The Best Character in Every Spider-Man Movie (2024)

The Spider-Man franchise is one of the most popular in the superhero genre and arguably the best in the business. However, the wall-crawler himself isn't always the best part of every film. The characters in each film have always been incredibly written and often find themselves becoming fan favorites and even eclipsing Spider-Man himself.

Whether it be Peter Parker's love interest, the villain of the film or another character altogether, these figures command the screen to the point where they might be among the best in superhero cinema. A good character in a Spider-Man film consists of writing that keeps the audience engaged, memorable moments, great performances, design, and an impact on the story overall. And while the friendly neighborhood is the star of the show, sometimes others claim the spotlight.

1 Norman Osborn/Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe)

'Spider-Man' (2002)

When testing a formula known simply as "Oz," Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe) makes the reckless decision to test it on himself and loses his grip on sanity while gaining newfound super abilities. Equipped with a glider and an armored suit made for the military, he becomes the menacing villain known as The Green Goblin, the greatest Spider-Man villain there is. After dying in Spider-Man, he would come back in Spider-Man: No Way Home through the multiverse and murder Aunt May (Marisa Tomei).

In Spider-Man, though, Norman Osborn murders dozens of people and goes on to attack Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) in her home and throw Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) off a bridge soon after. The very definition of a scene-stealing, scenery-chewing performance, Willem Dafoe's work is exceptional and one of the best in all of superhero media. The Green Goblin was already a staple in Marvel history, but the three-time Oscar-nominated actor truly took the character to another level.

Spider-Man (2002)

PG-13

superheroes

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Where to Watch

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Release Date

May 3, 2002

Director

Sam Raimi

Cast

Tobey Maguire , Kirsten Dunst , Willem Dafoe , James Franco , Cliff Robertson , Rosemary Harris , J.K. Simmons , Joe Manganiello

Runtime

121 minutes

Writers

Stan Lee , Steve Ditko , David Koepp

2 Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire)

'Spider-Man 2' (2004)

Spider-Man 2 is known as one of the best superhero films of all time, and for good reason. As Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) begins to question his life as Spider-Man and why he should stay in the hero business if it has such a profoundly negative effect on his personal life, he begins to lose his powers. The timing couldn't be worse, as the menacing Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) begins to strike in New York.

Peter Parker's personal struggle and character arc in Spider-Man 2 is one of the best in action movie history. Superhero storytelling doesn't get much better than Spider-Man 2, and it's all because of Peter's relatable and deeply resonating arc, making him the absolute highlight of the film and the reason it is so memorable in the first place. Spider-Man 2 cemented Tobey Maguire's legacy and ensured he would be many fans' favorite Peter Parker.

Spider-Man 2

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

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See Also

Spider-Man (2002 film)Spider-Man (2002 film)

Release Date

June 25, 2004

Director

Sam Raimi

Cast

Tobey Maguire , Kirsten Dunst , James Franco , Alfred Molina , Rosemary Harris , J.K. Simmons

Runtime

127

Writers

Stan Lee , Steve Ditko , Alfred Gough , Miles Millar , Michael Chabon , Alvin Sargent

3 Flint Marko/Sandman (Thomas Haden Church)

'Spider-Man 3' (2007)

There's a general opinion that, when it comes to Spider-Man films, Spider-Man 3 is among the worst, thanks to being overcrowded in both the character and plotline departments. In an ideal world, Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church) would be the only major antagonist of the film, as he is the most compelling character. His motivation for villainy simply being that he wants to get money for his daughter Penny's (Perla Haney-Jardine) medical bills is relatable and, honestly, heartwarming.

Some don't even consider Flint Marko a full villain. His murder of Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson) was a mistake Peter forgave him for, and his motivations are honorable. This unique approach makes him such a compelling villain, and the conflict of Peter having to stop him feels a lot more complex than your standard Spider-Man baddie like Venom (Topher Grace). His initial scene as Sandman is one of the most moving sequences in a superhero film, as well.

