The Best Character In Every Spider-Man Movie Who Isn't Spider-Man

Published Jul 22, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT George is a film critic and journalist with over nine years of experience in the entertainment industry. Beginning as the Co-Creator and Co-Editor of Star Wars Holocron, the most followed Star Wars fan account on Twitter/X, George went on to develop The HoloFiles, a movie and television-focused website with his brother and writing partner Josh. A member of the Hollywood Creative Alliance, Chicago Indie Critics, Online Film and Television Association, and the Internet Film Critic Society, George has covered major industry events as credentialed media, including D23, CinemaCon, SXSW, Fantastic Fest, Star Wars Celebration, Tribeca Festival, and more. He also regularly writes reviews and contributes articles to ScreenAnarchy, BRWC, Film Obsessive, TV Obsessive, and Under the Radar. George's work has been featured in various esteemed publications, including the BBC, Associated Press, Forbes, and The New York Times. Spider-Man is one of the most popular and beloved comic book characters of all time, in part due to the undeniable magnetism of many of the supporting players that surround the friendly neighborhood web-slinger. To date, Spider-Man has headlined 10 feature films and will soon lead an eleventh when Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31. Each of these films finds Spidey facing off against complex villains, navigating romances with compelling love interests, and receiving support from an array of loyal friends and family members. Indeed, every Spider-Man film is of the quality that it is as a result of the rich array of characters that populate the stories beyond the titular superhero. Ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will have Peter Parker interact with both established (e.g., MJ, Ned) and new supporting characters (e.g., Sadie Sink’s mysterious character), now is the perfect time to look back at the cinematic history of Spider-Man and pinpoint the best character in every Spider-Man movie who isn’t Spider-Man. 10 Spider-Man (2002) - Norman Osborn / Green Goblin The phrase “a hero is only as good as their villain” holds particularly true in the comic book genre of movies, many of which are marred by forgettable and disposable antagonists. Spider-Man faces off against a villain who is anything but forgettable and disposable in his first appearance in a live-action feature film. Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin may don a costume decidedly differ from the one he wears in the comic books, but his unhinged and terrifying portrayal of Norman Osborn means the iconic comic book villain is faithfully recreated in cinematic form. Dafoe expertly portrays a man reckoning with the psychological toll of a fractured personality, perhaps best exemplified in a scene in which he effortlessly switches back and forth between Norman Osborn and Green Goblin. Dafoe’s Norman Osborn is an off-putting, intimidating figure to begin with but develops into someone (and something) far more unsettling when he undergoes the Goblin transformation, in turn bringing a newfound physicality to his performance and bolstering an unmistakable cackling vocal delivery. Norman Osborn is perfectly chosen as the antagonist to face off against Tobey Maguire’s Spidey and brings incredible tension and stakes to Sam Raimi’s classic film. 9 Spider-Man 2 (2004) - Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus Sam Raimi’s early Spider-Man films benefit from strong supporting casts, in particular the villains who go toe-to-toe with Peter Parker. In Spider-Man 2, the villain comes in the form of Alfred Molina’s Otto Octavius, who enters the film as a warm, paternal presence in Peter’s life before becoming a monster. Molina’s Doc Ock is a far cry from the kind of one-dimensional antagonist that features in many comic book films. Instead, Otto is infused with humanity, tragedy, and depth as he descends into villainy, a contrast to the initially cold and more straightforward villain that is Green Goblin in the preceding film. Doc Ock’s four mechanical arms open the door for some of the best action sequences to ever take place in a Spider-Man movie, punctuated by Molina delivering quips that are perfectly in sync with the tone Raimi goes for. Balancing powerful emotion and high-stakes blockbuster action, Doc Ock is a scene-stealer in Spider-Man 2 and is easily the most interesting character beyond Tobey Maguire’s protagonist. 8 Spider-Man 3 (2007) - Harry Osborn Spider-Man 3 receives a lot of flack, especially when compared to its stellar two predecessors, but there are a number of things Sam Raimi’s trilogy capper gets right. One of these things is Harry Osborn, whose arc takes a number of interesting turns in the film. Beyond MJ and Peter’s bond, the relationship between Peter and his best friend Harry Osborn lies at the emotional center of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy and comes to a head in Spider-Man 3. Losing his memory early on gives Harry a lighthearted innocence that juxtaposes his eventual obsessive and vengeful anger toward Peter. James Franco plays these more villainous scenes with a certain melodrama and somewhat campy aura, which gives way to tons of laughs. Harry Osborn shines brightest in the film’s final act as he finally sheds his villainous posturing and reconciles with his best friend, before ultimately sacrificing himself in the duel against Venom. Regardless of how flawed the preceding film is, the emotional climax hits hard as Harry’s final reconciliation with Peter punctuates a decades-long friendship that culminates in heartbreaking loss. 7 The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) - Gwen Stacy Emma Stone is perfectly cast as Gwen Stacy, a character who only played a minor role in Raimi’s Spider-Man movies. Stone plays Gwen with a brightness, heart, and intelligence that moves the character far beyond the damsel in distress trope. In addition to having a razor sharp wit, Gwen shares genuine chemistry with her co-star Andrew Garfield and grounds the films’ romance in commendable authenticity. While The Amazing Spider-Man errs in repeating Spider-Man’s origin story and landing on a rather unremarkable villain, it excels as a superhero romance, largely due to how likable and compelling Gwen Stacy is. 6 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) - Gwen Stacy Gwen Stacy once again shines brightly in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, easily the worst film on this entire list. Stone’s chemistry with Garfield from the first film carries over to this sequel and makes the strain in their characters’ relationship feel authentic. Again, it is interesting to see Gwen Stacy subvert the damsel in distress trope as she proves to be highly capable and independent throughout the film. In many ways, she is the brains of the duo, critically supporting Peter in his efforts against Electro and others. In the heartbreaking climax, Gwen Stacy cements her status as the emotional anchor of the film. Her death at the hands of Green Goblin hits as hard as it does, because the audience has come to genuinely care for Gwen as a person and her relationship with Peter. 