While the main selling point of a comic book blockbuster like Spider-Man is typically the superhero action, friendship is often at the core of these films. Across the various franchises starring the web-slinger, some of the main characters have close bonds that are a delight to watch on the big screen.
These friendships can be lifelong ones between two people who grew up together, relationships among two brand new buddies, mentors and mentees, and even a few where it's a hero relating to a villain. They may not always correlate to how well the film is received but they are mostly strong friendships.
Peter Parker & Harry Osborn (The Amazing Spider-Man 2)
In the comics, the friendship between Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) and Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan) is a pivotal one, especially given the Spider-Man/Green Goblin dynamic. 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2 tried to put it at the forefront but it felt a bit forced in the eyes of many.
Harry wasn't mentioned at all in the first installment, only to show up in the sequel and suddenly be a longtime friend of Peter's. Garfield and DeHaan didn't have the greatest chemistry but the friendship was still sweet enough to be considered pretty good.
Harry Osborn & Mary Jane (Sam Raimi Trilogy)
The Sam Raimi series of films made the relationship between Peter (Tobey Maguire), Harry (James Franco), and Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) into a complicated one. Peter was in love with MJ and Harry was his best friend but Harry and MJ started dating.
Their romance ended rather amicably and they remained friendly. While Harry and Mary Jane didn't get to share a ton of scenes to display their bond, they had a few nice moments in 2007's Spider-Man 3, especially after Harry suffered from amnesia.
Peter Parker & Quentin Beck (Spider-Man: Far From Home)
Following the death of Tony Stark, the MCU's Peter Parker (Tom Holland) was a bit lost. When he met Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal), that seemed to change as he found someone he could relate to in terms of being intelligent and something of an outcast.
Quentin, better known as Mysterio, turned out to be a villain who was lying to Peter the entire time. That being said, it was clear that he somewhat admired Peter. He felt like a true possible mentor and the scene the two share on the rooftop was simple yet effective in establishing their kinship.
Peter Parker & Harry Osborn (Sam Raimi Trilogy)
Although The Amazing Spider-Man 2 had a Harry/Peter relationship, it was much more prominent in Sam Raimi's trilogy. Right from the start, it was clear that these two guys were friends even if they came from different backgrounds. Their friendship also went through an interesting arc.
They were close in the first film but things were tested after Norman's death. The sequel saw Harry discover that Peter was Spider-Man, causing him to resent his friend, leading to a fight in the third film. Thankfully, they eventually reconciled just before Harry's death.
Peter Parker & Gwen Stacy (The Amazing Spider-Man)
Sometimes, a friendship can become a romance. That's the case with 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man, which had Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) as Peter's love interest instead of Mary Jane. These two started out as friends but the "will they/won't they" aspect wasn't as pronounced as it was in the Raimi flicks.
Their scenes together were downright adorable from simple conversations to the moment where they kissed. They were on and off like Peter and MJ but it worked better in these films. That was likely due to the electric chemistry between Stone and Garfield that helped carry these installments.
Peter Parker & MJ (MCU)
In 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming, audiences were surprised that Peter had a crush on a girl named Liz Allen (Laura Harrier). They were used to him with either Mary Jane or Gwen Stacy. So, it was an interesting twist when Peter's awkward friend Michelle (Zendaya) was revealed to be nicknamed MJ.
For most of the first movie, she dissed Peter but it came across like someone doing so to hide their feelings. She paid attention to him and their friendship grew in the sequel before they became a couple. Like Peter and Gwen in The Amazing Spider-Man, the chemistry between the actors made this cute pairing work.
Peter Parker & Tony Stark (Spider-Man: Homecoming)
The introduction of Peter Parker to the MCU came in 2016's Captain America: Civil War. There, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) recruited him in the fight against Cap and from that point on, Peter was essentially tied to Mr. Stark. He spent most of Spider-Man: Homecoming trying to get his attention and affection.
Although Tony isn't on-screen much in the film, his appearances were important. Peter viewed him as a father figure, so his advice helps the hero grow. In 2019's Avengers: Endgame, it's Peter being gone that triggered Tony to help with the time heist, and Tony's death weighed heavily on Peter in Far From Home.
Miles Morales & Peter B. Parker (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse)
Sticking with the theme of mentorship, there is none better than the one from 2018's Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) got his powers and Peter Parker (Chris Pine) offered to help but was then killed by Kingpin. Then, Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson) showed up from another dimension.
This was a Peter who was past his prime and struggling, making him a poor teacher on paper. However, Peter eventually bonded with Miles and became the mentor he needed. Their time together felt special and it helped Peter realize that he might actually want kids someday.
Miles Morales & Gwen Stacy (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse)
The only friendship more endearing than Peter and Miles in Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse was that of Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) and Miles. Gwen first showed up as a girl in his class who laughed at his joke and flirted a bit with him in the hallway.
The reveal that she was Spider-Woman from another dimension helped cement their friendship as she was always there to help him. They related to one another due to their age and every scene with them was adorable. Having to part ways was heartbreaking for them but by the end, Gwen found a way to cross worlds and see her friend once more.
Peter Parker & Ned Leeds (MCU)
The MCU introduced the character of Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) to the mix and he quickly became an audience favorite. Ned is Peter's best friend and the first one to discover his secret. Of course, Ned found it to be awesome and offered to become Peter's "guy in the chair."
Ned has been by Peter's side at every turn, always acting as a sidekick. Whether it's building Lego Death Stars, stealing Flash's car, or working together against villains, Ned and Peter do it as a team. Even their simplest conversations are fun to watch and seeing them reunite after The Snap was a heartwarming moment.