The debate over the best live-action Spider-Man comes down to three actors: Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland and Tobey Maguire. Garfield had the weakest run, appearing in only two solo films—“The Amazing Spider-Man,” and “The Amazing Spider-Man 2.” The general consensus is that his stint as Spidey was the weakest of the three.
The animated ‘Spider-Verse’ movies are a different story. ‘Into the Spider-Verse’ and ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ reinvented the character by presenting a multiverse filled with different versions of Spider-Man, most notably Miles Morales, voiced by Shameik Moore. The films are visual miracles, especially “Across the Spider-Verse,” which felt like a game-changer for animation. That film would certainly be a contender for the greatest Spider-Man movie ever made. In fact, it’s my No. 2.
Meanwhile, Tom Holland has played the character seven times across his own films and the larger MCU. While “No Way Home” was historic for bringing all three modern Spider-Men together, and Holland has delivered the most commercially successful Spider-Man movies, by far, his overall run has left a relatively muted impression in my books. Ask me? The films got better as they went along, but nowhere did they ever reach classic status. Ask any Gen Zer, and they’ll probably disagree.
And yet, there’s Tobey Maguire. He was the first actor of the modern era to bring both Peter Parker and Spider-Man to the big screen, working under director Sam Raimi across a trilogy.
“Spider-Man 2” still stands, for me, as the peak of the entire franchise. Maguire brings a vulnerability to Peter Parker that makes his struggles feel very real. He’s exhausted, uncertain and increasingly disconnected from the superhero identity that has taken over his life. The relationship with Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane adds a genuine romantic ache to the story, while Sam Raimi gives the film both comic-book energy and emotional depth. Even the now-iconic upside-down kiss has become part of the movie’s lasting legacy.
If the first Maguire-starring “Spider-Man” was introduction and the third took unusually daring and controversial swings, “Spider-Man 2” was the sweet spot—a wonderful mix of action, heart and character. The special effects remain outstanding, and the action sequences, including the thrilling speeding-train finale, make it a knockout through and through. Alfred Molina, as Doctor Octopus, also makes a very strong case for the title of greatest Marvel movie villain of all time.
A whopping 11 Spider-Man movies have been released since 2002. However, “Spider-Man 2" is still, far and away, the best one. It’s the perfect superhero movie. Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire’s creation remains the version that has left the most indelible mark on movie history.
Aslan is described as "he," with heterochromic eyes and red-striped face, a look Gerwig says was inspired by David Bowie. So this isn't a gender-swap. Aslan is still a male lion. He's just voiced by a 77-year-old woman.