Regarded as some of the best superhero movies of all time, Sam Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy is moving to a new streaming home this New Year’s Day. The films, which starred Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, have been on Disney+ for quite some time, all along with the rest of theSpider-Manfilms starring Tom Holland and Andrew Garfield. But now the superhero trilogy that put the genre on the map will bestreaming on Netflix starting January 1.
Released in 2002,Spider-Manbecame an instant classic blockbuster that grossed an unprecedented $825 million at the box office, roughly a billion nowadays adjusted for inflation. The film was Maguire’s debut as Peter Parker, as well as Willem Dafoe as the iconic villain Green Goblin. An earnest adaptation of the source material,Spider-Manis regarded as the grandfather of the superhero genre, showing the true potential of a faithful interpretation of a medium inaccessible for many. To this day, Maguire is still known as the quintessential Spider-Man, even after Holland and Garfield put their own stamp on the web-slinger.Even if you are not a superhero fan,Spider-Man, and its sequels, are a must-watch for cinema lovers.
Spider-Man 2, released two years after the original, is widely considered not only the best film in the trilogy, butone of the best blockbuster films ever made. The film’s impact on the genre to this day is unshakable, from the jaw-dropping action sequences to Alfred Molina’s iconic turn as Doc Ock. Above all, Maguire is at the peak of his powers as Peter Parker, who is at a crossroads as a superhero who struggles to balance his daily life with his vigilante duties. His emotional journey inSpider-Man 2is the backbone of a movie that also has Raimi reach deep into his directing bag to create a visually impeccable spectacle that seamlessly shifts focus from smaller, personal moments to city-shaking fight scenes.
Yes,Spider-Man 3is by far the weakest installment of the trilogy, butit’s still an entertaining watch even with its faults. Infamously featuring not one, not two, but three different supervillains, the final Raimi film was subject to unwarranted studio interference. Even then, it’s hard not to enjoy Spider-Man putting on the infamous Black Suit and becoming “bully Maguire,” as well as fightingSandman(Thomas Haden Church) andEddie Brock/Venom(Topher Grace). New Goblin (James Franco) is also a highlight, especially in the sprawling chase sequence at the start and the final battle during the third act.
The Future of Spider-Man On Streaming (& Elsewhere)
In addition to being on Disney+, Sam Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy joinsAcross theSpider-Verseon Netflix starting in 2025. The streamer addedMadame Webearlier this year, another Sony-produced Marvel film that quickly rose up the Netflix charts (but not for the best reasons). It’s unclear if Netflix will continue to addSpider-Manrelated titles to the platform, but there seems to be a major effort to house them, even if it’s for a limited time. There is a chance that the 2000s Spider-Man trilogy could once again leave Netflix at some point, but it’s safe to say it will be available for the vast majority of 2025 if not longer.
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The streaming worldcontinues to be a fickle onethat sees titles shifting left and right, jumping from platform to platform with little to no warning. Raimi’s films expanding their streaming reach is a win for fans, as well as for those that have somehow missed their chance to catch up on the beloved franchise. Disney+ still includes most of the live-actionSpider-Manfilms, notably the Tom Holland and Andrew Garfield ones, but there is a chance those will also become multi-platform titles.
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