Tom Holland is one of the biggest actors in modern movie history. In just a few years, Holland has cemented his name in film history with only the select films he has been in. Of course, a massive highlight in his career so far is his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the MCU Spider-Man franchise, which was a huge risk that paid off incredibly for Marvel. Whether he is your favorite Spider-Man or not, there is no denying that his interpretation of the character is one of the most exciting Marvel projects today.
Holland made his superhero debut in the MCU in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. Since then, he has never looked back. The character arc that Peter Parker undergoes throughout his time in the MCU was almost perfectly executed by Holland, and with the latest release of Spider-Man: No Way Home, audiences and fans of the MCU are excited now more than ever to see what comes next. From his journey as a kid into a young man, here is our ranking of all of Holland’s Spider-Man performances so far.
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6 Avengers: Endgame
Marvel Studios
None of Holland’s Spider-Man appearances lacked in quality. However, some did lack screen time. Avengers: Endgame marked the end of an incredible era of MCU cinema. Therefore, the coming together of all MCU heroes in a final battle with Thanos was beyond fitting. Holland comes in later, after the reversal of the “Blip.” Although he did not play a major role in moving Endgame’s overall plot, his relationship with Tony Stark shined, even in the end For many, the tears came and fell when Peter and Tony shared one last moment before his death.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
5 Captain America: Civil War
What a debut this was! Captain America: Civil War is coined as the honorary Avengers movie, and the MCU film where Holland’s Spider-Man makes his grand entrance. In any situation, first impressions are crucial. In a franchise as successful as the MCU, and with as dedicated fanbase as it has, introducing a beloved hero is a tall order. Here, Holland delivers. We are given the young innocence of a teenage Spider-Man full of energy, loyalty, hope, and a freshness that breathed new life into the movie and into Spider-Man as a character. He was charismatic and animated, and audiences were left excited to see Holland’s Spider-Man take off in the MCU.
4 Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War could easily be ranked as the best MCU film. For a movie with so many heroes and interlocking plots and storylines, Infinity War does an incredible job of making sure they all shined. Holland’s Spider-Man goes through a lot of character growth in this movie, gaining incredible experience in space fights after defying the wishes of his mentor Tony Stark. As an actor, to get audiences on board with your character is hard when you’re surrounded by so many amazing actors and iconic characters. However, just his performance right before getting snapped into dust had us all in a puddle of tears. Holland’s portrayal of pure childish ambition and genuine fear was perfect for the kind of movie Infinity War was.
3 Spider-Man: Far From Home
A post-Tony Stark/Iron Man Peter Parker is not something we were familiar with in the MCU up until this point. One criticism that some people have had about Holland’s Spider-Man is that too much of his ability and tech stem directly from the already-established Iron Man. The “self-made” hero aspect of the classic Spider-Man story seemed to be lacking. Well after Endgame, we get to see Holland in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Far From Home is the movie where Peter is finally forced to figure things out by himself. The pressure of Tony’s legacy and memory hanging on his back added a level of emotion in this movie that moved the character forward into the future. Holland continues to display his character’s story in a way that is incredibly relatable and likable. Also, how could we not give bonus points for Peter and MJ’s love story?
2 Spider-Man: Homecoming
Marvel StudiosSony
Spider-Man: Homecoming is the first solo film of Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy. After a pretty successful debut in Civil War, making this movie work was crucial for the future of the MCU. Holland does not disappoint. We are given a deeper look into this very different portrayal of Peter Parker. Holland nails the young, naive, slightly awkward, and nerdy teenager by day and amateur vigilante by night. His brotherhood with Ned and the parental dynamic between him and May (and even Tony) reminds us all that Peter is, first and foremost, a kid. He’s not some poised hero that flawlessly executes a rescue mission or can capture a villain all by himself. It’s part of his charm and adds an extra layer of magic to Peter Parker that really stands out.
1 Spider-Man: No Way Home
Sony / Marvel Studios
A turning point. A cultural phenomenon. A game-changer. There never seems to be enough ways to describe what this movie did in the world of film and for Spider-Man as a character. Spider-Man: No Way Home gave us the best of three franchises and had the MCU Spider-Man, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, and The Amazing Spider-Man all on one screen. During this moive, Peter is at a turning point in his life. He’s about to graduate high school, he is one of the most hated people in the world, and he is forced to face the villains of the Multiverse. Many young heroes would crumble under the pressure, but Holland’s Peter rises above his loss, pain, and faults in order to make the ultimate sacrifice at the end for the greater good. Even with sharing the screen with Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire, Holland never falls out of the spotlight and takes this role as his own, executing the growth of his character and securing an exciting future for his Spider-Man in the MCU.
