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Across two decades, three different actors have portrayed Peter Parker/Spider-Man in each of their respective live-action film series. Thanks to these films, as well as the comic books that inspired them, Spider-Man has become even more of a beloved superhero thanks to his vulnerability, humanity, and ambition.
Each Spider-Man actor brought his own set of qualities to the role, and the charismatic villains bring plenty of conflict for the hero to deal with. Raimi’s Spider-Man movies, for all their flaws, were memorable and special. While Tom Holland’s trilogy is certainly competent and acclaimed, will these movies have the same cultural capital in a few years?
Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy set the stage in the early 2000s for becoming a superhero series that can combine drama and comedy, while also delivering explosive and hard-hitting action sequences (even for a PG-13 rating). Tobey Maguire is close to being the nerdiest Peter Parker, a guy who embraces the opportunity to become Spider-Man because he feels stronger and more determined. Yet, he also struggles to find that balance between being a hero and fulfilling his personal life.
In 2012, Andrew Garfield took on the role of the web-slinging hero, displaying a version of Parker who is rebellious and uncertain about his identity. His portrayal of Spider-Man is more of an origin story compared to Raimi’s version. In Garfield’s films, Peter’s parents are given a backstory that connects to the enemies Spider-Man faces in the present day.
Holland’s Spider-Man is unique because he first appears in medias res (“in the middle of things”); after all, fans of the character already know his backstory from the previous films and the comics. Before his trilogy, Holland’s young and dorky Peter Parker is introduced in the MCU film Captain America: Civil War, where Tony Stark/Iron Man becomes Peter’s mentor and father figure. This introduction is effective because it shows how Spider-Man can operate among a team of superheroes and how he matches up with them in physical battles.
All three live-action Spider-Man series have large fan bases. Holland’s trilogy may be the most popular because his movies have achieved massive success at the box office, gaining fandom from a younger generation that embraces both Spider-Man and his connection to the MCU. Spider-Man: No Way Home, the third film in Holland’s trilogy and the first movie to bring all three Spider-Man actors together, made over $1.2 billion dollars, becoming the highest-grossing Spider-Man movie of all time.
It can be argued that Holland’s trilogy is partly inspired by Raimi’s films, due to the combination of humor and intensity when the hero is placed in dangerous situations. However, Holland’s series holds its own by poking fun at Peter’s alter ego. Holland displays plenty of humor as Peter by hiding his identity as a superhero from his classmates and his aunt (until they eventually find out). This series doesn’t take itself too seriously, nor does it push the characters’ credibility by rushing into serious relationships. The chemistry between Holland’s Peter and Zendaya’s Mary Jane is casual and relatable for younger audiences to connect with, in terms of young love and nervousness when the characters try to share how they feel about each other. The fact that Holland and Zendaya are dating in real life further increases the popularity of this series.
This trilogy also manages to balance out the funny moments with Peter with the dramatic sequences in which Spider-Man takes on vicious villains like Mysterio and Green Goblin. Maguire and Garfield’s versions may have been considered darker due to their more mature approach to the material, by making Spider-Man exist mostly in real-world scenarios. Holland’s Spider-Man contains more mystical elements (thanks to Doctor Strange and the multiverse) and more advanced technology (Mysterio and his use of projectors and drones).
Maguire and Garfield each portray Peter Parker/Spider-Man as a hero who goes through loss, traumatic experiences, and hardships. Holland’s version of the character also shares these qualities, but his experience is the most transformative. Holland’s hero is initially funny, talkative, and family-friendly. However, when he becomes emotional and angry after losing Stark and his Aunt May, his change is significant and impactful. This is especially apparent in No Way Home, where he is determined to kill Green Goblin — before Maguire and Garfield’s Peter Parkers remind him not to forget his way.
Holland’s first two films embraced the character’s love for Queens, New York, being a friendly neighborhood hero while also fighting dangerous and vengeful enemies who share connections with Tony Stark. These films alone would have been enough to seal Holland’s memorable turn as a young and skillful Spider-Man, but his popularity in the role went to elevated heights due to his intense maturity in No Way Home. The third film not only solidifies Holland as Spider-Man, but also pays homage to Maguire and Garfield’s portrayals of the hero. The memorable villains from previous films (including Doctor Octavius and Electro) are also given the chance to shine again.
It’s debatable to say which of the three Spider-Man actors is the best due to their similarities and differences, but each actor has received acclaim and will be remembered in their own way. It’s also unknown if Holland will do more Spider-Man films and/or be a part of other MCU features. However, his Spidey character will continue to have a cultural impact on audiences because of his humanity, his likable personality, and his leadership and chemistry with other heroes.
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