Warning: This article contains spoilers for Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Spider-Man: Far From Home proved to be a big hit among audiences, and it is not hard to see why. The blockbuster saw characters such as Peter Parker and MJ evolve, gave fans a memorable villain in the form of Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio, and delivered thrilling action sequences across Europe in Prague, Berlin, and London. They are not the only reasons the movie was such a box office hit, however.
The three distinct suits Spider-Man wore helped make it stand out, too, with audiences treated to looks of the web-slinger that they had never seen on-screen before. With so many movie appearances from Spider-Man, there are many memorable suits the hero has worn that have been adored by audiences. But what are the best Spider-Man suits, and how are they ranked?
Updated on March 24, 2022, by Jake Koran: Spider-Man movie suits have undergone plenty of changes over the years, each offering a unique take on the iconic look of the beloved superhero. With the number of feature films that have been made about the hero, it can be challenging to definitively rank Spider-Man suits, but there are certain ones that fans have connected with more than others.
Spider-Man: No Way Home has been massively popular among movie-going audiences, and with it recently having a digital release, now is a great time to revisit some of the best films with the superhero and evaluate the look and functional differences between the best Spider-Man movie suits. (Note: The suits worn by Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield in No Way Home are not present because both are only slightly different aesthetically to suits they wore in previous films)
First Feature Film Live-Action Suit (The Amazing Spider-Man Film Series, 1977–1981)
For three films: Spider-Man, Spider-Man Strikes Back, and Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge, Peter Parker inhabited a suit that is remembered for its silliness and reminiscence of an age in which superheroes were often considered too goofy for mainstream audiences.
With easily wrinkled material and eyes that always make the character look surprised, this suit fits in perfectly with the campy films from which it comes. It may be the least impressive suit donned by the popular hero, but it is nevertheless beloved by many fans.
Spin-Off Movie Suit (Spider-Man, 1978)
In 1978, a spin-off movie of the television show, Spider-Man, was released. This film follows the character of Takuya Yamashiro as the titular hero. Like the suit from the late-1970s and early-1980s The Amazing Spider-Man series, this one is similarly silly-looking, though it has become iconic as a relic of the past in superhero media.
It resembles a store-bought costume, but that adds to fans' adoration of the design, making viewers want to see the character show up in future theatrical installments alongside other heroes.
Wrestling Suit (Spider-Man, 2002)
In 2002's Spider-Man, Peter Parker, only recently having gotten his powers, decides to compete in a wrestling competition so that he can receive enough money to buy a car to impress his long-time crush, Mary Jane. He immediately plots several different designs for an outfit before settling for a red number with blue sweatpants.
It looks very thrown-together, which fits for Peter's current stage in his superhero career, but it still ranks as one of the least memorable outfits he has worn on-screen. It has an element of charm to it, but it is rarely considered among all the other aspects that make Spider-Man one of the best superhero movie origin stories.
Miles Morales's First Suit (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, 2018)
In the phenomenal Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Miles Morales buys his first Spider-Man outfit from a local store. The purchase carries a lot of emotional weight, considering the grim circumstances surrounding it.
Because of its cheap quality, the suit does not stand out as one of the better ones in the superhero's catalog, but it is fitting for the character's journey. It is Miles Morales's first attempt at his costume, which he dons in his initial attempts to live up to the Spider-Man title. He perfects his suit's design later on in the story, and this first suit serves more of a comedic purpose at various points, which adds some charm to it.
Second Andrew Garfield Suit (The Amazing Spider-Man 2, 2014)
Having worn a completely different suit during the first Amazing Spider-Man movie in 2012, Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker then changes it up for the sequel.
Sony received criticism for the web-slinger's appearance in the first rebooted movie and then reverted to a more classic look, rather than sticking with the far more unique design the first film attempted. There was nothing new and exciting about his appearance, with it closely resembling the suits seen during Sam Raimi’s trilogy.
