The reviews lean mixed rather than hostile: a handful of critics are won over, a larger group is lukewarm, and a sizeable minority is bored. Almost everyone agrees on where the film’s heart is. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone are praised again and again for the ease and warmth of their scenes together, and several reviews say the romance is the only part of the film that works without strain. Garfield’s loose, physical Spider-Man and Dane DeHaan’s Harry Osborn also draw repeated approval, as do the web-swinging sequences.
The complaints are just as consistent. Most critics find the script overstuffed, with too many villains, too much franchise groundwork and a running time the story cannot fill. The spread is wide: The Guardian finds it lively and charming, while The New Yorker dismisses it outright, mocking its confused priorities. Notably, even the warmest reviews concede the crowding, and Slant, among the sceptics, singles out the Osborn storyline as the one thing holding it together.
G
The Guardian
9 April 2014 · Xan Brooks
80*
Brooks finds the sequel lively and charming enough to win over even a jaded viewer. He particularly praises Andrew Garfield’s casting and the endearingly amateur feel of Spider-Man’s crime-fighting.
Read the full review →E
Empire
18 December 2012 · Kim Newman
75*
Newman finds this a satisfying, emotionally engaging sequel, despite some tonal awkwardness and overly broad gags. He particularly praises Emma Stone’s nuanced, active Gwen Stacy and the film’s emphasis on Spider-Man protecting bystanders.
Read the full review →H
The Hollywood Reporter
8 April 2014 · Leslie Felperin
75*
Felperin finds the sequel more emotionally satisfying than its predecessor, despite its crowded villains and subplots. She especially praises the fizzy chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, which gives the central romance its spark.
Read the full review →V
Variety
8 April 2014 · Guy Lodge
70*
Lodge finds the sequel redundant and overlong but ultimately enjoyable, carried by its sound and fury. He especially praises the playful chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, while noting Dane DeHaan’s performance as a reason to anticipate the next installment.
Read the full review →S
Screen Daily
9 April 2014 · Mark Adams
68*
Adams calls it an enjoyable adventure romp, though it can feel unwieldy. The standfirst’s main reservation is the film’s lack of coherence and manageability.
Read the full review →A
The AV Club
1 May 2014 · C+ · A.A. Dowd
63
Dowd finds the sequel overstuffed and uneven, with too many plots and villains crowding out the drama. He praises the energy of the action and the convincing romantic scenes between Garfield and Stone.
Read the full review →R
Radio Times
★★★ · Stella Papamichael
60
The review is mixed, reflected in its three-out-of-five rating, and finds the sequel uneven. It singles out Dane DeHaan’s performance as Harry Osborn and Spider-Man’s Times Square encounter with Electro for praise.
Read the full review →T
Time Out
14 April 2012 · ★★★ · Tom Huddleston
60
Huddleston gives the film 3/5, suggesting a qualified response. The available text singles out Spider-Man’s appeal as a relatable high-school outsider, but gives no specific assessment of the film’s execution.
Read the full review →T
Total Film
9 April 2014 · ★★★ · Emma Dibdin
60
The review finds the sequel bright and likable despite tonal shifts and a clumsy, overstuffed script. It particularly praises the chemistry and performances of Garfield, Stone, and DeHaan.
Read the full review →S
Slant Magazine
28 April 2014 · ★★/4 · Chris Cabin
50
Cabin finds the film overstuffed and unfocused, with its backstory and detours overwhelming the narrative. He singles out Harry and Norman Osborn’s storyline as the film’s primary saving grace.
Read the full review →L
Little White Lies
15 April 2014 · 4/2/2 · Chris Blohm
40
The review finds the film erratic, dull and poorly focused, with a threadbare narrative. It praises Marc Webb’s dynamic action sequences but says the script undermines his visual style.
Read the full review →E
Evening Standard
18 April 2014 · The Standard
35*
The critic finds the film too long and awkwardly divided between exciting action and tiresome romance. Garfield’s athletic, vulnerable portrayal is singled out as a strength.
Read the full review →L
Los Angeles Times
1 May 2014 · Betsy Sharkey
35*
Sharkey finds the sequel occasionally satisfying but ultimately weighed down by its tangled story and overabundance of villains. She praises Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, whose performances and romantic chemistry give the film its heart.
Read the full review →V
Vulture
2 May 2014 · David Edelstein
30*
Edelstein finds the film bloated and often boring, despite saying it hits its marks. He praises the vivid Electro effects and Emma Stone’s charm, while criticizing the convoluted, rhythmless plotting.
Read the full review →N
The New Yorker
27 April 2014 · Anthony Lane
25*
Lane delivers a sharply dismissive verdict, mocking the film’s confused priorities and overstuffed story. He particularly complains that its pileup of unsubtle villains blurs the story’s focus.
Read the full review →H
HeyUGuys
8 April 2014 · ★★★★ · Stefan Pape
80
The critic finds the sequel an entertaining, successful blockbuster, despite its weak structure and rushed ending. He praises the performances, especially the natural chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.
Read the full review →The URL identifies this as a review, but the page content is blocked. Its verdict and any specifically praised or criticized element cannot be verified.
Read the full review →D
Den of Geek
9 April 2014 · ★★★ · Simon Brew
60
Brew finds the film a welcome step forward, though its overloaded story leaves it frustrating and short of its potential. He praises the action and the strong chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.
Read the full review →D
Digital Spy
8 April 2014 · Simon Reynolds
60*
The critic finds the sequel entertaining but uneven, weighed down by franchise setup and unresolved storylines. Garfield’s performance is singled out for holding the film together, while Stone’s chemistry with him helps compensate for thin writing.
Read the full review →P
Paste
2 May 2014 · 4.6/10 · Michael Burgin
46
Burgin finds the film a badly scripted, overstuffed disappointment that repeatedly sidelines Spider-Man. He praises the energetic web-swinging sequences and Garfield’s performance as Spider-Man, while faulting the plot and several exaggerated character portrayals.
Read the full review →E
Eye for Film
26 May 2014 · David Graham
30*
The critic finds the sequel overstuffed and too familiar, with its long runtime and crowded villains undermining it. They praise the adult relationship between Peter and Gwen, along with Emma Stone’s performance.
Read the full review →The critic finds the sequel overstuffed and underwhelming, with corporate franchise setup crowding out coherent storytelling. Garfield and Stone’s warm, funny chemistry is a highlight, but it cannot compensate for the villains, clichés, and excessive climaxes.
Read the full review →Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate