Summary
Spider-Manhas been featured prominently in numerous iconic scenes in theMarvel Cinematic Universe, both in his own trilogy and from his appearances in ensemble movies. While there are many iconicSpider-Man charactersrumored for the hero’s next film,the central figure of Peter Parker remains one of the MCU’s most popular heroes.Following the incredible success of his own trilogy, culminating withSpider-Man: No Way Home’s record-breaking box office, there will surely be more exciting future films. This makes reflecting on the character’s past in the universe so much more compelling.
The MCU has built an exciting Spider-Man universe inside its franchise. Though Sony has attempted to do this in theirVenomandMorbiusfilms, theMCU Spider-Manapproach has been more restrained.While characters like Mac Gargan have appeared in movie likeSpider-Man: Homecoming, their transformations into villains like Scorpion have not been rushed.In this, the MCU has quietly built a full Spider-Man universe of their own inside their larger series. This has led to many scenes that reward more fully on rewatch.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day: Cast, Story, & Everything We Know
After Spider-Man: No Way Home, Marvel and Sony have an even bigger task to make Spider-Man 4, but will Tom Holland return and would it be in the MCU?
10"You’re Spider-Boy?"
Captain America: Civil War
Captain America: Civil Wargave itself an incredibly difficult task when it decided to set up the MCU’s iteration of Spider-Man. In a film already loaded with iconic characters, this sequence, where Tony Stark goes to recruit Peter Parker, is charming and sweet.In a short scene, the entire world of the MCU’s Peter Parker is quickly set up,including his home and his relationship with his Aunt May.
This scene is incredible to review because of how much it has contributed to the character’s realization in the universe. As an initial appearance,this Peter Parker seems to be fully formed.A brief glimpse of his efforts in a homemade costume, accompanied by humor and wit, gives all the origin this hero requires and allows him to emerge as the known, beloved hero in this universe.
Cast
Captain America: Civil War focuses on the aftermath of Age of Ultron as international governments legislate to regulate superhuman activity. This divides the Avengers, forming opposing factions led by Iron Man and Captain America, culminating in a significant conflict between former allies.
9Spider-Man Joins The Fight Between Avengers
Revealed in one of the most iconic trailers yet produced for the MCU,this sequence introduces the fully costumed, modern iteration of Spider-Man into the universe. Working with Tony Stark, this Spider-Man is immediately introduced as an iconic hero in his uniform’s bright and shiny version. With computer-animated eyes and a youthful demeanor, this Spider-Man felt both new and familiar from the very start, with his first words.
More than this, this Spider-Man is introduced as a fan of superheroes, leading to the character’s development as an audience surrogate in the universe.He wants to be alongside the Avengers and is excited to be there.As the fight proceeds, audiences see his personality seeded and the visual use of his powers inside the MCU. Rewatching this scene allows audiences to see the visual vocabulary for this Peter Parker established.
8 Years Later, The MCU Has Confirmed Team Cap Won Civil War In The Worst Way
While Captain America: Civil War ended with members of Team Cap branded fugitives, the MCU has since proven that Team Cap actually won the battle.
8Spider-Man Rescues His Friends In Washington
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Peter’s high-school relationships with his classmates are some of the best components ofSpider-Man: HomecomingandSpider-Man: No Way Home.It is essential that the hero’s world and contemporaries be built out as characters of their own, and this is done exceptionally well inHomecoming. During this scene, several of the hero’s classmates and teachers are stuck in an elevator that is about to fall, and it is up to Spider-Man to save them.
This scene is rewatchable because it shows Spider-Man’s relationship with his peers. Harboring a crush on Liz, Spider-Man is driven to want to participate in typical high school antics, all while juggling his Spider-Man side and wishing to join the Avengers. As this scene plays out with wit and stylish action, Peter can save the day, andaudiences get to see how the world reacts to him through the eyes of his established classmates.
Spider-Man: Homecoming follows Peter Parker after the events of Captain America: Civil War as he navigates high school challenges and battles the emergence of a new villain, the Vulture. With mentorship from Tony Stark, Peter strives to prove himself while balancing his responsibilities as Spider-Man and a student.
7Spider-Man Intimidates The Future Prowler
Donald Glover can’t be Marvel’s Spider-Mananymore, but the actor did make a notable cameo inSpider-Man: Homecoming.During a humorous scene where Peter attempts to intimidate Aaron Davis, using various tools from his suit, Davis looks on with little interest and quips back.The scene is short and effective, but it is unique to look back on for its place in the larger Spider-Man continuity.
For years, Glover campaigned to play Miles Morales. While this never happened, using the actor in this way and allowing him to speak of his nephew finally introduces the idea of Miles Morales to the MCU. In addition,comic fans and viewers ofSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verseknow that Aaron Davis himself does become The Prowler later on, leading to a potential future for the character in the MCU.
Spider-Man 4’s Overlooked Perfect Villain Can Set Up Miles Morales
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6Peter Parker Nearly Kills His Classmates With Drones
Spider-Man: Far From Home
One thing the MCU has done exceptionally well with the Spider-Man character compared to other iterations is that they let him be a kid.Following the death of Tony Stark, however, a great deal of responsibility is thrust upon Peter, and it is made clear in this scene that he is not yet ready for it.This is important to the film’s plot, but it also contributes to an entertaining sequence that gives character insight into Peter and his classmates.