Stealth Suit (Spider-Man: Far From Home, 2019)
While audiences loved all three suits from Far From Home, some rank higher than others, and the stealth suit comes in at the bottom of the pile. It looks a tad too cheap and simple, something Iron Man certainly would not allow one of his close friends to roam about in. It also lacks the same cool technological features as some of the other outfits Peter Parker has worn before.
It does its job because nobody realizes it is Peter under the mask - with Ned conveniently labeling him ‘Night Monkey’ to help hide his identity. The protagonist does not like it much, on account of it being too tight, and neither did many viewers. It has become a bit famous, though.
First Tobey Maguire Suit (Spider-Man, 2002)
Despite the 2002 Spider-Man's iconic status, the suit does not hit the same heights as many that would come after it. Peter Parker designs it as he ramps up his efforts to rid New York City of criminal activity and wears it throughout most of the final act of the movie, where he faces off against Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin.
The only reason it is behind the suit worn in the following movie and Spider-Man 3 is the lenses. They always make the web-slinger look angry, and though the suit is one of the most beloved because of the film's legacy, there are others worn by the hero that are better designed.
Revamped Tobey Maguire Suit (Spider-Man 2, 2004)
For the release of Spider-Man 2 in 2004, director Sam Raimi opted to make subtle changes to the costume. While it had been a colorful outfit before, the decision to enhance the red and darken the blue areas of the suit paid off, making it one of the most iconic appearances the favorite neighborhood bug has ever worn. It is an excellent addition to what is perhaps a perfect superhero sequel.
Also, Spidey stays in this costume for two movies straight. Viewers see him donning the look during some of the best action sequences, such as when he faces off against Doctor Octopus and when he and Harry Osborn team up to fight Venom and Sandman during the third film of the trilogy.
Symbiote Suit (Spider-Man 3, 2007)
When the trailer for Spider-Man 3 debuted and showed audiences that Peter Parker would be getting a snazzy black number, audiences could not contain themselves. It did not disappoint, with the appearance not only looking unique but also changing the way Peter Parker behaved as a result.
When wearing the suit, Peter sports a new haircut, is overconfident, and becomes increasingly violent, fighting close friend Harry Osborn and accidentally hitting Mary Jane Watson following a brawl at her work. The web-slinger eventually realizes it is taking him over and manages to get rid of it, only to see it take over Eddie Brock instead and transform Peter’s Daily Bugle rival into Venom.
First Andrew Garfield Suit (The Amazing Spider-Man, 2012)
The suit from the first Amazing Spider-Man movie is a divisive one. For some, Sony decided to tinker too much in their bid to reboot the series and mark it as significantly different from the costumes Tobey Maguire had worn during the Sam Raimi trilogy. For others, however, it was a refreshing change of pace.
Many viewers tend to agree with the latter. The tinted eyes are not for everybody, but there is no denying that, at the time, it was the most advanced version of the iconic costume yet.
Homemade Costume (Spider-Man: Homecoming, 2017)
As original suits go, nothing can ever come close to the homemade costume seen in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming and briefly introduced in 2016's Captain America: Civil War. It is a suit that symbolizes everything fun, bubbly, and lovably awkward about Tom Holland’s take on Peter Parker.
Unlike other homemade costumes from other renditions of Spider-Man, this version has its functional uses that go beyond concealing the character's identity, with goggles to deal with flying through the air being an excellent and thoughtful addition. The hero got a major suit upgrade relatively quickly, but his initial outfit had its usefulness.
Inside-Out Suit (Spider-Man: No Way Home, 2021)
Among the things everyone should know before watching Spider-Man: No Way Home is that the hero receives a new suit, though this is slightly different from what was initially expected. Though it appeared to be a new outfit entirely when it was featured in marketing for the film, it turns out that it is actually just the initial suit he wears in the film, turned inside out.
While it is not technically a different suit per se, the look still offers a fascinating black and gold design, which helps to make it an interesting spin on Peter Parker's suit.
