A Rundown of Past Spider-Man Films as ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Takes Theaters by Storm!
The sequel to 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse releases in theaters this Friday, June 2, and is expected to be a big hit!
This is not the first (nor will it be the last) time that spider-like humans have graced our screens. Since Stan Lee invented the character in a 1962 comic book, there have been countless adaptations of this particular hero, both on the big screen and the little screen. This human-turned-superhero via radioactive spider is one of the most well-known figures in the Marvel universe. What makes Spider-Man so appealing that his character has been a pillar of pop culture for decades? Is it the costume? Is it the cool origin story? We may never know for sure. But here’s just a short list of the many Spider-Man adaptations over the years!
Tobey Maguire (2002-2007)
Recently added to Disney+ , the 2002 Tobey Maguire reiteration of the masked superhero is my personal favorite. Tobey is a perfect Peter Parker, so quiet and vulnerable, but always ready to the right thing. Plus, the all-star cast makes the movie that much more compelling. James Franco, Willem Dafoe, and Kirsten Dunst? Yes, please. Even future True Blood werewolf Joe Manganiello makes an appearance. Tobey Maguire’s version of Spider-Man also inspired several sequels: Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007).
Andrew Garfield (2012-2014)
In 2012, Andrew Garfield played Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man, with Emma Stone playing his love interest for both this film and its sequel, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014). This was followed by the introduction of Tom Holland as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War in 2016. In 2017, Holland officially replaced Garfield as the reigning Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Homecoming, which also had several sequels: Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). Holland’s Peter Parker was also in two different Avengers films, Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War. He may have the most Spider-Man film credits to date!
Tom Holland (2016-Now)
Before all these onscreen successes, Spider-Man was also an animated series countless different times on television. From 1967-70, 1977-79 and 1994-1998, several reiterations of this animated series aired on the small screen (just to name a few; there are a lot). With a lot of these series now on Disney+, you can never get enough of this action hero! The upcoming Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse uses characters from a different hit animated series on Disney+, Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends. In this universe, Spider-Man is no longer Peter Parker but a boy named Miles Morales, and he’s got some sidekicks, like Ghost Spider.
Little girls are really into Ghost Spider. My daughter recently convinced me to get her a Ghost Spider costume to match her friend’s. Do superheroes ever discuss how full-body spandex is not the most comfortable attire for exercise? Perhaps they should.
Anyway, get out there and check out what’s sure to be an action-packed animated film about America’s favorite superhero!
