--- title: "Spider-Man 3: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/spider-man-3/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/spider-man-3" critics_score: 54 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Spider-Man 3 (2007): what the critics said Critics' score 54 from 15 reviews: 5 positive, 4 mixed, 6 negative. The reviews split almost evenly, and few critics are indifferent. Where they agree is on the Sandman. Thomas Haden Church’s performance and the scene of his transformation are named as the film’s best moments across the whole spread, from the warmest notices to the coldest. The visual effects are admired nearly everywhere, and several reviews single out the aerial fights, the skyscraper battle in particular, as the action done well. The reservations cluster on crowding. Most critics find the film overstuffed, with too many villains, too much plot and a slapstick streak from Raimi that sits awkwardly beside the serious scenes. The spread is wide: Total Film and /Film call it a satisfying finale, while The New Yorker and Eye for Film find it chaotic and thin. Time Out is the lone dissenter on length, enjoying the sprawl as something like a television season in a box. ## Time Out — Ben Walters Rating 4/5. 1 May 2007. The review finds the film’s sprawling length oddly enjoyable, like watching a season of television in a box set. It singles out that expansive, episodic feel as a positive. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/spider-man-3) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 4/5. 4 May 2007. The critic finds it a hugely entertaining, deftly handled finale, despite its lack of the expected darkness. They praise Thomas Haden Church’s sympathetic performance and the thrilling final action set-piece. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/spider-man-3-review-2/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Michael Rechtshaffen Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 21 April 2007. The review finds the film entertaining and likely to please fans, though it is less tightly executed than its predecessor. It especially praises the spectacular visual-effects sequences and the performances of Thomas Haden Church and Topher Grace. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/review-spider-man-3-134563/) ## The AV Club — Noel Murray Rating B-. 2 May 2007. Murray finds the film a letdown despite its superb action and weighty theme. He praises the aerial action but faults Raimi’s overdone slapstick and scenes of serious conversation. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/spider-man-3-1798202584) ## Empire — Chris Hewitt Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 27 April 2007. The critic finds the film consistently enjoyable but overstuffed, and says it falls short of completing the trilogy on a high note. They praise Tobey Maguire’s performance and the emotional intensity of Peter’s relationship with Mary Jane. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/spider-man-3-review/) ## The Guardian — Rob Mackie Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 15 October 2007. Mackie finds the film overlong and less charming than its predecessor, but still an enjoyable thrill-ride. He praises the performances of Thomas Haden Church and Bryce Dallas Howard, while finding the villains less compelling. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/oct/15/dvdreviews.actionandadventure) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Rating 2/4. 30 April 2007. Gonzalez finds the film overstuffed, tiring, and a disappointing follow-up to its predecessors. He praises the Sandman’s portrayal as the film’s closest approach to the earlier films’ emotional depth. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/spider-man-3/) ## Screen Daily — Allan Hunter Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 22 April 2007. Hunter finds the trilogy finale hectic and vaguely underwhelming. He singles out its overstuffed, hectic result as a weakness. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/spider-man-3/4032012.article) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 26 April 2007. McCarthy finds the film a disappointing step down, weighed down by a weak script and stale character dynamics. He praises Sandman’s visual interest and melancholy undercurrent, while noting the effects remain impressive. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/spider-man-3-3-1200559890/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 29 April 2007. Lane finds the film a chaotic, incoherent disappointment, despite one thrilling sequence. He singles out Sandman’s transformation as the film’s great scene, while criticizing its muddled rules and excess villains. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/05/07/acting-out) ## /Film — Peter Sciretta Rating 8/10. 4 May 2007. Sciretta finds the film good, despite feeling it is overcrowded and weakened by plot problems. He praises the Peter-Harry storyline’s dramatic payoff and the skyscraper fight’s excitement. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/496174/movie-review-spider-man-3/) ## Paste — Tim Basham Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 4 May 2007. Basham finds the film entertaining but weighed down by corny dialogue and weaker performances. He praises J.K. Simmons’ comic portrayal of J. Jonah Jameson and the film’s creative action set piece. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/spider-man/spider-man-3) ## Den of Geek — Ron Hogan Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 9 May 2007. Hogan finds the film neither good nor bad, calling it a solid rental that falls short of expectations. He praises Sandman’s effects and Venom’s menace, but faults the rushed pacing and underdeveloped villains. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/review-spider-man-3/) ## Digital Spy — Mark Langshaw Rating 2/5. 2 July 2012. The critic calls Spider-Man 3 the trilogy’s low point, arguing Raimi’s approach leaves it far removed from the series’ tone. The visual effects are singled out for praise, but they cannot overcome the crowded plot and misjudged humor. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a390711/spider-man-revisited-a-look-back-at-the-sam-raimi-trilogy/) ## Eye for Film — Scott Macdonald Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 6 May 2007. Macdonald finds the film a monumental disappointment, overwhelmed by a thin story and too many villains. He praises the technically flawless visual effects, but says the climactic fight is contrived and unexciting. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/spider-man-3-film-review-by-scott-macdonald) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/spider-man-3.md