New Tom Holland Suit (Spider-Man: No Way Home, 2021)
The finale of Spider-Man: No Way Home was an emotional one for the characters and audience alike. With his friends and the rest of the universe forgetting who Peter Parker is, he continues to don the Spider-Man outfit alone, without assistance from anyone. The new design features a vibrant blue and red, and it is much more simplistic in its functionality than most of Peter's previous suits in the MCU.
Though this means that the character is without the gadgets that Stark's nanotech and AI provided, the outfit appears to more closely resemble a traditional comic book look for Parker, and it has an emotional resonance because the character is returning to his roots, where his skill, drive, and personal technological abilities and intelligence are all he has as a hero.
Peter Parker's Suit (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, 2018)
Worn by both Peter Parker and Peter B. Parker in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, this suit is a relatively traditional take on the iconic outfit. Though occasionally featured along with sweatpants or a Santa hat, Peter Parker's suit gives audiences a familiar presence that they can enjoy.
The suit makes no drastic changes to the design, but that does not make it bad. The suit is also improved because of the dramatic facial expressions that the animated film allows, adding some more flavor to the classic look.
Stark Suit (Captain America: Civil War, 2016)
When the Captain America: Civil War trailer dropped, it immediately got everybody talking. There was the prospect of Iron Man and Captain America battling to the death, the possibility of some casualties, and perhaps the thing most discussed on the internet: Spider-Man’s outfit.
What is not to like? The decision to fill in the edges of the eyes could have backfired, but it did not. Everybody seemed to love the look, and the fact that the suit relied on the same AI as Iron Man’s made it that much cooler. Peter continued to sport the suit for much of his first MCU self-titled film, Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Returned Nanotech Suit (Spider-Man: No Way Home, 2021)
After helping Dr. Otto Octavius, the nanotechnology that was controlling the mechanical tentacles is given back to Peter, forming a logo of a golden spider on the torso of the suit. While this is essentially the only difference in the design of the suit from earlier portions of the movie, it is a stunning visual addition.
Also, it signifies the point when Peter has demonstrated his ability to help the people who otherwise would have likely died if sent back to their universes. Though it is immediately followed by a tragedy that leads Peter to almost kill Norman Osborn in the climactic battle, his commitment to helping the characters shines through for the majority of the final act of the film.
Miles Morales's Second Suit (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, 2018)
Some fans consider Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to be the best superhero movie, and Miles Morales's proper Spider-Man suit is another item to add to the list of reasons. An altered version of one of Peter Parker's suits, this rendition allows Miles Morales to differentiate himself from the public's perception of the Spider-Man with the traditional red and blue suit.
The logo also resembles graffiti, which Miles Morales has shown a talent for throughout the film, further demonstrating bits of himself. In addition, his use of the suit comes at a pivotal moment in the movie when Miles believes in himself and seeks to help his friends, adding some more emotional weight to it.
Iron Spider Suit (Spider-Man: Homecoming, 2017)
While Peter Parker did not wear the Iron Spider suit in Homecoming, audiences got their first glimpse of it at the end of the movie, when he politely declines the chance to become an Avenger. He was still sporting it in the early embers of Far From Home.
Quite simply, it’s breathtaking. The red and gold, coupled with the blue, complement each other well, and the fact that it has metallic limbs is another bonus. The limbs prove key to him defeating Ebony Maw in Infinity War and help protect both himself and the crucial Gauntlet in Endgame.
Peter's Newly-Designed Suit (Spider-Man: Far From Home, 2019)
In Far From Home, Peter receives the best suit he has had up until this point. Everything about it, from its appearance to its abilities, and from its origin story to its involvement in the battle against Mysterio, is phenomenal.
To see Peter making it in front of Happy Hogan was a big emotional moment, namely because of how much he resembled mentor Tony Stark while doing it. Tinkering with the colors was another great idea, with the white spider on the front and back adding a wonderful touch to the exceptional design.