3. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Explaining what it is that makes Spider-Man: No Way Home so good isn’t easy to do in just a few short paragraphs, because it’s the culmination of decades of stories. With a Multiverse-bending story that brings multiple Spideys into close proximity, No Way Home sees Holland’s Spider-Man meet both Maguire and Garfield’s versions, with the three teaming up to fight a group of villains assembled from their various universes. This means that it acts as a sequel not just to Spider-Man: Far From Home, but to Spider-Man 3 and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as well.
Naturally, the return of both Maguire and Garfield as their respective versions of Spider-Man was triumphant and a huge point in No Way Home‘s favor, but honestly, it’s Holland’s film. With the MCU’s resident Spidey facing a string of huge life-altering catastrophes, Holland’s ability to really sell strong emotion in his acting is tested. Thankfully, he’s quite an actor, and rises to the challenge, elevating No Way Home far above simple sequel status: it manages 20 years’ worth of pay-off in a way that still feels like the most exciting live-action Spider-Man movie yet.
With all three Spider-Men appearing, it’s hard not to feel something. Both Maguire and Garfield’s versions acknowledge the histories hiding behind their unmade sequels, offering up an excellent passing-of-the-torch moment to Holland’s Spider-Man in the process. With so many villains returning as part of the MCU, No Way Home manages to offer a Spider-Man story like no other, mingling the sprawling nature of the flagship franchise with the character’s beloved cinematic past.