Tobey Maguire is Still the Best Spider–Man.

Yeah, I said it. And I mean it.

Since Sam Raimi’s Spider–Man hit theaters in 2002, superhero movies within worlds like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC’s Extended Universe have become a norm of today’s popular film culture. One of the most notable big–screen superheroes is Spider–Man, the nerdy high schooler who gained superhuman spider powers after being bitten by a genetically engineered spider. Much like other popular superhero roles such as Batman and Superman, Spider–Man has been re–casted several times. 

Since Spider–Man (2002), there have been three different Spider–Man series, with three different actors filling the shoes of Peter Parker and his secret vigilante persona each time. Tobey Maguire donned the suit for the original Raimi trilogy; followed by Andrew Garfield for two rather forgetful Spider–Man films, ultimately culminating with Tom Holland, the current Spidey within Marvel’s MCU. Each of these different adaptations of the young web–slinger have their own unique quirks and styles, continuously sparking the debate of which actor portrayed Spidey the best on screen. In reality—So sorry, Andrew Garfield—this debate is more or less just between Tobey Maguire and Tom Holland. The debate has become even more relevant now that there are rumors of Maguire and Garfield reprising their respective roles for the third MCU Spider–Man film, set to release in December 2021.

Tobey Maguire is the best Spider–Man, plain and simple. While Tom Holland comes close, Tobey Maguire is OG simply because he’s the most honest portrayal of Spider–Man. Throughout the series, Maguire fills the shoes of a Peter Parker that is genuine, a Spider–Man that has depth, and single–handedly refreshes the modern superhero blockbuster.

Tobey Maguire first takes the Spidey throne in his stellar portrayal of Spidey’s real persona, Peter Parker. Both Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland play a very charismatic and easygoing Peter Parker, whereas Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker is a much more relatable character for audiences. Maguire’s Peter Parker is an outsider: Depicted as a stereotypical “nobody,” Sam Raimi’s trilogy highlights the everyday problems that Peter Parker faces even after acquiring his powers. Peter struggles to juggle multiple jobs, school, and a social life, just like so many of us do everyday. Andrew Garfield’s Parker effectively becomes a huge douche after acquiring his powers, and Holland’s Parker is given a more superficial nerd aesthetic, as he has no issues acquiring friends and getting invited to parties in his films. 

Beyond the civilian Peter Parker, Tobey Maguire’s Spider–Man contains much more depth than his fellow Spider–Men. Contrary to Garfield and Holland, whose web–slinging abilities only benefited them, the Maguire–era Spider–Man struggled with his superpowers being both a blessing and a curse. Stated perfectly by his Uncle Ben: “With great power comes great responsibility.” The villain conflicts in Raimi’s trilogy were also deeply personal to Maguire’s Spider–Man: Peter idolized Otto Octavius, the antagonist of the legendary Spider–Man 2 (2004); Harry Osborn was Parker’s best friend, later consumed by jealousy; and Norman Osborn was a fatherly figure to Peter, only to be revealed as the menacing Green Goblin of Spider–Man (2002). Family bonds are also prioritized in Raimi’s trilogy, paying homage to the comics through Peter Parker’s close bond to his Uncle Ben. Raimi also highlights the genetic abilities of Peter Parker’s new powers, creating beautiful cinematography by frequently utilizing Spider–Man’s trademark “Spidey Sense,” something the other series seemingly abandons. 

Lastly, Tobey Maguire remains my best Spidey because he accomplished what he did single–handedly as the sole protagonist. My biggest issue with Tom Holland’s Spider–Man is that he is shaped too much by the established MCU figures around him. The MCU Spider–Man was introduced in the shadow of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), and was continuously surrounded by the high–profile MCU actors that elevated his performances by association throughout his five appearances as Spidey. This overshadowing is prevalent even after the untimely departure of the MCU web–slinger’s mentor. The subsequent Spider–Man film is constantly reminding the viewer that Spidey isn’t Tony Stark; In the upcoming film, Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberpatch) is playing a similar mentor–esque role, essentially replacing one MCU shadow with another. The over–reliance on this mentorship complex undermines Spider–Man as an underdog. With Tobey Maguire, Spidey’s character arcs were formed by the internal struggles that he battled, and the superhero he was forced to become after facing the consequences for his mistakes. The train sequence in Spider–Man 2 captures his heroism perfectly, essentially laying a blueprint for the plethora of superhero blockbusters emerged after the Raimi trilogy. 

Despite Spider–Man 3 diminishing the reputation of Sam Raimi’s trilogy, Tobey Maguire still remains my favorite Spidey to swing across the landscapes of New York City. With the increasing possibility of a live–action Spiderverse, I felt compelled to offer my take on the king who will make the most noise should all three Spider–Men unite on the silver screen.