The live-action Spider-Man series is one of the more successful superhero movie franchises, and here is how to watch every installment in order.
The live-action Spider-Man franchise consists of three different iterations and eight mainline movies with various spin-offs; here is the definitive order in which to watch them by order of release date and chronology. While there have been several Spider-Man adaptations before 2000, the mainstream popularity of live-action Spider-Man began in the 21st century. Alongside other franchises like 20th Century Fox’s X-Men series and Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, Sony’s live-action take on Marvel’s wall-crawler helped spearhead the emergence of superhero movies in modern pop culture.
Since then, multiple franchises, iterations, and storylines centered on Spider-Man have been created across different mediums. This has caused many different rankings of Spider-Man movies and comparisons between each version of Peter Parker. However, moving away from the critique-based world of the franchise, the ever-expanding world of live-action Spider-Man has led to some confusion. As such, here is the definitive guide on how to watch every live-action Spider-Man film in order of both chronology and release.
Spider-Man Movies In Order Of Release Date
When concerning release date, live-action Spider-Man truly began with Sam Raimi’s trilogy in the 2000s with Tobey Maguire in the role. This then led to a reboot of the series which saw Andrew Garfield replace Maguire as a new iteration of the web-slinger. Eventually, Spider-Man was folded into the success of Marvel Studios’ franchise with Tom Holland’s MCU Spider-Man trilogy following Garfield’s failed series. Eventually, all three franchises culminated in a huge crossover movie set in the MCU, meaning the first two timelines converge in the final one. With that disclaimer in mind, here is how to watch every live-action Spider-Man movie in order of release date.
Spider-Man Movies In Chronological Order Of Events
Spider-Man (2002)
Box Office: $825 million | Runtime: 2 hours, 1 minute
Cast: Tobey Maguire (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Willem Dafoe (Norman Osborn/Green Goblin), Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson), James Franco (Harry Osborn), Cliff Robertson (Ben Parker), Rosemary Harris (May Parker), J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson)
Just as it was in release order, Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man movie from 2002 is the first footnote of the titular character’s live-action journey. The film focuses on Spider-Man’s origin story, with Peter Parker being bitten by a radioactive spider that grants him the ability to shoot webs from his wrists and climb walls as a spider would with enhanced strength and durability. Spider-Man eventually comes into conflict with his arch-enemy, Green Goblin, as he learns the valuable lesson that with great power comes great responsibility.
As expected, Spider-Man also introduces most of Peter Parker’s most famous supporting characters as well. Kirsten Dunst brings MJ to life, and James Franco’s Harry Osborn oscillates between friend and foe throughout the franchise. Raimi’s distinctive style, walking a line between earnestness and camp, perfectly brings Spider-Man into the modern age of cinema and is largely to thank for the Wall Crawler’s big-screen success.
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Box Office: $789 million | Runtime: 2 hours, 7 minutes
Cast: Tobey Maguire (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson), James Franco (Harry Osborn), Alfred Molina (Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus), Rosemary Harris (May Parker), Donna Murphy (Rosie Octavius), J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson)
The second movie in Raimi’s trilogy is also the second Spider-Man movie to take place chronologically. After the events of Spider-Man, Peter Parker undergoes his biggest test yet. Estranged from his love interest Mary Jane and best friend Harry while facing temporary yet recurring losses of his powers. With the emergence of Doctor Octopus who threatens New York and everyone Peter holds dear, the hero must learn to overcome his dual personality and put his duties as Spider-Man first once more.
Following up on Dafoe’s iconic performance as Green Goblin was a tall order, but Molina’s Doc Ock is even more narratively interesting and comes with equal visual flair. Despite being over two decades old, Spider-Man 2 remains not only a great sequel but one of the best superhero movies of all time.
Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Box Office: $895 million | Runtime: 2 hours, 19 minutes
Cast: Tobey Maguire (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson), James Franco (Harry Osborn/New Goblin), Topher Grace (Eddie Brock/Venom), Thomas Hayden Church (Flint Marko/Sandman), Bryce Dallas Howard (Gwen Stacy), James Cromwell (George Stacy), Rosemary Harris (May Parker), J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson)
The final installment in Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy is the third film chronologically. In Spider-Man 3, Peter balances his tumultuous relationship with Mary Jane while facing off against Harry Osborn. Peter’s former best friend finds out his secret identity and that Spider-Man, ergo Peter, was responsible for Harry’s father’s death in Spider-Man.
Harry becomes New Goblin to exact vengeance. Simultaneously, Peter must fend off Sandman all while bonding with an alien symbiote that increases his powers, but also his rage and darkness, which eventually transforms into something much more sinister. Spider-Man 3 is perhaps over-criticized for its undeniable flaws. While it fails to reach the heights of what came before, there are plenty of great scenes that make the film well worth re-watching.
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012
Box Office: $758 million | Runtime: 2 hours, 16 minutes
Cast: Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy), Rhys Ifans (Curt Connors/Lizard), Denis Leary (George Stacy), Martin Sheen (Ben Parker), Sally Field (May Parker), Campbell Scott (Richard Parker), Irrfan Khan (Rajit Ratha)
The fourth installment in the live-action Spider-Man series chronologically is the rebooted The Amazing Spider-Man. While set in an entirely different universe to the Raimi films, the eventual crossover of Spider-Man movies solidified the first Marc Webb-directed movie as fourth chronologically. The film is a retelling of Spider-Man’s origin story, from his spider bite to early work as a crimefighter before having him face off against Lizard while grappling with his personal life of high school, the death of his Uncle Ben, and his relationship with Gwen Stacy.
