Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, Spider-Man first appeared in the anthology comic book Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1962. In the years following, the friendly neighbourhood wall-crawler has featured in television shows (both animated and live-action), video games, plays, and movies.
The first actor to don the famous blue and red costume was Nicholas Hammond for the The Amazing Spider-Man television series and subsequent made-for-TV movies (which were series episodes spliced together). Tobey Maguire was the first person to star as Spider-Man for a big-screen release and in later years Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland swung their way into the role.
Below, we list all of the live-action movies featuring Spider-Man. Absent from this list are the two Venom movies and Morbius. While they exist in the same universe as Spidey, they don’t feature our favourite web-slinger.
Spider-Man Strikes Back
European Release Date: May 8, 1978
Worldwide Box Office: N/A
Director: Ron Satlof
Metascore: N/A
Main Cast:
Nicholas Hammond (Spider-Man), Robert F. Simon (J. Jonah Jameson), Chip Fields (Rita Conway), Robert Alda (Mr. White)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Spider-Man swings to the rescue when a nuclear bomb created by three college students falls into criminal hands.
Web Fact:
The movie was released theatrically around Europe but in the US, it aired on TV.
Spider-Man: The Dragon’s Challenge
US Release Date: July 6, 1979
Worldwide Box Office: N/A
Director: Don McDougall
Metascore: N/A
Main Cast:
Nicholas Hammond (Spider-Man), Robert F. Simon (J. Jonah Jameson), Chip Fields (Rita Conway), Ellen Bry (Julie Masters)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
The amazing Spider-Man goes to China to help a World War II official accused of treachery.
Web Fact:
The movie is comprised of two episodes of The Amazing Spider-Man television series.
Spider-Man
US Release Date: May 3, 2002
Worldwide Box Office: $825 million
Director: Sam Raimi
Metascore: 73
Main Cast:
Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man), Kirsten Dunst (Mary-Jane), Willem Dafoe (Green Goblin), James Franco (Harry Osborn), Cliff Robertson (Uncle Ben), Rosemary Harris (Aunt May), J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
After being bitten by a genetically modified spider, a shy teenager gains spider-like abilities that he uses to fight injustice as a masked superhero and face a vengeful enemy.
Web Fact:
Zach Hudson, the stunt double for Tobey Maguire, fractured his leg after he slammed into a brick wall.
Spider-Man 2
US Release Date: June 30, 2004
Worldwide Box Office: $789 million
Director: Sam Raimi
Metascore: 83
Main Cast:
Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man), Kirsten Dunst (Mary-Jane), Alfred Molina (Doc Ock), James Franco (Harry Osborn), Rosemary Harris (Aunt May), J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Peter Parker is beset with troubles in his failing personal life as he battles a brilliant scientist named Doctor Otto Octavius.
Web Fact:
Alfred Molina, who played Doctor Octopus, named his four mechanical tentacles Larry, Harry, Flo and Moe.
Spider-Man 3
US Release Date: May 4, 2007
Worldwide Box Office: $895 million
Director: Sam Raimi
Metascore: 59
Main Cast:
Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man), Kirsten Dunst (Mary-Jane), Topher Grace (Venom), Thomas Haden Church (Sandman), James Franco (New Goblin), Bryce Dallas Howard (Gwen), Rosemary Harris (Aunt May), J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
A strange black entity from another world bonds with Peter Parker and causes inner turmoil as he contends with new villains, temptations, and revenge.
Web Fact:
Topher Grace, who played Venom in the film, didn’t drink any water during breaks as his costume prohibited him from going to the toilet.
The Amazing Spider-Man
US Release Date: July 3, 2012
Worldwide Box Office: $758 million
Director: Marc Webb
Metascore: 66
Main Cast:
Andrew Garfield (Spider-Man), Emma Stone (Gwen), Rhys Ifans (The Lizard), Martin Sheen (Uncle Ben), Sally Field (Aunt May), Dennis Leary (Captain Stacy),
Synopsis (from IMDB):
After Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically altered spider, he gains newfound, spider-like powers and ventures out to save the city from the machinations of a mysterious reptilian foe.
Web Fact:
To prepare for his role as Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield studied and implemented the movements of spiders.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
US Release Date: May 2, 2014
Worldwide Box Office: $709 million
Director: Marc Webb
Metascore: 53
Main Cast:
Andrew Garfield (Spider-Man), Emma Stone (Gwen), Jamie Foxx (Electro), Dane DeHaan (Green Goblin), Paul Giamatti (Rhino), Sally Field (Aunt May)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
When New York is put under siege by Oscorp, it is up to Spider-Man to save the city he swore to protect as well as his loved ones.
