I have a problem with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Or rather, I have a problem with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. (Spoilers for No Way Home)

Full disclosure out of the way, I think Tom Holland is a great actor. I think he does the best he can with the material he’s given to work with.

For all intents and purposes, Tom Holland *plays* a great Peter Parker… I just don’t think he’s *written* as a great Peter Parker.

Mainly because… He’s too nice.

Look, Peter Parker, at his core, at his heart, is a good person. He is a good person doing good things for all the right reasons. He has internalized the phrase ‘Great Power, Great Responsibility’ so much and he tries every day to live up to those words.

…… But on a certain level, on a base instinctive level… Being Spider-Man is an ego trip for Peter.

Being Spider-Man is Peter’s chance to channel all the bullying and ridicule he faced as a nerdy teenager and reflect it back on the people he’s fighting.

Now, don’t get me wrong, he keeps that energy purely on the people who have it coming. The criminals and supervillains.

But on a certain level, part of the appeal of being Spider-Man, for Peter, is him being able to indulge in being a bit of a petty jackass. As a treat.

For a great example of what I’m talking about, look no further than Insomniac’s version of the character. Insomniac’s Peter Parker is an absolute sweetheart. He volunteers at a homeless shelter, he regularly helps out everyday New Yorkers with their common problems, his friendship with Miles is genuinely so fucking sweet. I love their quasi-adopted brotherhood in the games.

…. But this guy can be so *mean* to his bad guys when he really wants to be.

I don’t know, to me, Spider-Man should have just that tiny little bit of an edge to him. Just that tiny little pit of spiteful pettiness. And Tom Holland is just too nice to pull that off.

(And before anyone brings it up, no, I don’t count his murderous rage towards Green Goblin in No Way Home. That was an extreme reaction to external stimuli that made Peter act against his natural temperament. I’m talking about baseline personality here.)

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Commentaires

GrepekEbi2025-12-05 10:21

I kinda agree and some of that classic spidey snark and mean one-liner insults to his enemies could add a little edge to Holland’s spidey - I feel like now that he’s lost everything and he’s no doubt trying to suppress a bunch of anger from all of that, we could potentially see some of that come out in the next movie - especially if Punisher recognises the pain of losing everything, and is there to show Peter what happens if you give in to the anger and the pain

Peter could start the film being a bit reckless and a bit of a dick, maybe getting a bit too close to the “imma kill Norman” Peter, and then after a few “lemme tell you summin’” speeches from Bernthal, he’ll see that’s not his path - but maybe keep a little tiny touch of spite and bullying when he’s dealing with really bad guys…

Plugpin2025-12-05 10:24

Peter being a jackass, as opposed to wise cracking, usually comes as a result of him being absolutely exasperated with someone, like they've pushed him to to the limit (e.g. Green Goblin), otherwise he's more in the 'I can fix him' category of hero.

In the MCU the bad guys he faces are for the first time, so it wouldn't track for him to immediately be a jackass to them, just because.

Tom's Spider-man has its flaws (I do think it's generally the best version) but I don't necessarily agree that this is one of them.

generalosabenkenobi2025-12-05 10:29

Mmm, I think they've done that much better in the movies than they did in the games (or about on par). That first Spider-Man game was right on the money but boy did they make Peter and Miles into such uber goobers in that second game. Really was a bit much

Lanky_Address72442025-12-05 10:43

this might be unpopular but seeing all tom holland movies as spidey i don't see the x-factor in him as a star or an actor

MiddlePop49532025-12-05 10:45

I 100% hear you. Tom Holland has the acting chops and potential to play Peter Parker, but they changed the character so much for the movies that, in my mind, it's not actually an adaptation of Peter at all. For several reasons, yours included.

BookoftheGrey2025-12-05 11:15

I think it's more about the weight of the movies.
We don't really have opportunities to see Snarky Pete since every crisis we see him in are Parker Extinction level events.
The first time he encounters Doc Ock is a good example. I see the snark. But he is unmasked pretty quick and then the panic of Extinction sets in.

Vulture hit too close to home. Mysterio hit him exactly where it hurts.
I think the new movie might be interesting since he does not have to worry about anyone recognising him.
We haven't seen peak Parker Holland 'yet'.

Right_Bass_53242025-12-05 11:24

I disagree. I think they aged Tom Holland's Peter Parker down to a level that felt believable and relatable to a more genuine teenage experience. Turning Flash, for example, into someone who constantly needles him and makes him uncomfortable is better than the "shove you in the locker" jock trope. And Parker gets the best of Flash when he steals his car in Homecoming, proves Flash admires Spider-Man in FFH, and then shocks Flash into fainting when he's unmasked in NWH.

It's scaled differently, but it's all there, IMO.

Defiant_Wheel48882025-12-05 13:24

I can see why you enjoy Tom Holland’s Spider-Man—he’s a great actor and does well with the material he’s given. That said, if *No Way Home* didn’t exist, I probably wouldn’t have liked his version as much. At times, he feels more like a rookie Peter Parker rather than the classic version, and since he has all of Tony Stark’s tech for free, he doesn’t really need to rely on his spider-sense.

For example, in *Spider-Man 2*, when Tobey’s Peter was sitting with MJ and Doc Ock attacked, his spider-sense warned him instantly and he reacted on his own. But in *No Way Home*, a similar moment occurs, and instead of spider-sense, the nano-suit automatically protects him. It made him feel more like Iron Lad than the classic Spider-Man.

In *Far From Home*, Peter giving EDITH to a stranger felt very careless. *No Way Home*, He went to Strange for help, agreed without fully understanding the risks, and kept changing plans. Ultimately, in the portal scene, he went against Strange’s plan, which led to Aunt May’s death—a direct consequence of his choices. But later, he did an amazing redemption: helping all six return to normal and ultimately sacrificing himself so that everyone would forget Peter Parker entirely. That sacrifice made me start liking him, and it truly reflects the spirit of Spider-Man. It’s just unfortunate the movie ends right after that, so I’m still waiting for his next film.

Regarding Andrew Garfield, I also don’t think he was the perfect Peter Parker. Someone once said that Peter should look more like Tobey’s version—nerdy, awkward, not someone everyone immediately likes or respects. Tobey fits that classic Peter Parker image the best. Andrew played an amazing Spider-Man — pun intended — but as Peter Parker, he looked too cool and confident, and everyone seemed to like him. For me, Tobey is the best overall adaptation, and within the MCU, Tom Holland becomes the best once he matures.

retrobution1012025-12-05 14:07

Definitely agree with Garfield being an Amazing Spider-Man. For me Garfield was great as both Peter and Spider-Man. But that just my opinion

LordCurlyy2025-12-05 14:28

Tom Hollands Peter parker is exactly how Peter Parker is suppose to be, Peter is the Humanity side of Spiderman it’s why he does the things he does.

Dell0c02025-12-05 16:12

Then you don't know Peter Parker.

Hippo_in_limbo2025-12-06 11:02

I'm already waiting for the next rendition of Spider-Man. bc this incarnation has been lame. let's hope, his next film\\reboot actually makes him feel like Spider-Man.