Spider-Man Films Ranked – The Only Rank That Matters

So I’ve been a giant Spider-nerd since I can remember. I was born in 1974 and I don’t recall a time that I didn’t love all things Spider-man. Waking up Saturday mornings to watch the newest Spider-man and his amazing friends is most likely my first experience with Peter Parker and the crew. When I started reading comics ASM (Amazing Spider-man) is one of the first books I read and loved. I even watched and loved re-runs of the 1970’s tv show (which looks horrid now but hey its Spider-man!).

I craved a movie all through the 80’s and there were always persistent rumors of a screenplay here or a studio that bought the rights there, 1989’s Batman threw me for a loop because I figured NOW IS THE TIME there is nothing stopping a Spider-man film but it never came to fruition it was a real bummer. Then in the year of our Stan 2000 (and a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo got cleared involving MGM, Cannon, and Sony) Toby Maguire was announced as the actor to play Peter Parker. I still didn’t believe it, I fell for rumors in the past I was convinced Spider-man would never swing his way into our hearts on the silver screen for many many many years to come.

Then in 2001 something happened, a teaser trailer of an honest to goodness movie. I was struck dumbfounded and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, FINALLY the red and blue swung his way through the streets of NYC, it’s the only time in my life I actually yelled in excitement at a movie and it wasn’t even the movie it was a teaser trailer, I wont go into detail but that trailer was pulled due to the tragic events of 9/11 which prompted Sony to digitally remove the twin towers from its marketing material. It was all happening I was going to see Spider-man in all his epic glory on the big screen.

Why all the background before a simple list? I don’t know, I wanted you to have a real sense of my thoughts of how this list is put together. I’m only listing Spider-man led movies not movies that he is a supporting character.

Let’s Count this down

8. Amazing Spider-man 2

Release date: May 2, 2014 (USA)
Director: Marc Webb

Starring
Andrew Garfield
Emma Stone
Jamie Foxx
Dane DeHaan
Campbell Scott
Embeth Davidtz
Colm Feore
Paul Giamatti
Sally Field

Box office: $709 million USD (wordwide)
Budget: $200–293 million

A fun ride and Andrew Garfield is arguably the best in costume Spider-man with his quick jibes and banter but out of the 8 movies the most discombobulated

7. Spider-man 3

Release date: May 4, 2007 (USA)
Director: Sam Raimi

Starring
Tobey Maguire
Kirsten Dunst
James Franco
Thomas Haden Church
Topher Grace
Bryce Dallas Howard
James Cromwell
Rosemary Harris
J. K. Simmons

Box office: $890.9 million USD (wordwide)
Budget: $250 million USD

A lot going on and though the Venom Storyline was pretty close to the comic I think Topher Grace just ended up being the wrong casting choice and you can’t have a misunderstood Sandman the dude is jerk ‘nough said. I still enjoy this movie and its better than Venom.

6. The Amazing Spider-man

Release date: July 3, 2012 (USA)
Director: Marc Webb

Starring
Andrew Garfield
Emma Stone
Rhys Ifans
Denis Leary
Campbell Scott
Irrfan Khan
Martin Sheen
Sally Field

Box office: $757.9 million USD (worldwide)
Budget: $200–230 million

A really really fun ride with the best Spider-man for my money (NOT the best Peter Parker). Garfield plays the witty Spider-man perfectly, but his cool suave Peter Parker is off the mark. Still, this is one I watch from time to time.

5. Spider-man: Far From Home

Release date: June 26, 2019 (USA)
Director: Jon Watts

Starring:
Tom Holland
Samuel L. Jackson
Zendaya
Cobie Smulders
Jon Favreau
J. B. Smoove
Jacob Batalon
Martin Starr
Marisa Tomei
Jake Gyllenhaal

Box office: $1.116 billion (so far) (worldwide)
Budget: $160 million USD

I like Tom Holland as Spider-man and they keep making changes that are fun and quirky. Mysterio was played to as close of perfection as possible by Gyllenhal and I didn’t think Mysterio was a character we’d ever see in a movie he is just so corny in the comic. My only real complaint if its possible is that Tom Holland is getting really close to Garfields performance of Peter Parker, gone is the uber nerd and outcast being replaced by a super cool every mans guy. Also, this wrapped up Endgame pretty well. Want to hear us talk about this movie? Do so here.

