--- title: "The Amazing Spider-Man: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-amazing-spider-man/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-amazing-spider-man" critics_score: 63 critics_reviews: 23 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." --- # The Amazing Spider-Man (2012): what the critics said Critics' score 63 from 23 reviews: 10 positive, 9 mixed, 4 negative. Most critics find this reboot entertaining and better acted than it needed to be, and the praise clusters on Andrew Garfield. His gawkier, moodier Peter Parker is called sharp, funny and convincing, and his rapport with Emma Stone is the thing most reviews single out. Several say the quieter scenes, the romance and the home life with Uncle Ben, work better than the set-pieces, though Webb’s grounded, fluid action also has its admirers. The reservations are about necessity. Even the warm reviews ask why the origin story is being told again so soon after Raimi’s trilogy, and the cooler ones call it a paraphrase of films we have already seen. The Lizard is widely judged a weak villain, with The Guardian a rare voice finding Rhys Ifans sympathetic. The spread is wide, from four-star notices to the Evening Standard, which finds it slow, angsty and of limited appeal to adults. ## Little White Lies — Matt Bochenski Rating 3/4/4. 3 July 2012. The critic calls the film a major success that creates its own mythology and future. He praises Webb’s grounded, fluid action and Andrew Garfield’s sympathetic performance, while noting some stale story elements and an underwritten female role. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-amazing-spider-man) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 4/5. 20 June 2012. Time Out gives the film a positive four-star review. The available page metadata does not reveal what the critic specifically praises or criticizes. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-amazing-spider-man) ## Total Film — Kevin Harley Rating 4/5. 19 June 2012. Harley finds the reboot bumpy but ultimately stylish and engaging enough to earn a sequel. He praises Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone’s chemistry, as well as the visceral action set-pieces. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-amazing-spider-man-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Jordan Mintzer Fi1m's normalised score 76/100 (inferred from the text). 21 June 2012. Mintzer finds the reboot satisfying, with a darker take on Spider-Man balanced by humor and a convincing origin story. He especially praises the witty, realistic chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, while noting that the 3D feels unnecessary. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/amazing-spider-man-film-review-340662/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 4 July 2012. Bradshaw finds the reboot potent and entertaining, with Andrew Garfield convincing as Spider-Man and the story more emotionally literate. He particularly praises Rhys Ifans as a compelling, sympathetic adversary. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jul/04/the-amazing-spiderman-review) ## Variety — Boyd van Hoeij Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 June 2012. The critic finds it an entertaining, emotionally involving reboot that favors character drama over nonstop action. He praises the chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, while finding the Lizard less compelling than the human story. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/the-amazing-spider-man-1117947790/) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2012. Edelstein finds the reboot unnecessary but surprisingly good and fresher than the previous series’ third film. He particularly praises Emma Stone’s intelligence and screen presence, which he says makes the romance sparkle. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2012/06/movie-review-the-amazing-spider-man.html) ## Empire — Ian Freer Fi1m's normalised score 68/100 (inferred from the text). 30 July 2007. Freer finds the reboot enjoyable and fresh, though uneven and less spectacular than its predecessor. He especially praises the believable central relationship and the performances of Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/amazing-spider-man-review/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The review’s verdict cannot be determined because the page is blocked. Its specific praise or criticism is likewise unavailable. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-amazing-spider-man-2012) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 26 June 2012. The page identifies this as a review, but the critic’s verdict is unavailable in the accessible text. No specific praise or complaint can be determined from the page shown. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-amazing-spider-man/5043705.article) ## Radio Times — Stella Papamichael Rating 3/5. The review finds the film a hasty re-spin that covers familiar ground. It praises Andrew Garfield’s moodier take on Peter Parker, though it says he can seem smug. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-qk8jy2/the-amazing-spiderman/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 2 July 2012. Dargis finds the reboot enjoyable but largely unnecessary. She singles out Andrew Garfield’s performance as a bright spot. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/03/movies/review-the-amazing-spider-man-with-andrew-garfield.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Andy Klein Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 6 July 2012. Klein finds the film entertaining but ultimately superfluous, especially for viewers familiar with Raimi’s trilogy. He praises the more compelling romantic chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, while criticizing the familiar action and story. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/socal/burbank-leader/entertainment/tn-pas-0708-film-review-latest-spiderman-is-diverting-but-not-amazing-story.html) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film occasionally charming but ultimately too heavy and lacking in stakes. Garfield’s helpless, newly powered Peter Parker is singled out as entertaining, while the film’s ponderousness draws complaint. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/the-amazing-spider-man) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 8 August 2012. The review finds the reboot slow and overly angsty, with limited appeal for adults. It praises Andrew Garfield’s performance as gawky and nervous yet appealing. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-amazing-spiderman-3d-review-7917599.html) ## HeyUGuys — Ben Mortimer Rating 4/5. 27 June 2012. The critic finds the film entertaining and a more satisfying Spider-Man adaptation, despite pacing problems and a weak villain. They especially praise Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker as sharp, funny, and true to the character. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-amazing-spider-man-review/) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2012. The critic finds the reboot thrilling and well handled despite questioning whether another Spider-Man film was needed so soon. The spectacular Manhattan-swinging sequences stand out, while some action feels overly choreographed. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/amazing-spider-man-review-refurbished-runs-new-46196/) ## /Film — Angie Han Rating 7.25/10. 2 July 2012. Han finds the reboot good but not compelling enough to justify retelling Spider-Man’s origin so soon. She praises Andrew Garfield’s performance and the film’s heartfelt character relationships, while faulting its familiar superhero plot and unimpressive action. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/521864/the-amazing-spiderman-review-short-spectacle-big-heart/) ## Eye for Film — Stephen Carty Fi1m's normalised score 68/100 (inferred from the text). 19 July 2012. Carty finds the reboot worthwhile despite its familiar story, weak villain, and frustrating plot issues. He especially praises Andrew Garfield’s performance as a convincing, definitive Peter Parker. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-amazing-spider-man-2012-film-review-by-stephen-carty) ## Digital Spy — Stella Papamichael Rating 3/5. 28 June 2012. The critic finds the film entertaining but less memorable and emotionally effective than Sam Raimi’s original. They praise the lively rapport between Garfield and Stone, while faulting the weaker emotional punch. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a389799/the-amazing-spider-man-review/) ## NME — Owen Nicholls Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 3 July 2012. The review finds the reboot adequate but too repetitive to establish its own identity, while recommending it. It praises Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, whose performances and chemistry make a sequel appealing. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/the-amazing-spider-man-film-review-767643) ## Paste — Michael Burgin Rating 5.9/10. 8 July 2012. Burgin argues that the reboot is an inferior paraphrase of the earlier Spider-Man films and is also weakened by contrived plot developments. He praises Andrew Garfield as the film’s strongest asset, finding him more convincing as an angsty teenager than Tobey Maguire. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/the-amazing/the-amazing-spider-man) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 2/5. 29 June 2012. Brew finds the reboot disappointing, overly cautious, and lacking excitement. He praises Andrew Garfield’s performance and the scenes focused on Peter Parker’s relationships, especially with Gwen Stacy and Uncle Ben. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-amazing-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/the-amazing-spider-man.md