The enthusiastic fan responses to Spider-Man: No Way Home mean more to Tom Holland than its enormous box office total. Even before its arrival in December, Spider-Man: No Way Home was shaping up to be one of the web-slinger's biggest movies yet. Anticipation for even just the trailer dominated the internet, and rumors of the film's various cameos only caused the online conversation to swell. No Way Home, which finds Holland's Peter Parker grappling with the multiverse after a spell gone wrong, brings back several actors from past Spider-Man franchises, with the most notable being Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield.

Spider-Man: No Way Home could've easily ended up being a disappointment, but the exact opposite has happened. The movie arrived in theaters on the heels of glowing critical reviews and, for a time, Oscars talk. It became a box office smash within days, earning the second-biggest opening weekend of all time on its way to its current $1.7 billion worldwide total. On top of all that, Spider-Man: No Way Home has earned the praise of fans, who enjoyed the many callbacks to previous movies and its game-changing ending.

Related: No Way Home’s Ending Brilliantly Flips Iron Man’s Endgame Sacrifice

For Holland, it's that final result that means the most to him. In a recent interview with the BBC's Zoe Ball Breakfast Show (via ComicBook.com), Holland opened up about No Way Home's immense success. He said that, even while making the film, it was clear that something special was taking place, but that could hardly hold a candle to how it feels now that the movie is out. Holland said it's the fan reception that has touched him the most, explaining:

"It's been a really interesting time. While we were making the film, we were all pretty confident that we had our hands on something really special but I don't think we could ever have known it would be as special as it has been. Take the box office out of the equation, the thing that I'm the happiest about and also the most proud of is how well-received the film has been from the fans. The videos of the fans watching the film in the theater when Andrew shows up and when Tobey shows up, and to feel that kind of nostalgic energy go through three different generations of cinema, has been very rewarding and an incredible thing to be a part of."

Three Spider-Men posed in formation during the final battle in Spider-Man No Way Home

More than anything else, No Way Home is a love letter to longtime Spider-Man fans. Between the connections that stretch back all the way to Sam Raimi's trilogy to the evolution of Holland's arc, No Way Home has something to offer for every generation. It's clear a lot of affection went into the film, and for Holland to see that affection reflected back through the fans' reactions must be an incredible feeling. No Way Home was made at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, which likely made the entire experience harder than normal. To be rewarded in this way must make it feel worth it.

The rapturous responses to Spider-Man: No Way Home have primarily revolved around Maguire and Garfield's returns, which, despite being leaked well ahead of time, proved to be delightful surprises. As Holland said, the fan reactions from the screenings show just how momentous the moment truly was. The theatrical experience has struggled throughout the pandemic, but No Way Home showed that there is nothing more magical than watching a really good movie on the big screen. It's nice to hear that Holland is aware of and enjoying the significance of this moment. After all that hard work, he deserves it.

More: Tobey Maguire Was Right To Keep No Way Home's Focus On Tom Holland

Source: The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show (via ComicBook.com)

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