--- title: "Spider-Man: Homecoming: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/spider-man-homecoming/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/spider-man-homecoming" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 24 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: Homecoming (2017): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 24 reviews: 20 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics like it, and the praise clusters in two places: Tom Holland’s Peter Parker and the decision to keep the story small. The reviews keep returning to the high-school comedy, the Queens setting and the lack of the angst that weighed down earlier versions; John Hughes is the comparison several reach for. Michael Keaton’s Vulture is the other name that recurs, singled out as one of the series’ more grounded villains. The reservations gather around the Marvel machinery. The Hollywood Reporter finds the film too tightly bound to the wider franchise and blames a crowded script; Variety calls the approach rote and the hero innocuous. Even admirers at Time Out and Den of Geek concede the bigger action sequences blur, and NME notes the female characters are underused. The one outright dissent is The New Yorker, which finds it saccharine and oddly fond of the military hardware it might have questioned. For a film this well liked, the spread is wide. ## Radio Times Rating ★★★★★. 30 June 2017. The critic hails it as among the very best of the Marvel bunch for its keenly observed high-school comedy and brilliantly constructed body with no wasted frames. It singles out Tom Holland's nuanced performance as the web-like glue holding the action and teen drama together. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/spider-man-homecoming-among-the-very-best-of-the-marvel-bunch/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2017. The critic calls the film a crowd-pleasing triumph and a whip-smart teen movie, crediting Tom Holland's charming central performance. They single out the self-contained storytelling, Michael Keaton's nuanced Vulture and the focus on high-school life for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jun/29/spider-man-homecoming-review-tom-holland) ## Total Film — Jamie Graham Rating 4 stars. 30 June 2017. The critic finds the film exuberant and fun, with Holland delivering a delightful, athletic take on Peter Parker that makes the high-school superhero story feel fresh and engaging. It highlights the zinging gags, strong character moments and overall sense that Spidey has a spring in his step again. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/spiderman-homecoming-review/2/) ## Empire — Nick de Semlyen Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2017. The review calls it the best Spider-Man film since Raimi’s Spider-Man 2, crediting Tom Holland’s endearing performance and Jon Watts’ light touch for ditching angst in favor of a cool, funny remix that feels fresh. It singles out the small-scale high-school moments and witty action sequences for praise. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/spider-man-homecoming-review/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 5 July 2017. The critic calls it the breeziest, most convivial Marvel movie in ages, praising its friendly-neighborhood focus, witty action, and strong performances especially from Tom Holland and Michael Keaton. It returns to simpler superheroics without heavy angst. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2017/07/spider-man-homecoming-review-a-breezy-delight.html) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2017. The critic praises the reboot as irreverent, intimate and wrenching, highlighting its debt to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and strong ensemble performances, especially Tom Holland as a winsome yet hard-scrabble Peter Parker. The high-school setting, sharp humor and focus on Peter and his friends stand out as particular strengths. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/spider-man-homecoming-review-irreverent-intimate-and-wrenching-a3681736.html) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 4/5. 29 June 2017. The critic calls it a bright and breezy teen-flick-meets-action-movie that narrows the Marvel universe to something local and intimate. It singles out Tom Holland's likable performance and the blend of humour, pathos and antics, while noting some blurry action and lost supporting characters. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/spider-man-homecoming) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2017. The review sees the film as a step forward for Marvel by leaning into genre conventions and high-school elements to keep things fresh. It notes it should have been more John Hughes but still figures out a way to refresh the superhero formula. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/spider-man-homecoming-review-marvel-future-superhero-movies-tom-holland-zendaya-1201848553/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2017. The critic describes it as a fun, likable coming-of-age tale and solid reboot that may surpass the previous attempt. It singles out Tom Holland's believable portrayal and Michael Keaton as a fleshed-out villain, while noting the air of familiarity and MCU constraints. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/spider-man-homecoming-review/5119528.article) ## Sight and Sound — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 4 July 2017. The critic praises Jon Watts's smart direction and a seamless script for turning Spider-Man into a humble high-school hero focused on doing the right thing. It highlights the film's character-driven rescues and down-to-earth approach over spectacle. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/spider-man-homecoming-review-peter-parker-humble-high-school-hero) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2017. The film is likable and amusing as a return for the character, focusing on Peter Parker as a teenager figuring out his powers amid school and home demands. It works best in its light, good-natured teen story but occasionally strains with forced airiness. