in the water spout.
Spider-Man 3
Spider-Man 3 (2007) will go down in history as one of the best (or worst) examples of studio interference.
The concluding chapter in the once-immutable Sam Raimi trilogy clearly had way too many cooks in the kitchen, which is obvious from the film’s three major villains.
There’s Flint Marco/Sandman (Thomas Hayden Church), Harry Osborn/New Goblin (James Franco), and Eddie Brock/Venom (Topher Grace).
Each antagonist is vying for attention in equal measure in a plot already bogged down by a tiresome and mostly uninteresting love triangle of sorts between Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), and a newly introduced Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard).
What a tangled web this movie weaves.
Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) leads into the events of Endgame. Fortunately, the Blip—which sees Thanos erase half of all life in the universe using the Infinity Stones—doesn’t occur until the end, meaning we get a ton of Spidey action from Tom Holland, this time in the Iron Spider suit.
It really tugs at the heartstrings watching Peter Parker turn to dust in Tony Stark’s arms too.
However, just like Endgame, this is not a Spider-Man-focused film and, as such, it doesn’t rank particularly high on our list. Of course, Infinity War is no less brilliant, but if we had to erase half the movies on our list with the snap of our fingers, unfortunately, this one would be among them.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse had a lot riding on its shoulders. Not only did it introduce audiences to Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) on the big screen, but it also had to convince fans that an animated Spider-Man movie could stand alongside the live-action films.
Fortunately, it succeeded with ease.
Its comic book-inspired animation remains unlike anything else in the genre, while Miles’ coming-of-age story feels every bit as heartfelt as Peter Parker’s. Throw in memorable supporting turns from Hailee Steinfeld’s Gwen Stacy, Jake Johnson’s washed-up Peter B. Parker, and Nicolas Cage’s wonderfully ridiculous Spider-Man Noir, and you’ve got one of the freshest superhero movies ever made.
Sure, some of the humor veers into the downright silly, but that’s a small price to pay for a film that’s bursting with imagination.
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) had the unenviable task of rebooting the franchise only five years after Spider-Man 3, meaning audiences had to sit through Peter Parker’s origin story all over again, Uncle Ben’s gut-wrenching death and all (this time played by Martin Sheen).
Fortunately, Andrew Garfield quickly proves he’s more than worthy of wearing the suit. While his version of Peter is perhaps a little too confident and cool compared to previous iterations, Garfield’s natural charisma is impossible to ignore.
Better still is his chemistry with Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, which elevates almost every scene they’re in together. Rhys Ifans’ Lizard isn’t exactly one of Spider-Man’s greatest villains, but despite feeling somewhat unnecessary as a reboot, The Amazing Spider-Man is still an enjoyable ride.
Captain America: Civil War
Captain America: Civil War finally delivered something Spider-Man fans had waited years to see: Peter Parker joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Despite only appearing for part of the film, Tom Holland wastes no time making the role his own, perfectly capturing Peter’s awkward enthusiasm alongside Spider-Man’s boundless confidence.
Watching him trade blows—and jokes—with the likes of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is worth the price of admission alone.
It may technically be a Captain America movie, but Civil War serves as a fantastic introduction to Holland’s Spider-Man and leaves you counting down the days until his official, ahem, “homecoming.”
Related: Tom Holland Discusses His “Really Exciting” MCU Exit After ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’
Spider-Man: Far From Home
Spider-Man: Far From Home had the difficult job of following Avengers: Endgame while also standing on its own as the next chapter in Peter Parker’s story.
Thankfully, it pulls off both with style. Holland delivers one of his strongest performances as Peter struggles to step out of Tony Stark’s shadow (and out of his traditional New York City setting), while Jake Gyllenhaal steals almost every scene he’s in as Quentin Beck/Mysterio.
The globe-trotting adventure offers plenty of spectacular action, but it’s the shocking ending that truly cements Far From Home as one of the franchise’s strongest entries, laying the foundations for No Way Home and, ultimately, Brand New Day.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Spider-Man: Homecoming breathed new life into the web-slinger by embracing what had always made Peter Parker so relatable: he was just a kid trying to juggle school, friends, and saving the day.
Tom Holland effortlessly balances Peter’s awkward teenage life with Spider-Man’s growing confidence, while the addition of Tony Stark as a mentor gives this version of the character a fresh dynamic. The introduction of Stark technology also helps distinguish this Spider-Man from those who came before him without ever overshadowing Peter himself.
Meanwhile, Michael Keaton delivers one of the MCU’s finest villains as Adrian Toomes/Vulture—a blue-collar family man pushed into crime who remains surprisingly sympathetic and grounded, despite flying around New York in a giant mechanical bird suit.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Spider-Man: No Way Home could easily have collapsed under the weight of its own ambition. Instead, it somehow manages to celebrate two decades of Spider-Man movies while still telling an emotional story that’s entirely Peter Parker’s.