5 Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) - Adrian Toomes / Vulture Michael Keaton made the switch from DC to Marvel when he hung up the cowl and cape and donned the wings of vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Amidst a film filled with new, young actors of the time, Keaton brings real cinematic presence to a film that marked Spidey’s first real foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Keaton chews up the scenery in his scenes, playing a character whose motives are understandable and render Vulture a sympathetic villain. Keaton brilliantly flips this sympathy on its head, however, by bringing a real chilling dimension to his performance in the third act. Vulture also stands out amongst the other supporting characters in Spider-Man: Homecoming as he is at the center of the film’s jaw-dropper of a twist, which reveals that he is the father of Peter Parker’s love interest in the film. The ensuing scenes are nail-biting to say the least, especially the sequence in which he slowly deduces Peter is Spider-Man and the tension gradually escalates. 4 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) - Aaron Davis / The Prowler The juxtaposition between the easygoing, warm, and street-smart Aaron Davis and the ruthless, highly trained mercenary that is The Prowler makes Mahershala Ali’s character the most compelling figure of a vast ensemble who isn’t a version of Spider-Man. Early scenes depict Davis act as a mentor to Miles, encouraging his graffiti art and giving him romantic advice. But, unbeknownst to his family, he takes orders from Wilson Fisk and is tasked with eliminating the new Spider-Man on the scene. All of this sets up for an absorbing series of sequences in which Miles and The Prowler clash and Miles discovers his uncle’s true identity. Aaron’s death at the hands of Kingpin, after he recognizes that his nephew is the masked hero, solidifies Miles’ resolve to step up and become the new Spider-Man, making Aaron Davis a character important to the protagonist’s journey and compelling in his own right. 3 Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) - MJ Zendaya plays a far more sizable role in Spider-Man: Far From Home than she did in Spider-Man: Homecoming, which culminated in the reveal that she is indeed playing the MCU’s version of Mary Jane. MJ’s dry, deadpan, and humorously morbid personality make her a unique character for a comic book movie and distinguishes her from the traditional love interests of other Spider-Man movies. She is brutally honest, observant, incredibly intelligent, and quirky, but she also falls in love for Peter Parker for who he is as a person, awkwardness and all. MJ provides consistent comedic relief throughout Far From Home, whether it be through sarcastic one-liners, observational humor, or unapologetic awkwardness. She also steps up big time as an active participant in the film’s climax in London, proving that she is as strong and resourceful as she is likable and funny. 2 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) - May Parker Although Spider-Man: No Way Home bolsters an array of amazing returning villains, the stand-out supporting character who happens to not be a variation of Spider-Man has to go to Marisa Tomei’s May Parker. Up until this point, May Parker has largely been at the periphery of the MCU Spider-Man movies and is often used for comedic relief, primarily through her awkward romance with Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan. But May receives a major upgrade in No Way Home as she effectively takes on the role that Uncle Ben plays in most Spider-Man stories. Many fans speculated as to who would play Uncle Ben in the MCU, perhaps in a flashback, but the writers subverted expectations in having Aunt May fill these shoes. May’s evolution from a witty, modern guardian to a crucial player in the story culminates in her death, which shapes the direction of Peter’s arc and the remainder of the film. She delivers the film’s emotional anchor by speaking the legendary words, “With great power, there must also come great responsibility,” bringing a tear to both Peter and the audiences’ eyes. 1 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) - Gwen Stacy Gwen Stacy functions as the narrator and co-lead of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, a welcomed evolution of the character introduced in Into the Spider-Verse. From the opening sequence, in which she explores her tragic origin story and the heavy loneliness that accompanies superhero life, to the role she plays in Miguel O’Hara’s Spider-Society, Gwen occupies a fascinating position in the film’s story. After hiding the truth about the multiverse’s rules from her close friend Miles Morales, Gwen is eventually forced to send Miles back to his universe after he rebels against the Society. This leads to a gut-wrenching confrontation with her own father, which gives her the courage to quit the Society and assemble her own interdimensional team to rescue Miles. Haille Steinfeld brings incredible humanity and groundedness to Gwen Stacy and sells the character’s climactic change of heart with authenticity. As anticipated as Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is as a culmination of Miles Morales' Spider-Man story, equally interesting is how Gwen Stacy’s journey comes to a head. Spider-Man: Brand New Day Release Date July 31, 2026 Runtime 145 Minutes Director Destin Daniel Cretton Writers Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Steve Ditko, Stan Lee Producers Amy Pascal, Kevin Feige, Rachel O'Connor, Avi Arad Prequel(s) Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home Four years after No Way Home, Peter Parker lives alone, forgotten by everyone he loves, and devotes himself entirely to being Spider-Man. As crime escalates, he experiences a dangerous physical change that threatens his survival while a mysterious surge in criminal activity introduces a powerful new enemy.