--- title: "Spider-Man: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/spider-man/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/spider-man" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 8 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 (2002): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 8 reviews: 5 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics find Spider-Man an entertaining, character-led comic-book adventure, with Tobey Maguire’s casting the clearest point of agreement. His vulnerability and awkward charm make Peter Parker believable, giving the superhero story an emotional centre. Praise also gathers around the romance and the treatment of adolescence, with several reviews crediting Sam Raimi for keeping the people behind the masks in view. The enthusiasm is qualified, though: even favourable notices sometimes describe the film as competent rather than inspired. The action produces the sharpest divide. The Guardian finds the digital sequences exhilarating, while RogerEbert.com sees weightless cartoon action that lacks tension. Reservations elsewhere concern a generic villain, excessive length and a drift towards conventional spectacle; The New Yorker is particularly cool about the second half and its sequel-minded plotting. The spread runs from warm approval to mixed responses, with Maguire earning praise even from those less persuaded by the battles. ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 19 April 2002. The film succeeds as a comic-book adventure with a charming, relatable lead in Tobey Maguire and a director in Sam Raimi who balances spectacle and heart without excess grandeur. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/spider-man-2002-movie-review-999878/) ## The New York Times — A. O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 May 2002. The filmmakers rejuvenate the character while staying faithful to his roots, with inspired casting of Tobey Maguire helping to deliver the simpler satisfactions of superhero identification. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/03/movies/film-review-muscles-ripple-webs-unfurl-hormones-race.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 3 May 2002. Its best feature is the romance comic heart and the convincing Tobey Maguire as the most believable Spider-Man, though the villain and some action are generic and the film is only sporadically exhilarating. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-may-03-et-turan3-story.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2002. The critic finds the film entertaining and a good summer yarn, praising its fun, gusto, and the metaphorical qualities of the Spider-Man myth as an allegory for adolescence. They single out the digital effects for delivering exhilarating sequences while noting the costume looks seamlessly figure-hugging. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/jun/14/1) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 19 April 2002. It is a perfectly serviceable popcorn picture that satisfies teens and general viewers, with Tobey Maguire providing emotional openness and vulnerability as the standout element in an otherwise competent but uninspired film. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2002/film/awards/spider-man-3-1200550204/) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 1 May 2002. Raimi captures the character's sensitive yet self-serving essence in a coming-of-age superhero story, though the film feels cheesy and overly long at times. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/spider-man/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 3 May 2002. The film excels in portraying Peter Parker as a fallible, relatable nerd but falters when Spider-Man takes over, with action sequences that feel like weightless cartoons lacking gravity or tension. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/spider-man-2002) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 6 May 2002. The film starts with good humor and Maguire is the best thing about it, but it loses interest in the second half as it shifts to conventional battles and forced plot points for sequels. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/05/13/tangled-webs-3) ## Empire — Ian Freer Sam Raimi delivers a perfect melding of director and subject in a supremely entertaining take that satisfies fans and thrill-seekers alike. It holds onto characters you can root for and plotting that makes sense while delivering maximum spectacle. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/spider-man-review/) ## Screen Daily 29 April 2002. Raimi delivers an efficient and entertaining film that should break box office records, though it feels like a studio package rather than a bold vision. The critic singles out Tobey Maguire's perfect casting as the conflicted Peter Parker/Spider-Man for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/spider-man-spider-man/409039.article) ## Sight and Sound — Kim Newman The film mixes charm and spectacle in its origin story but does not quite hold together as a whole, with action sequences often devolving into cartoonish fights. Newman singles out Tobey Maguire's winning portrayal of the doofus Peter Parker for praise. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/1676) ## The Independent 13 June 2002. The film begins with charm and an offbeat take on Peter Parker's transformation, thanks to strong casting of Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst. It loses some conviction in the later, more ambitious action sequences which feel weightless and cartoonish. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/spiderman-180092.html) ## Total Film 14 June 2002. Raimi has created a faithful, pacey and witty movie that far outshines most recent franchise-launchers. Full of swinging action but with plenty of time to explore the people behind the masks. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/spider-man-review/) --- © 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.md