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/29/movies/spider-man-homecoming-review.html) ## The Times — Kate Muir Rating ★★★★☆. 30 June 2017. The critic praises the reboot as an old-fashioned teen movie buoyed by Tom Holland's puppyish performance and lively set pieces. They highlight the high-school focus and supporting characters while noting it refreshes the formula effectively. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/kate-muir-film-review-spider-man-homecoming-dwcz2f00s) ## The Hollywood Reporter — John DeFore Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2017. The critic finds the film occasionally exciting but often frustrating due to corporate strategy and an over-integrated MCU feel. Tom Holland's winning performance as Peter Parker stands out amid script issues and too many writers. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/spider-man-homecoming-review-1017796/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 5 July 2017. The film is uneven, with strong stunt work and one of the series' most sympathetic villains in Michael Keaton's Vulture, but it pushes the teen protagonist too hard into frantic, clichéd territory. It finds its pace by the end despite distractions from the Marvel integration. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-spider-man-homecoming-review-20170705-story.html) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2017. Tom Holland plays Peter as an awkward, ordinary teen superhero-in-training, making the film a mildly diverting YA-flavored reboot that feels distinctive after prior entries. The action has casual buoyancy and roots for the hero's perseverance, though the approach is often rote and the character innocuous. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/spider-man-homecoming-review-tom-holland-1202481638/) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 13 July 2017. The movie undercuts its coming-of-age story about learning restraint with powers by hedging and seeking approval in ways that mirror what the hero supposedly overcomes. It results in an oblivious, saccharine film that praises the military-industrial complex while effacing real distinctions among characters. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/review-spider-man-homecoming-hedges-its-bets) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 5 July 2017. Hails it as a charming and hilarious John Hughes-style high school comedy that makes Holland the best on-screen Spider-Man yet and avoids common reboot pitfalls with strong supporting performances. Singles out the tense Washington Monument sequence and grounded villain for praise. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a832004/spider-man-homecoming-review-marvel-tom-holland/) ## /Film — Ethan Anderton Rating 9/10. 7 July 2017. The critic calls it a spectacular return for the webslinger that integrates high school life with superhero action in the MCU. They praise Tom Holland's performance and the authentic high school elements along with strong action sequences. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/551818/spider-man-homecoming-review/) ## The Wrap — Robert Abele Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 6 July 2017. The critic finds the film a funnier, more teen-oriented take that feels punchy, laugh-filled and exciting. He singles out Tom Holland’s fresh-faced buoyancy and earnest teen energy for placing the story in John Hughes territory. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/spider-man-homecoming-review-tom-holland-mcu/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B+. 7 July 2017. The critic calls the film fun and joyous, noting it forges its own identity in the MCU through humor and a focus on Peter as a neighborhood hero rather than high-stakes angst. They single out Tom Holland's eager performance and the grounded, character-driven story for praise. [Read the review](https://collider.com/spider-man-homecoming-review/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 5 July 2017. The critic calls it a clever reboot and high-flying franchise success that works as a coming-of-age story pitched to a new generation. He singles out Tom Holland’s handling of the dual role with humor and wonder. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2017/07/spider-man-homecoming-review-tom-holland-marvel-robert-downey-jr-video-1202124039/) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 4/5. 4 July 2017. Praises the film as a strong high school movie grounded in Peter Parker's teenage life, with sharp comedy, excellent casting including Tom Holland, and a fresh neighbourhood focus. Notes it loses some relatability when shifting to larger-scale superhero action and effects. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/spider-man-homecoming-review-2/) ## NME — Larry Bartleet Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 4 July 2017. Calls the zippy reboot an improvement over predecessors by embedding itself in the MCU while staying light and focusing on a teenager's ambitions. Praises gripping action set pieces and Holland's likeability but notes female characters are underused. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/spider-man-homecoming-review-2096659) ## The Ringer — Adam Nayman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 5 July 2017. The review notes the film's modest charm set in Queens with small-scale stakes and a happy-to-be-there vibe, contrasting prior angst-ridden versions. It singles out Michael Keaton's compelling, relatable villain and the light, glib tone for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2017/07/05/pop-culture/spider-man-homecoming-review-50dd5f3b062f) --- © 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-homecoming.md