Spider-Man 3

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Where to Watch

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Release Date

May 1, 2007

Director

Sam Raimi

Cast

Tobey Maguire , Kirsten Dunst , James Franco , Thomas Haden Church , Topher Grace , Bryce Dallas Howard

Runtime

139

Writers

Sam Raimi , Ivan Raimi , Alvin Sargent , Stan Lee , Steve Ditko

4 Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield)

'The Amazing Spider-Man' (2012)

When news came out that, after the critical failure of Spider-Man 3, Sony Pictures would be rerouting and rebooting the franchise with a new Spider-Man actor, they were hesitant at best. But when the reboot was released in 2012, and the world saw Andrew Garfield in action in The Amazing Spider-Man, so many fans fell in love with the young actor, and he quickly became a fan-favorite.

Peter's writing in The Amazing Spider-Man is actually quite good. The chip on his shoulder feels incredibly reminiscent of the early Stan Lee days of Spider-Man comics, and making him a more flawed individual makes him even more compelling than typical. Ever the charmer, two-time Oscar nominee Andrew Garfield's performance is also deeply layered and profound, bringing incredible emotion to his work and making his passion shine through the entire film.

The Amazing Spider-Man

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Superhero

Where to Watch

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Release Date

June 23, 2012

Director

Marc Webb

Cast

Andrew Garfield , Emma Stone , Rhys Ifans , Denis Leary , Martin Sheen , Sally Field

Runtime

136 minutes

Writers

James Vanderbilt , Alvin Sargent , Steve Kloves , Stan Lee , Steve Ditko

5 Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone)

'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' (2014)

Almost every single person can agree that the chemistry between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) is the absolute highlight of The Amazing Spider-Man franchise. Emma Stone's immense talent is on full display, and her arc of going off on her own to England while still being in love with Peter is super captivating. Her charm and explosive chemistry with Peter make her death all the more heartbreaking.

One of the saddest moments in superhero cinema is easily the death of Gwen Stacy, and it can't be denied that it's because of how great of a character Gwen is, especially in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The writers and Stone herself do an excellent job of making Gwen a three-dimensional character outside of being simply a ploy to Peter's arc. She has an independent arc with agency and exists for herself rather than as an extension of Peter.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Where to Watch

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Release Date

April 16, 2014

Director

Marc Webb

Cast

Andrew Garfield , Emma Stone , Jamie Foxx , Dane DeHaan , Colm Feore , Felicity Jones

Runtime

142

Writers

Alex Kurtzman , Roberto Orci , Jeff Pinkner , James Vanderbilt , Stan Lee , Steve Ditko

6 Adrian Toomes/The Vulture (Michael Keaton)

'Spider-Man: Homecoming' (2017)

Spider-Man's first solo venture into the MCU after his introduction in Captain America: Civil War needed to be nothing short of great, changing the game and successfully bringing about a new era for fans to follow. With the new era came a new villain, The Vulture (Michael Keaton), a disgruntled everyman who is sick and tired of being pushed over by the bigger guys. Along with his crew, he begins selling alien tech on the black market.

The MCU needed a great villain to kick off Spider-Man's (Tom Holland) tenure in their universe. The Vulture came on the scene with both a great performance from the legendary Michael Keaton and an incredible on-screen presence. The Vulture's theme and design are quite intimidating, posing a great threat to Spider-Man early on. His motivation is also incredibly understandable and supports Spider-Man's arc about becoming his own hero and growing out of Iron Man's shadow.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

PG-13

Superhero

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Comedy

Drama

Where to Watch

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Release Date

July 7, 2017

Director

Jon Watts

Cast

Tom Holland , Zendaya , Michael Keaton , Marisa Tomei , Robert Downey Jr. , Jon Favreau , Jacob Batalon , Laura Harrier

Runtime

133 minutes

7 Miles Morales/Spider-Man (Shameik Moore)

'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' (2018)

When Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse dropped in 2018, it took the world by storm with incredible reviews and intense fan acclaim. Overnight, people fell in love with the new Spidey on the block, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore). His story drew viewers in thanks to its reliability and unexpectedly endearing yet still admirable quality.

