Early ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Reviews Say the Film ‘Lives One Step Above Masterpiece’

First reactions for the long-awaited Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse are in and early viewers are pleased. A “first friends and fans” private screening for the movie was held in Los Angeles on Wednesday night (May 24), with superhero enthusiasts and film critics raving about the flick, which was directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, and Kemp Powers. Across the Spider-Verse follows 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which received an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2019.

Across the Spider-Verse picks up where the inaugural franchise film left off, with protagonist Miles Morales/Spider-Man (Shameik Moore) teaming up with Gwen Stacy/ Spider-Woman (Hailee Steinfeld) to help her in rescuing the multiverse from supervillain The Spot (Jason Schwartzman). While on their mission, the two encounter the Spider Society, which includes a team of Spider-People like Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman (Issa Rae), Hobart "Hobie" Brown/Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya), and leader Miguel O'Hara/Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Issac).

The new film apparently won over the early crowd, including Brian Davids of THR, who said Across the Spider-Verse was “darker and sadder than I expected.”

Sean O’Connell of CinemaBlend seconded Davids’ sentiment, saying that Across the Spider-Verse “lives one step above masterpiece.”

Drew Taylor of The Wrap praised the film for its “emotional depth and its beautiful, melancholic tone.”

Accompanying the film is a soundtrack executive produced by Metro Boomin.

Also returning to the star-studded cast are Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez, and Jake Johnson. A third installment of the franchise is currently in development and scheduled to arrive on March 29, 2024.

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