Tom Holland is excellent throughout, but seeing Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield return alongside iconic villains such as Willem Dafoe’s Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, Alfred Molina’s Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus, and Jamie Foxx’s Max Dillon/Electro is the sort of fan service that earns the name.
Rather than relying purely on nostalgia, No Way Home uses its Multiversal chaos to push Peter toward the painful choices that eventually lead into Brand New Day.
It’s funny, heartbreaking, spectacular, and proof that sometimes giving fans exactly what they want actually works.
Spider-Man
Spider-Man wasn’t the first superhero movie, but it helped prove the genre could dominate Hollywood for decades to come.
Tobey Maguire perfectly captures Peter Parker’s awkwardness before growing into the hero we’re all rooting for, while Willem Dafoe chews every inch of scenery as Norman Osborn/Green Goblin—and the film is all the better for it. Sam Raimi’s direction gives the movie a sincerity that’s often missing from modern superhero blockbusters, making Peter’s journey feel genuinely inspiring.
Sure, some of the CGI hasn’t aged particularly gracefully, but those web-swinging sequences still capture the sheer exhilaration of being Spider-Man.
With great power comes great responsibility… and with Spider-Man came one of the most influential comic book movies ever made.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is exactly the street-level reset the franchise needed following the Multiversal spectacle of No Way Home.
Rather than trying to outdo its predecessor with even bigger stakes, the film brings Peter Parker back down to Earth, reminding us that Spider-Man has always been at his best when he’s protecting ordinary people from everyday threats.
Tom Holland delivers what may be his strongest performance yet, portraying a Peter who has truly embraced the lonely consequences of Doctor Strange’s spell. Jon Bernthal is equally compelling as Frank Castle/The Punisher, with the pair sharing an entertaining dynamic that constantly blurs the line between heroism and vigilantism.
Meanwhile, Sadie Sink makes an impressive MCU debut as the X-Men mutant Jean Grey, adding another intriguing mutant to the ever-expanding universe.
Our only hope is that future Spider-Man films continue to focus on Peter’s own corner of New York rather than becoming increasingly tangled in the web that is the wider MCU, which has struggled to recapture the magic of its Infinity Saga in recent years.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) landing this high will probably have some readers reaching for the comments section—and that’s perfectly understandable.
Like Spider-Man 3 before it, the sequel suffers from trying to juggle far too many storylines, while Dane DeHaan’s Green Goblin remains one of the franchise’s more divisive villains. Yet despite its flaws, there’s something undeniably special about Marc Webb’s second—and final—Spider-Man film.
Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone remain the beating heart of the movie, with their effortless chemistry making every scene together feel authentic. Hans Zimmer’s unforgettable score only heightens the emotion, culminating in Gwen Stacy’s devastating death—still the single most heartbreaking moment in any Spider-Man movie (sorry, Uncle Ben and Aunt May).
It’s messy, overstuffed, and occasionally bizarre, but it’s also one of the franchise’s most emotionally powerful entries.
Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2 (2004) isn’t just one of the greatest Spider-Man movies ever made—it’s widely regarded as one of the finest superhero sequels of all time, and it’s easy to see why.
Sam Raimi perfectly balances breathtaking action with Peter Parker’s increasingly miserable personal life, as Tobey Maguire’s exhausted hero struggles to hold together his relationships, career, and responsibilities while questioning whether he even wants to be Spider-Man anymore.
Alfred Molina is phenomenal as Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus, delivering one of the most sympathetic comic book villains ever put to screen.
From the unforgettable train sequence to Peter’s emotional journey of self-discovery, Spider-Man 2 fires on all cylinders from beginning to end. Twenty-two years later, it still stands as one of the highest benchmarks the genre has ever produced.
Related: Marvel Confirms Major Recasting After ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’
Spider-Man Will Return
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
The next confirmed movie on the Spidey slate is Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, which follows the events of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, with Miles Morales on the run in an alternate universe while trying to save his family.
Beyond the Spider-Verse sees the return of Shameik Moore as Miles Morales, alongside Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy/Spider-Gwen, and Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker/Spider-Man.
Directed by Bob Persichetti and Justin K. Thompson, it swings into theaters on June 18, 2027.
Will Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Return?
As for Holland’s Spider-Man, while nothing has been confirmed, the actor recently said during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that plans for future films are being “laid out.”
Meanwhile, Brand New Day‘s post-credits scene suggests Spider-Man could show up in Avengers: Doomsday (2026), as Ned’s “Spidey Tracker” app shows the web-swinger moving past Earth and into the cosmos.
Holland isn’t part of the confirmed casting for the upcoming MCU film; however, reports claim that Tobey Maguire’s version of the character will appear.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Zendaya as Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson, Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds, Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/Punisher, Tramell Tillman as Bill Metzger, Michael Mando as Mac Gargan/Scorpion, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk, and Sadie Sink as the X-Men mutant Jean Grey.
Do you agree with our ranking? What’s your favorite Spider-Man movie? Let us know in the comments below!
