Spider-Man Movies in Order

Why does this even need untangling?

With Brand New Day just posting one of the biggest box office openings in history, I've noticed a genuine surge in people asking a deceptively complicated question: what order do you actually watch every Spider-Man movie in? There are three separate live-action eras with three different actors, and untangling them properly matters more than most franchise watch-order questions.

The three separate eras, and why they don't connect the way you'd expect

The Sam Raimi trilogy (2002-2007), starring Tobey Maguire, is its own self-contained continuity. Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man 3, in that order. I still think Spider-Man 2 holds up as one of the best superhero films ever made, actually, the emotional stakes and Doc Ock's tragedy land as well now as they did in 2004.

The Amazing Spider-Man duology (2012-2014), starring Andrew Garfield, is a separate reboot, not a continuation of Raimi's films. Watch The Amazing Spider-Man, then The Amazing Spider-Man 2. I'll be honest, I think this era is the weakest of the three, actually fun in places but tonally uneven, and it was cut short before a planned third film could happen.

The Tom Holland MCU era (2016-present) is the one most people are currently watching and the one Brand New Day just extended. This one's more complicated because it interweaves with the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The correct order for the Holland era specifically

1. Captain America: Civil War (2016), Spider-Man's actual live-action introduction, worth watching even though it's not a solo Spider-Man film
2. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
3. Avengers: Infinity War (2018), not required, but sets up Peter's arc heading into the next film
4. Avengers: Endgame (2019), same as above
5. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
6. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), the one that actually crosses over with the other two eras
7. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)

Do you actually need to watch the Raimi and Garfield films before No Way Home?

Just, yes, if you want the full emotional impact. No Way Home brings back villains and, in a great surprise, both Maguire's and Garfield's Peter Parkers into the same film, and having real history with those earlier eras makes those moments land significantly harder than watching them cold.

Which movies are actually worth skipping, if you're short on time?

If I had to trim this list, I'd say The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is the most skippable, it's tonally overstuffed and doesn't hold up as well as the other films. Everything else, even the divisive Spider-Man 3, has real value either as a standalone film or as setup for what comes later.

Do you need to watch every Avengers film to understand the Holland era?

No, just Infinity War and Endgame specifically, since those directly involve Peter's arc. The wider Avengers filmography enriches the experience but isn't strictly required to follow Spider-Man's specific story.

Frequently asked questions

How many live-action Spider-Man movies are there total? Ten across three eras, three Raimi films, two Garfield films, and five Holland-era films including Brand New Day.

Do I need to watch the Avengers movies to understand Tom Holland's Spider-Man? Only Infinity War and Endgame are really necessary, since they directly involve Peter's own arc.

Which Spider-Man era is considered the best? This is subjective, but the Raimi trilogy and the Holland era both have strong critical reputations, while the Garfield duology is generally considered the weakest.

Is Spider-Man: No Way Home connected to the earlier Raimi and Garfield films? Yes, directly, it's the first film to bring characters from all three eras together.

Want to find your next watch after finishing the franchise?

Our movie recommendation quiz can help you find something matched to your mood once you've caught up on Spidey's full history.