Note: this article does not contain any spoilers for Spiderman: No Way Home.
Every time a new Spider-Man movie is released, the big debate inevitably resurfaces: who is the best Spider-Man? We all grew up with Tobey Maguire’s original portrayal of Peter Parker. Then Andrew Garfield had his time to shine. And now Tom Holland is taking Spider-Man in new directions. But, is one version really better than the others?
Yes, it is. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is superior—sorry Tobey and Andrew! It’s not that the first two sets of Spider-Man films were bad; I actually really enjoy them. But, unfortunately, they never really stood a chance.
Unlike Tom, Tobey and Andrew didn’t have the power of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe behind them. It’s tough for them to even compete with Tom’s Spider-Man when they don’t have all the opportunities that the MCU entails. Some of my favorite Peter Parker moments have been his interactions with other lovable heroes, like when he steals Captain America’s shield in Civil War or his entire relationship with Tony Stark. And even in Tom Holland’s solo Spider-Man films, there are tons of references to other MCU movies and characters. All of these connections mean that there’s more room for world-building and character development; I just feel like I know Tom’s Peter Parker—and the world he lives in—better. Plus, being part of the MCU means that he gets to wear the awesome, high-tech suits made by Stark Industries (and who doesn’t love a suit that features web grenades, web wings and “instant-kill mode”?).
Another advantage that Tom’s movies have is that they feature Zendaya’s version of MJ. She’s just so…cool. This MJ is independent, hilariously sarcastic, intelligent and totally badass. She wears shirts featuring feminist icons sometimes and rocks pretty dresses at other times. And her interactions with Peter Parker never feel anti-feminist. Zendaya’s MJ is exactly the type of strong female character that really elevates films, and Tom’s Spider-Man is made better for having her as a friend and love interest.
The last thing I’ll mention is that Tom really captures Peter Parker’s innocence and optimism on screen—he’s the ideal “friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.” Tobey and Andrew were older when they made their versions of Spider-Man, and they were a little too mature-looking to believably play a teenager. But even though Tom nails the “young and goofy” parts of Peter Parker, he also masterfully depicts the many painful moments that Spider-Man is forced to endure. So basically, he’s perfect for the role.
Tobey and Andrew’s Peter Parkers are each wonderful in their own ways, and they definitely paved the way for Tom’s portrayal. But if we’re asking which one is the best, it’s really no contest. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man wins.