Spider-Man, Spider-Man, he can do what a spider can. But he can also do things that spiders can’t do. For example, launch a multi-million dollar franchise that includes several best-selling movies.
Ever since Sam Raimi’s inaugural Spider-flick in 2001, Peter Parker’s life has been filled with great on-screen moments. Given the ample material filmmakers have had to work with, dating back for decades, this isn’t all that surprising.
Therefore, we’ve done the hard job of minimizing these down to ten. Given that no matter the quality of the Spider-Man movie in question, there are fantastic moments to recall, it’s no easy task. But we like to attempt the impossible.
10) Mysterio’s Illusions (Spider-Man: Far from Home, 2019)
There are a lot of visual feasts in Far From Home, but the Mysterio illusion scene really takes the cake. Narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal’s theatrical villain, we see Spidey confronted and trapped in his illusions. The diverse range of scenes that unfold, as Mysterio attempts to crack Peter’s mind, is just awesome.
From confronting a dead Iron Man to being attacked by clones of himself and finally, gullibly revealing who knows his secret to Quinten Beck disguised as Mysterio, the scene is powerful not just visually, but also narratively. It shows us Peter’s insecurities in a visually effective way while showing off the strength of Beck’s illusions.
9) Uncle Ben Dies (Spider-Man, 2002)
Uncle Ben’s death has always been the turning point for Peter Parker. In the comics and cartoons, it’s the life-changing tragedy from which Spider-Man is truly born. The film depicts this tragedy in such a beautiful way, having Peter actually experience his uncle’s final moments before he passes away.
It’s hard not to feel your heart sting when Uncle Ben tearfully calls out for Peter as his nephew holds his hand. Likewise, it’s hard not to feel for Peter when he tearfully watches his uncle’s passing before his very eyes.
8) Aunt May’s Speech to Peter (Spider-Man 2, 2004)
Spider-Man 2 is not your average superhero flick. It’s a movie that analyses the internal conflict of Peter Parker – the battle between his desires and what he sacrifices by being Spider-Man. In no better scene is this exemplified than in Aunt May’s heartwarming speech to Peter nearing the final act of the film.
Aunt May, who has found a new respect for Spidey after he rescues her, tells Peter she believes “there’s a hero in all of us”. She thinks that Spider-Man sacrifices a lot to be a hero, and she thinks that to do what’s right, you must give up the thing you want the most – even your dreams. This powerful speech is what edges Peter towards becoming Spider-Man again and being the hero he’s destined to be.
7) The Upside-Down Kiss (Spider-Man, 2002)
The upside-down kiss is arguably the most well-known iconic moment of the three Sam Raimi films. It’s been parodied in TV Shows such as The OC and the Spider-Man parody starring Jack Black. It’s a romantic moment that’s unique to the film and hard to emulate in other movies.
The moment is great in many ways. From a visual standpoint, it’s impressive because of the cinematography. It takes place during heavy rain, accompanied by a whimsical score that helps give it a sense of fantasia. Story-wise, there’s a sense of duality, since MJ is kissing Spidey for saving her life, yet unaware that he’s really Peter Parker. There’s a sense that Peter is more confident expressing himself behind a mask rather than in his own flesh.
6) The Death of Gwen Stacy (The Amazing Spider-Man 2, 2014)
In Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies, Mary Jane was constantly in peril, yet she always felt kind of invincible. Regardless of the nature of her jeopardy, you knew Spidey would save her. In that sense, her abductions never felt as though they possessed any stakes.
However, Gwen was not gifted with such main character plot armor in Marc Webb’s movies. In TASM2, Peter’s first love tragically dies during a battle between Spidey and the Green Goblin. While it’s a shame it’s a scene that is boxed in alongside an already overly-packed film, the acting chops of Andrew Garfield as he portrays a heartbroken Peter Parker are just too good to ignore.
5) Birth of the Sandman (Spider-Man 3, 2007)
Sandman is one of Spider-Man 3‘s most redeeming elements. Aside from the fact he is shoehorned into Peter’s origin story (he’s revealed as Uncle Ben’s true killer, not Dennis Carradine from SM1), he manages to be a tragic character whose background makes you empathize somewhat with him.
Another reason he’s one of the film’s redeeming elements is his origin scene. Unwittingly finding himself in a science team’s sand experiment, Flint Marko awakes to find he can transform his body into sand at will. And the CGI is simply gorgeous as his realization occurs, every grain painstakingly detailed and his formation flowing in sync to Christopher Young’s profoundly beautiful score.
4) Peter Rids Himself of the Black Suit (Spider-Man 3, 2007)
Spider-Man 3 gets a lot of grief from people (including its own Director!). But while it does a lot wrong, there are many things it does right. Peter ridding himself of his toxic Symbiote suit is one of these.
Fans of the 90’s animated series will get familiar vibes watching Peter wrestle with the suit atop the bell tower. This time, however, thanks to Tobey Maguire’s acting and the impressive CGI, the scene is much more dramatically poignant. You can see Peter’s inner frustrations in real-time, a visual metaphor for the conflict he undergoes in the movie.
3) Peter Trashes His Suit (Spider-Man 2, 2004)
Bye, Spider-Man – hello, Peter Parker. The image of Peter walking away from his discarded Spidey suit was already iconic before Spider-Man 2 hit theaters in 2004. However, Raimi’s excellent live-action recreation of the scene revived the image as an icon of superhero cinema.
It’s further empowered by Danny Elfman’s melancholy score, a downtrodden version of the ‘Responsibility’ theme, accompanied by a chorus of regretful operatic voices. What an effective tribute to the comics and one of the best moments in the Spider-Man movies.
2) Peter Escapes the Rubble (SM: Homecoming, 2017)
Spider-Man: Homecoming is easily one of the most light-hearted Spidey films to date. But even this doesn’t mean it hasn’t got its fair share of emotionally charged sequences. The scene where Peter is stuck beneath the rubble after falling for the Vulture’s trap is the best example of this.
Blatantly inspired by Issue #33 of Amazing Spider-Man, the scene has Peter triumphantly lift his entrapment with all his spider strength. This comes shortly after he cries for help, signaling a huge coming-of-age moment for the character. This is the moment that Peter Parker truly becomes Spider-Man in the MCU.
1) The Train Sequence (Spider-Man 2, 2004)
The train fight between Spidey and Doc Ock is great cinema. In fact, I’d go so far as to dub it one of the most edge-of-your-seat superhero battles in cinema. However, it’s really the heroic moment after that really takes the crowning moment of awesome.
With the train careening towards a seemingly inevitable plummeting fate, a maskless Spider-Man is forced to use all his strength to save its helpless passengers. The scene is visually powerful, as Peter holds tightly onto his webs, his suit tearing and muscles bulging as he slows the train to a halt.
The sequence isn’t just effective visually, but also a good representation of the character. It shows that, despite his trials and tribulations, Peter Parker is a superhero underneath. It’s an easy choice for being the best moment in the Spider-Man movies.
That being said, this list is merely the opinion of one writer. Do you agree or disagree with the entries on this list? What do you think are the best moments in the Spider-Man movies? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!