4. Spider-man: Homecoming

Release date: July 7, 2017 (USA)
Director: Jon Watts

Starring:
Tom Holland
Michael Keaton
Jon Favreau
Zendaya
Donald Glover
Tyne Daly
Marisa Tomei
Robert Downey Jr.

Box office: $880.2 million USD (worldwide)
Budget: $175 million US

After the events of Civil War the audience was clamoring for this movie and it did not disappoint. Jon Watts forgo the obligatory origin story much to the delight of most everyone I spoke with and told a wonderful tight story. Introducing new spins on Ned and MJ the story is refreshing and is one of best representation of high school Peter I can remember. I know I said Tom is being to cool for Peter but that’s a different movie.

3. Spider-man

Release date: May 3, 2002 (USA)
Director: Sam Raimi

Starring
Tobey Maguire
Willem Dafoe
Kirsten Dunst
James Franco
Cliff Robertson
Rosemary Harris

Box office: $821.7 million USD (worldwide)
Budget: $139 million USD

You already know I love this movie and why and if you don’t scroll up, its just the next two are so much better it had to place here.

2. Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse

Release date: December 14, 2018 (USA)
Directors: Peter Ramsey, Bob Persichetti, Rodney Rothman

Starring
Shameik Moore
Jake Johnson
Hailee Steinfeld
Mahershala Ali
Brian Tyree Henry
Lily Tomlin
Luna Lauren Velez
John Mulaney
Kimiko Glenn
Nicolas Cage
Liev Schreiber

Box office: $375.5 million USD (worldwide)
Budget: $90 million USD

Most of my so called friends believe this is the best, cream of the crop, can’t get any better. The issue for me is that more than anything this is a Miles Morales movie. I know, HE IS SPIDER-MAN, but in an alternate universe and think to yourself that you only mean Miles in your head but then ask anyone who is Spider-man they’ll tell you Peter Parker just about every time.

I know its not the most popular opinion because the movie itself is AMAZING and not to mention it won a freaking academy award for best animated featured film. It has everything you want in a Spider-man movie and I’ve watched it a TON and I don’t mean 2 or 3 times more like 8 to 10 all that being said Peter Parker is a main character but he’s not THE main character and for me there will only ever be one Spider-man.

We talked about this movie with Eli on the podcast, you should listen to it.

1.  Spider-man 2

Release date: June 30, 2004 (USA)
Director: Sam Raimi

Starring
Tobey Maguire
Kirsten Dunst
James Franco
Alfred Molina
Rosemary Harris
Donna Murphy

Box office: 783.8 million USD (worldwide)
Budget: 200 million USD

Surprised? Im not. For a long time this movie was/is considered the greatest superhero movie ever done. Why? Well for my money its all about Alfred Molinas portrayal of Doc Ock as his emotional story moves you through the sequences. This movie could be one of the greatest of its genre and I would tempt you to go back and watch it again with newer eyes of everything that’s come to past. Raimi simply kills it in this one.

The current future of Spider-Man movies is unknown, but if you want to hear us talk about it take a listen to our recent Tangent episode “Spider-Man and Get Over Yourself“

HONORABLE Mentions:

The Re-cut of the The Amazing Spider-man TV Show was release by Columbia picture outside the US as 3 separate Spider-Man movies. We talk about these with Andrew Sumner here.

• Spider-Man
  Release Date: 9-14-1977
  Director: E.W. Swackhamer
  
• Spider-man Strikes Back
  Release Date: 5-8-1978
  Director: Ron Statlof
  
• Spider-man: The Dragons Challenge
  Release Date 5-9-1981
  Director: Ron Statlof

Tōei released a theatrical Spider-man to Japanese audiences, you can find it around the web.

           Spider-man
          Released Date: 7-22-1978
          Director: Kōichi Takemoto

So much win in this series.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article on the only ranking that matters for the Spider-Man movies. Want to hear us talk about his? You can click here to do so! Or push play below!