The Amazing Spider-Man had an uphill battle on release simply because it came out so shortly after Raimi’s series was cut short. While the darker visuals weren’t for everyone, Lizard does prove to be a compelling villain. Moreover, the switch from MJ to Gwen Stacy as the primary love interests helps differentiate this movie from what came before.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Box Office: $709 million | Runtime: 2 hours, 22 minutes
Cast: Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy), Jamie Foxx (Max Dillon/Electro), Dane DeHaan (Harry Osborn/Green Goblin), Sally Field (May Parker), Campbell Scott (Richard Parker), Embeth Davidtz (Mary Parker), Paul Giamatti (Aleksei Sytsevich/Rhino), Felicity Jones (Felicia Hardy)
The fifth chronological Spider-Man film, yet only the second in the world of The Amazing Spider-Man, is The Amazing Spider-Man 2. After defeating Lizard in the first movie at the cost of George Stacy’s life, Peter struggles to keep his promise to stay away from George’s daughter Gwen as a means of protecting her from Spider-Man’s enemies. As Peter investigates his parents’ deaths, he faces off against Electro and deals with the return of his best friend, Harry.
Harry suffers from a deadly genetic disease, and Peter quickly learns that being Spider-Man puts the ones he loves most in danger above all else. While The Amazing Spider-Man 2 still maintains the general visual style of the first, Peter’s new suit looks remarkable, and Electro makes for more vibrant fights. The movie is overstuffed with stories, but the movie’s emotional finale remains a franchise high-point.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Box Office: $880 million | Runtime: 2 hours, 13 minutes
Cast: Tom Holland (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Zendaya (Michelle Jones/MJ), Michael Keaton (Adrian Toomes/Vulture), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man), Jon Favreau (Happy Hogan), Marisa Tomei (May Parker), Jacob Batalon (Ned Leeds), Laura Harrier (Liz Toomes), Tony Revolori (Flash Thompson), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts), Donald Glover (Aaron Davis)
After the relative box office failure of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, another Spider-Man reboot was issued this time in the MCU. Spider-Man: Homecoming was the first movie in this reboot and canonically is the sixth Spider-Man movie chronologically. In the film, Peter Parker balances his personal and Spider-Man lives while trying to live up to his mentor, Tony Stark/Iron Man, by facing an enemy known as the Vulture.
Of course, this is Spider-Man’s first solo movie taking place in the MCU. It’s also a markedly different take on the Peter Parker. Peter’s interaction with Iron Man means he’s got a lot more tech to work with, including a high-tech spider-suit with more gadgets than any previous live-action web head by a long shot.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Box Office: $1.1 billion | Runtime: 2 hours, 9 minutes
Cast: Tom Holland (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Zendaya (Michelle Jones/MJ), Jacob Batalon (Ned Leeds), Jake Gyllenhaal (Quentin Beck/Mysterio), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill), Jon Favreau (Happy Hogan), J.B. Smoove (Julius Dell), Martin Starr (Roger Harrington), Tony Revolori (Flash Thompson), Marisa Tomei (May Parker)
The seventh chronological Spider-Man film and second installment in the MCU is Spider-Man: Far From Home. After serving with the Avengers and being returned from the MCU’s Blip, Peter Parker wishes to go on a normal school trip to Europe without worrying about Spider-Man duties while grieving the death of his mentor Tony Stark. However, his vacation is threatened with the appearance of elemental beasts and Nick Fury who tasks Spider-Man with stopping the creatures alongside the supposed multiversal traveler known as Mysterio.
Moving Spider-Man away from NYC for the majority of the film as he travels Europe was a bold move, and it helps Far From Home stand apart. Mysterio is also a wonderful villain responsible for breathtaking sequences of special effects. He also has some of the longest-lasting effects of any Spider-Man villain, ruining Peter’s life at the end of the film.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Box Office: $1.9 billion | Runtime: 2 hours, 28 minutes
Cast: Tom Holland (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Tobey Maguire (Peter Parker/Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man), Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker/Amazing Spider-Man), Zendaya (Michelle Jones/MJ), Jacob Batalon (Ned Leeds), Marisa Tomei (May Parker), Benedict Cumberbatch (Stephen Strange/Doctor Strange), Willem Dafoe (Norman Osborn/Green Goblin), Alfred Molina (Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus), Jamie Foxx (Max Dillon/Electro)
The final Spider-Man film to take place chronologically is Spider-Man: No Way Home. The film brings together all three iterations of Spider-Man for a team-up movie, caused by MCU Peter Parker’s wish for everyone to forget he was Spider-Man. This wish, combined with Doctor Strange’s magic, began pulling characters from other universes to the MCU that knew Peter Parker was Spider-Man, resulting in the three live-action Spidey’s teaming up against their past villains.
When Maguire and Garfield’s Peters hop over to the MCU for a bit, they speak about the events of their films in the past tense. So, while it’s hard to say exactly how the previous two Spider-Man franchises line up, they clearly take place before the MCU trilogy. While Spider-Man 4 is yet to be officially revealed, it’s clear that Spider-Man’s movie timeline will continue on.
Tom Holland’s Avengers Appearances In Order
Given that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man was part of the MCU, he was woven into the wider state of the universe in ways Maguire and Garfield were not in their respective franchises. As such, various appearances from Holland’s Peter Parker were sprinkled throughout the MCU timeline, including in multiple team movies. Here is every one of Tom Holland’s Avengers appearances in order, completing the definitive watch order of live-action Spider-Man movies:
Spider-Man’s Spider-Verse Timeline
While Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse stand largely separate from Spider-Man’s live-action outings, they do take place in the same multiverse. In Across the Spider-Verse, Miguel describes the moments that befall every Spider-Man. In a montage of these events, both Maguire and Garfield are shown. However, it’s impossible to know just where in the Spider-Man timeline the movies take place. The upcoming Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse may offer more information whenever it hits theaters.
