Spider-Man is one of the most beloved superheroes in comic book history, and over the decades, several actors have stepped into the iconic red-and-blue suit to bring Peter Parker to life. From television adaptations to blockbuster films that have redefined the superhero genre, each actor has offered a unique take on the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
While every portrayal has earned its share of fans, some performances have left a bigger mark than others. This ranking considers each live-action Spider-Man actor (Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire) based on their acting performance, faithfulness to the source material, character development, chemistry with the supporting cast, and overall impact on the franchise and popular culture.
With that in mind, here’s our ranking of every actor to play Spider-Man in live action, from worst to best.
#3: Andrew Garfield
Sam Connon: The Amazing Spider-Man duology is far from the character’s most successful run on the big screen, both on a financial and critical level. But whether you ask the films’ biggest supporters or their loudest detractors, the one aspect that gets more praise than anything else has been Andrew Garfield’s performance. The Oscar nominee brings the wit and trauma that are key to the balance between Spider-Man and Peter Parker. Whereas Tobey was very campy and Silver Aged as both Spidey and Peter, Garfield felt like a true modernization of the character. He is a tad too mean-spirited in The Amazing Spider-Man, then a little too creepy, mopey and weird in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but that is the fault of the script rather than Garfield himself.
So while those factors do have to count against Garfield when comparing him to the more consistent Holland and the more iconic Maguire, there’s a reason fans went so crazy when Garfield came back for Spider-Man: No Way Home. He was answering non-stop questions in the media before the movie’s release and technically got to break into the MCU a few minutes before his predecessor. Many people’s favorite moment in a film chock-full of memorable moments was Garfield’s Peter saving MJ and finally moving past Gwen Stacy’s death. In the weeks and months after Garfield’s return to the role, fans were clamoring for a revived TASM universe, whether it could be merged with the Venom movies or just round out its planned trilogy on its own terms. That was never going to happen, but the Garfield cult willed those rumors into existence. There is a well-defined micro-generation that grew up with Garfield as their Spider-Man, one that is largely justified in their obsession and dedication to a shining beacon from an otherwise failed franchise.
#2: Tobey Maguire
Nick Friar: Among the pivotal performances that turned superhero movies into big-screen game changers stands Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man/Peter Parker.
Coming in the wake of Blade and X-Men, but well ahead of Iron Man, 2002’s Spider-Man and its even-more-beloved 2004 sequel still hold up to this day, with Maguire and the lead villains returning for Spider-Man: No Way Home.
As for Maguire’s performance, time has led to criticisms — 2007’s Spider-Man 3 surely didn’t help. The low-hanging knock on Maguire is that he looked a bit old for the role. What’s more important: He nailed Peter Parker’s personality. Neurotic. Kind-hearted. Above all else, human in ways that so many of us are. He also delivered snarky quips while under the mask, but the Peter Parker side of the character was more so Maguire’s strength than the secret identity,
And make no mistake: When these movies came out, Maguire’s starpower was on another level. Other castings from that time are still among the best in comic book movie history, particularly Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, but Maguire getting Spider-Man right was of the utmost importance. For while Iron Man and Captain America proved to be the foundational pieces for the MCU, Spider-Man has been “the guy” for Marvel since he burst on the scene in 1962.
#1: Tom Holland
Andy Silva: Tom Holland may not be the first Spider-Man to grace the big screen, but he is the best.
Holland not only benefits from being able to rub shoulders with other stalwarts in the MCU, but to me he best portrays the duality of Peter Parker: High School student and Spider-Man: Avenger. When we meet Parker in Captain America: Civil War, he’s just a kid plucked from obscurity by Tony Stark and Holland plays this with aplomb. Standing alongside Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau, he looks like a high school kid tagging along with the adults.
That dovetails nicely into Spider-Man:Homecoming, where Holland leans into Parker’s eagerness for more after the thrill of the airport battle in Civil War while being thrust into the mundane minutiae of everyday life as a high school student. Holland and Michael Keaton’s back and forth in the car on the way to the film’s titular homecoming is riveting and is the pivot point where the audience can feel like Peter isn’t simply playing superhero anymore.
Holland also shines in Spider-Man: Far From Home, exhibiting teen angst and longing for a moment to share with the girl he likes on a school trip contrasted by the weariness of someone who was a part of the most consequential battle in humanity’s history. It’s understandable why Parker wants to retreat from being a hero after the events of Infinity War and Endgame, and with Holland it feels earned. Moreover, while Mysterio dupes him, Peter is never made to look like a fool, and emerges from this crucible of fire a hero reborn, one who doesn’t need training wheels or an Iron Man to look over for him and protect him. By forging his own suit, he takes a step out of Stark’s shadow.
In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Holland plays the full emotional spectrum of Parker like a maestro. He’s still idealistic (if also slightly naïve) in thinking he can fix all the broken villains. He shows anger and grief when May is killed, and a lust for revenge against the Green Goblin. But he also shows that despite the challenge, deep down he is still the good man May raised him to be, both in not killing Goblin and making the ultimate sacrifice of his life, love and friendships to selflessly save the day. Holland shows Peter’s past, present and future all in one in this film and puts Peter on a path where anything can happen and it would be believable. It’s an earned outcome, and a quintessential Spider-Man moment where the phrase “With great power, comes great responsibility” comes to life.