In this scene, Peter bumbles through the use of Tony Stark’s E.D.I.T.H. software and nearly winds up attacking his own school bus.This is a humorous scene, but it also shows Peter’s ability to re-plan and recalibrate to the threats he faces.In a quick response, with meticulously crafted action, Peter is able not just to avoid the attack, but, with goofy twists and action, to even keep his classmates from seeing him do it.
5Mysterio’s Nightmare
Mysterio impacted Peter Parker’s life in the MCU in significant ways that willinfluence Spider-Man’s next movies. While the villain is often seen as lesser in Spider-Man’s rogues gallery,the MCU put tremendous work into turning the master of illusions into a disturbing and horrific threat.This is best done in this scene, which plays with Quentin Beck’s ability to manipulate images. In this, he is able to not just deceive Spider-Man, but trick the audience.
This scene is among the closest the MCU has come to horror, and it feels upsetting to watch. The character’s fragile state is twisted ashe is sent through a series of horrible, deceptive moments that nearly send him toward a violent end as he is struck by a train. This scene is rewatchable for its unusual use of visuals in the MCU and for how it displays Mysterio in a way that comic books never really could.
Far From Home Secretly Revealed Its Mysterio Twist Way Earlier Than You Realized
Mysterio surprised Peter Parker with the reveal that he was actually a villain, but it turns out Spider-Man: Far From Home revealed the twist earlier.
4Spider-Man Goes To Space
Avengers: Infinity War
While Spider-Man’s death may be the most memorable scene fromAvengers: Infinity War, it is too heart-wrenching to include on this list. Instead,the scene of Spider-Man’s journey into space is a more rewarding and entertaining sequence that allows audiences to see Spider-Man taken off of the earth and truly become an Avenger.The contrast between Spider-Man and his teammates is made evident here, where we see Peter’s character responding to the enormous implications of what is occurring.
The Iron Spider suit is used to full effect here, and the sequence of Spider-Man lifting into space on the side of Thanos' ship is breathtaking.This sequence is the culmination of Spider-Man’s Avengers involvement and allows the hero to break from his New York tiesand become the hero that the Avengers well represent. In addition, Spider-Man feels most like an audience surrogate here, allowing viewers to feel immersed in the sequence.
Avengers: Infinity War brings together the Avengers and their allies to face a new threat from the cosmos, Thanos, who seeks to collect the Infinity Stones. The film, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, unites numerous superhero characters in a battle to prevent Thanos' ambition of altering reality itself.
3Spider-Man Returns To The Fight And Reunites With Tony Stark
Avengers: Endgame
The portals scene inAvengers: Endgameis often cited as one of the best scenes in the MCU, and it is surprising thatportals were notEndgame’s original plan. It is undoubtedly one of the most rewatchable scenes for Spider-Man.Following the death of so many beloved heroes inInfinity War, there is great reward and catharsis for audiences when each of the heroes finally returns to the field of battle.Following Spider-Man’s emotional death, his return is among the best here.
Seeing the hero in action among his contemporaries is one of the most exciting visual sequences in all of Marvel. Spider-Man fights with all of his might, using his powers and his suit to their full effect.This also gives him his last moments with Tony Stark, his mentor, before Stark’s emotional death.This scene stands up to rewatches and reveals more detail in the foreground and background alike each time it is viewed.
2Spider-Man Fights Doctor Octopus
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Revealed in the trailer for the film, Peter’s fight against Doctor Octopus on the Alexander Hamilton Bridge is an incredible sequence that blows open the multiverse in the MCU.Seeing Tom Holland and Alfred Molina, two of the best Spider-Man performers, each from different franchises, interact in the same scene was wholly unexpected.The combat is exciting, and Spider-Man taking over Otto’s arms is a rewarding end to a great scene.
This is so rewatchable because of how it has set up the entire Spider-Verse.Spider-Man movies throughout history all become connected through this single scene.As the hero and villain disappear at the end and the Green Goblin is teased, the entire Spider-Man mythos is distilled down to its essence. Indeed, any Spider-Man character from any time in history can now be used in the franchise’s future thanks to the effectiveness of this scene.
For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the trials and tribulations of being a superhero. In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) asks for help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) when his identity becomes a problem for the ones he loves. Unfortunately, when the spell goes wrong, Spider-Man will now have to face off with villains such as Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) and Electro (Jamie Foxx) as Peter finally comes to terms that he can’t run from being Spider-Man. Supported by his close friends and help from an unexpected place (or multiverse), Spider-Man will go toe-to-toe with some of the most legendary foes in his storied history.
1All Three Spider-Men Fight Together
Much of the excitement aroundSpider-Man: No Way Homewas based on its connections to the previous Spider-Man films.This scene takes all of that potential and distills it into a single sequence.All three Spider-Men appear together onscreen and fight a series of villains from their collective pasts. The scene is rife with impact and meaning, but it also operates as a staggeringly fun action sequence.
Following this scene, it is strange thatTobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield sequelshave not yet been made in the MCU. Still, the scene is quite remarkable for the franchise, and successfully distills 20 years of comic book movie history into a single scene. Spider-Man is one of the most important characters in theMarvel Cinematic Universe, and this scene allowed the hero to be shown in every way he has been intended throughout the years in an enjoyable, bombastic fashion.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