Web Fact:
This was the first Spider-Man movie to be filmed entirely in New York.
Captain America: Civil War
US Release Date: May 6, 2016
Worldwide Box Office: $1.153 billion
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Metascore: 75
Main Cast:
Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Sebastian Stan (Bucky), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Marisa Tomei (Aunt May)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Political involvement in the Avengers’ affairs causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man.
Web Fact:
Spider-Man was nearly removed from the movie due to a dispute with Sony Pictures.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
US Release Date: July 7, 2017
Worldwide Box Office: $880.2 million
Director: Jon Watts
Metascore: 73
Main Cast:
Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Michael Keaton (Vulture), Marisa Tomei (Aunt May), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Jon Favreau (Happy Hogan), Zendaya (MJ), Jacob Batalon (Ned)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Peter Parker balances his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, and finds himself on the trail of a new menace prowling the skies of New York City.
Web Fact:
During an interview for the 2013 movie How I Live Now, Tom Holland was asked if he would ever like to play a superhero. He answered: “Maybe Spider-Man, in ten years time. The reboot of the reboot, if they do that.” Only 4 years later, Holland’s prophecy came true.
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
US Release Date: December 14, 2018
Worldwide Box Office: $384.3 million
Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman
Metascore: 87
Main Cast:
Shameik Moore (Miles Morales), Jake Johnson (Peter B. Parker), Hailee Stanfield (Gwen Stacey), Mahershala Ali (Uncle Aaron), Lily Tomlin (Aunt May), Zoë Kravitz (Mary Jane), John Mulaney (Spider-Ham), Nicolas Cage (Spider-Man Noir), Chris Pine (Peter Parker), Brian Tyree Henry (Jeff Morales)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Teen Miles Morales becomes the Spider-Man of his universe and must join with five spider-powered individuals from other dimensions to stop a threat for all realities.
Web Fact:
The movie is dedicated in memory of Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko, who died on July 6, 2018, while this movie was finishing production.
Avengers: Infinity War
US Release Date: April 27, 2018
Worldwide Box Office: $2.052 billion
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Metascore: 68
Main Cast:
Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Sebastian Stan (Bucky), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
Web Fact:
Tom Holland was not allowed to read the script for the movie due to his habit for revealing story secrets.
Avengers: Endgame
US Release Date: April 26, 2019
Worldwide Box Office: $2.798 billion
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Metascore: 78
Main Cast:
Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Sebastian Stan (Bucky), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos’ actions and restore balance to the universe.
Web Fact:
In a callback to their playful banter from Captain America: Civil War, Cap refers to Spider-Man as “Queens” during the race to retrieve the Nano Gauntlet.
Spider-Man: Far From Home
US Release Date: July 2, 2019
Worldwide Box Office: $1.132 billion
Director: Jon Watts
Metascore: 69
Main Cast:
Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Jake Gyllenhaal (Mysterio), Marisa Tomei (Aunt May), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Jon Favreau (Happy Hogan), Zendaya (MJ), Jacob Batalon (Ned), Tony Revolori (Flash)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Following the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019), Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.
Web Fact:
Peter’s passport lists August 10th as his birthday. Spider-Man’s first appearance was in Amazing Fantasy #15, released August 10th, 1962.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
US Release Date: December 17, 2021
Worldwide Box Office: $1.916 billion
Director: Jon Watts
Metascore: 71
Main Cast:
Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man), Andrew Garfield (Spider-Man), Zendaya (MJ), Jacob Batalon (Ned), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Jon Favreau (Happy Hogan), Marisa Tomei (Aunt May), Jamie Foxx (Electro), Willem Dafoe (Green Goblin), Alfred Molina (Doc Ock), Benedict Wong (Wong), Thomas Haden Church (Sandman), Rhys Ifans (Lizard)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
With Spider-Man’s identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.
Web Fact:
Tom Holland helped to save this movie from cancellation by forcing renegotiations between Sony and Disney.
Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse
US Release Date: June 2, 2023
Worldwide Box Office: $683.9 million
Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
Metascore: 86
Main Cast:
Shameik Moore (Miles Morales), Hailee Stanfield (Gwen Stacy), Brian Tyree Henry (Jeff Morales), Jake Johnson (Peter B. Parker), Oscar Isaac (Miguel O’Hara), Jason Schwartzman (Spot), Issa Rae (Jessica Drew), Daniel Kaluuya (Hobie Brown), Karan Soni (Pavitr Prabhakar), Mahershala Ali (Uncle Aaron)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Miles Morales catapults across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero.
Web Fact:
J. K. Simmons voices J. Jonah Jameson, connecting the movie to Sam Raimi’s live-action trilogy.
Which is your favourite Spider-Man movie? Let us know in the comments below.