Miles is by far the best part of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse due to his wildly emotional and captivating character arc and his heart. Watching Miles get introduced to the Spider-Verse, thus emphasizing his inexperience, makes watching him grow into his role as the new Spider-Man of his Earth emotionally compelling in so many ways. It's what makes his leap of faith moment so impactful and profound.

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

PG

Superhero

Action

Adventure

Animation

Family

Sci-Fi

Release Date

December 14, 2018

Director

Bob Persichetti , Peter Ramsey , Rodney Rothman

Cast

Shameik Moore , Jake Johnson , Hailee Steinfeld , Mahershala Ali , Nicolas Cage , Brian Tyree Henry

Runtime

117

Writers

Phil Lord , Rodney Rothman

8 Quentin Beck/Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal)

'Spider-Man: Far From Home' (2019)

If there's anything that enhances the viewing experience of Spider-Man: Far From Home, it's the presence of one Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal), AKA Mysterio. Traveling to Europe for a school trip, Spider-Man teams up with presumed up-and-coming hero Mysterio, only to find out that Mysterio is actually using him to get to E.D.I.T.H., Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) last gift to Peter in death. The advanced tech controls an army of drones intended for protecting the planet.

Jake Gyllenhaal brings an awesome performance to his role in Spider-Man: Far From Home. His ability to bounce off of Tom Holland strengthens their connection, making his eventual betrayal hurt even more, even for those who knew it was coming. His illusion tech also brought about some of the most visually innovative action scenes seen in a Spider-Man film ever. Plus, he revealed Spider-Man's identity to the entire world, a feat no villain can say they've done.

Spider-Man: Far from Home

PG-13

Superhero

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

Where to Watch

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Release Date

June 28, 2019

Director

Jon Watts

Cast

Tom Holland , Samuel L. Jackson , Jake Gyllenhaal , Marisa Tomei , Jon Favreau , Zendaya Coleman

Runtime

130

Writers

Chris McKenna , Erik Sommers , Stan Lee , Steve Ditko

9 Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland)

'Spider-Man: No Way Home' (2021)

After having his identity revealed to the public, Peter Parker finds himself in a plethora of trouble. There is immense pressure on Peter to fix his life, get into college, and send the multiversal villains back to where they came from after curing them. It's arguably the greatest struggle any live-action Spider-Man has had to face, and this version of Peter Parker takes it on in stride, enhanced by an unforgettable performance from Tom Holland.

After a good few entries in the MCU that were a lot more lighthearted in nature, Peter gets thrown through the wringer in Spider-Man: No Way Home. His character arc is a rollercoaster ride in all the best ways. After losing Aunt May in the third act, Holland gets the chance to dial his acting abilities up to eleven and become the Spider-Man he was always meant to be.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

PG-13

Superhero

Drama

Action

Comedy

Where to Watch

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Release Date

December 17, 2021

Director

Jon Watts

Cast

Tom Holland , Zendaya , Benedict Cumberbatch , Jacob Batalon , Jon Favreau , Jamie Foxx , Willem Dafoe , Alfred Molina , Benedict Wong , Marisa Tomei , Andrew Garfield , Tobey Maguire

Runtime

148 minutes

10 Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman (Hailee Steinfeld)

'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' (2023)

Within the first few minutes of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, it becomes clear that the filmmakers wanted to place a bigger emphasis on Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) in this film. Throughout the movie, Gwen Stacy definitely takes center stage compared to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, as she struggles to toe the line between being in the Spider Society and being friends with Miles Morales.

Gwen's storyline in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a huge highlight of the film, and she really brings a lot of the heart found at the center of the movie. Gwen is arguably the film's deuteragonist alongside Miles. She brings a lot of relatability and emotion, grounding an otherwise inconceivable story in something raw and real and keeps audiences on the edge of their seats and thoroughly invested.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

PG

Animation

Superhero

Action

Adventure

Where to Watch

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Release Date

June 2, 2023

Director

Joaquim Dos Santos , Kemp Powers , Justin K. Thompson

Cast

Shameik Moore , Hailee Steinfeld , Oscar Isaac , Jake Johnson

Runtime

140 minutes

Writers

Dave Callaham , Phil Lord , Chris Miller

NEXT: Every Tom Holland Spider-Man Villain, Ranked