Movies: Who Is The Best Spider-Man?

The debate has been going on for years and to some fans, it’s not even a debate. Who is the best Spider-Man? Tobey McGuire is the earliest iteration that some will remember, Andrew Garfield took on the role with a different feel, and Tom Holland got to be part of the epic tale that is the Infinity Saga. Looking back on these movies, how do you narrow down who is the best Spider-Man?

Tobey McGuire – Spider-Man 1, 2, & 3:

So many people have this series as their all-time favorite. For that reason, Tobey McGuire will forever be in most people’s hearts the best Spidey on screen. When we look back on these films, they were the first of this magnitude for this character with a great story, classic villains, and an epic scale so it was easy to fall in love with. However, McGuire wasn’t the strongest actor in this role. The original trilogy had an all-star cast that did phenomenal with this movie, but there’s a crying Tobey McGuire meme that circles the internet that forever sticks in your head when revisiting this trilogy. Not that McGuire was god-awful but there were some cringe-worthy moments.

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Andrew Garfield – The Amazing Spider-Man 1 & 2:

Now here’s where the line is drawn because Andrew Garfield’s version of Spidey was the exact opposite of McGuire’s. His movies didn’t have the best scripts, but he stood out far better in his acting ability. His only downfall was going second and as fickle as moviegoers are, having to be compared to his predecessor. Comparing Garfield to Holland and not only Emma Stone to Kirsten Dunst but also Mary Jane to Gwen Stacy. Casual comic book fans weren’t ready to make that jump having known the original characters so well. With as much backlash as the end of the sequel got, it was almost shot-for-shot out of the comic book.

Tom Holland – Homecoming, Far From Home, No Way Home:

When it comes to Tom Holland, he nails the essence of a young Peter Parker. He hammers home that young inexperienced quirky kid that wants to do good in the world. We see the connection between him and the other characters and there’s so much to build off of with his character. Even his iteration isn’t without fault tho. The awkward, quirky, lack of confidence in Peter Parker carries over when he puts on the suit and it shouldn’t.

That’s the hardest part of this whole debate. None of them have really captured who Peter Parker was in and out of the mask. Stan Lee wrote Peter Parker/Spider-Man as the smart kid who was picked on and bullied, but when he put on the mask he was confident. People loved him and he was able to open up and be more of himself. There’s a certain magic to his quips and thwips that readers of all ages related to. The sense of being seen as more than just a passing glance that has been mildly portrayed in scenes but never to the same tune as the comics.

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Just like every other comic, Stan Lee wrote these stories to show that ordinary kids/people were capable of something extraordinary. Putting Spider-Man’s powers aside, Peter Parker was a nerdy science kid with a heart big enough to change the world. That’s why his character was written so young. He wasn’t corrupted or apathetic to the ways of the world. There’s so much more these movies could be doing with these characters and they’re just not there yet.

It’s hard to put a finger on who is the best Spider-Man, in the same way, it’s hard for people to figure out their favorite Batman or James Bond. There’s a history behind these characters and more to compare them to. Each version gets better than the previous while losing a little along the way. Favorite or not, who is your pick for the best Spider-Man? One thing we can all agree on is how awesome the theme song was.