Sony and Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: No Way Home is the third highest-grossing film of all time. It not only broke box office records and became the most wildly successful and popular Marvel Studios movies. The film also completely broke fans’ hearts with its brutal ending and had some of the wildest audience reactions of any movie. Spider-Man: No Way Home not only expanded Marvel’s stakes but perfected the character of Peter Parker without losing sight of his (spidey) sense of humor, heart, and the struggle of trying to live two separate lives. Since it has been a year since the initial release, let’s rewind back to December of 2021 and reminisce of the greatest scenes to come out of Spider-Man: No Way Home.

The AMAZING star-studded cast full of three different Spider-Man trilogy actors includes Tom Holland (Peter Parker 1/Spider-Man), Zendaya (Michelle Jones “MJ” Watson), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Stephen Strange), Jacob Batalon (Ned Leeds), Jon Favreau (“Happy” Hogan), Jamie Foxx (Electro), Willem Dafoe (Green Goblin), Alfred Molina (Doctor Octopus “Doc Ock”), Thomas Haden Church (Sandman), Rhys Ifans (Lizard), Benedict Wong (Wong), Tony Revolori (“Flash” Thompson), Marisa Tomei (Aunt May Parker), and JK Simmons (J.Jonah Jameson). With surprise cameos by Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock), Tom Hardy (Eddie Brock/Venom), Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker 3/Amazing Spider-Man), and Tobey Maguire out of retirement to reprise his role as the original Peter Parker 2/Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man!!

This article is part three of the Spider-Man: No Way Home one year reflection. Before proceeding to read this article, please read the part one, “‘Hello, Peter’ Spider-Man: No Way Home Reflection”. This article includes such scenes as Matt Murdock Is a “Really Good Lawyer”, Strange Magic “That Feels Weird But I’ll Allow It”, and the Bridge Fight (Spider-Man vs. Doc Ock) “Hello, Peter”. 

https://talonnews.org/2180/entertainment/hello-peter-spider-man-no-way-home-reflection-pt-1/

Also check out part two, “‘With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility’ Spider-Man: No Way Home Reflection Pt. 2”, which includes such scenes as the Condo Fight (Spider-Man vs. Green Goblin), Aunt May’s daunting final words being “with great power comes great responsibility”, and finally, the Aftermath… Tragedy because “everything Spider-Man touches comes to ruin.” 

https://talonnews.org/2333/entertainment/with-great-power-comes-great-responsibility-spider-man-no-way-home-reflection-pt-2/

Also check out part three, “‘3 is the Magic Number’ Spider-Man: No Way Home Reflection Pt. 3”, which includes such scenes as Andrew Garfield’s as the Spider-Man who for the record has the tingle thing just not bread, Tobey Maguire the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man who started it all, with some of the saddest reconnections back to the previous Spider-Man films like Uncle Ben’s murder, Harry Osborn’s sacrifice, and even Gwen Stacy’s heartbreaking (and neck cracking) death. 

https://talonnews.org/2764/entertainment/3-is-the-magic-number-spider-man-no-way-home-reflection-pt-3/

Andrew Garfield… World’s Best Chiropractor

“I’m Back!! I’m Back!! My Back…” 

We all know that one of the greatest things about No Way Home was all the callbacks from previous Spider-Man movies, whether that be Norman being something of a scientist himself or Garfield’s Peter painstakingly bringing up his memory of losing Gwen, his MJ… But one of the best running jokes in the Rami-Verse is Peter’s back problems. Back in Spider-Man 2, Peter has a bit of a crisis which causes him to temporarily lose his powers and with that ditches his double life as Spider-Man. When he thinks he has his powers back, he tests this out by jumping off a building and learning the hard way… by landing on the hard pavement. So, when Maguire and Garfield are preparing for their fight at the Statue of Liberty, Maguire starts to tense up as he’s stretching. Garfield senses this and questions it, where Maguire just replies, “Oh, it’s my back. It’s kinda stiff from all the swinging I guess.” This, of course, is a direct nod to the scene mentioned above. Garfield then asks him, “You want me to crack it??” Fans all know that Garfield’s Spider-Man is just great at cracking backs especially in The Amazing Spider-Man 2… (yikes)… But this time he actually does a good job because he has middle back issues too. 

Do you make your own web fluid in your body?! 

“I don’t ‘do breathing’”

With some time to spare before all the villains come and, you know, attack them. Garfield first says, “Ah, this is so cool. I always wanted brothers.” Then more curiously asks Maguire, “So you, like, make your own web fluid in your body?!” This was brought up before while the three Spider-Men were in the lab, when Ned gave Peter (Holland) his web cartridges. Maguire asks, “What’s that for??” Because he just makes his own spider web fluid. Most mainstream Spider-Man comic series have Peter Parker have web shooters with mechanically made fluid. But in some alternate spider-verses, some actually make organic web-shooters, like the Rami-Verse one. While at the Statue of Liberty, when Garfield brings this up again, Maguire says he’d rather not talk about it, as he starts getting offended thinking he’s being teased. Holland steps in to say, “No, no, no! No, no, no… he’s not teasing you. It’s just that, we can’t do that, so naturally we’re curious as to how your web situation works. That’s all.” To clarify, Garfield once again tries to apologize to Maguire saying that if it’s personal he wouldn’t want to pry, but it’s pretty cool that he can do that. “No, I wish I could tell you, but it’s like I don’t do it. Like I don’t… like I don’t “do breathing.” Like, breathing just happens.” Then, out of nowhere Holland says, “Like, does it just come out of your wrists? Or… does it come out of anywhere else??” Let’s be honest, Marvel fans have questioned this too, so don’t act like you haven’t… But it only comes out of the wrists. 

Once again the highly curious Garfield asks, “You’ve never had a web block? ‘Cause I run out of webs all the time. I have to make my own in a lab.” Maguire even agrees how much of a hassle it sounds like to make your own webs but then brings up a very significant plot from Spider-Man 2. He recalls his existential crisis when he temporarily lost his powers, “Yeah… but I did actually, you said that, I was like, “Oh! I had a web block.” It’s scenes like this that make fans question, how does No Way Home exist?? These are debates and conversations fans have always talked about. Now having the three Spider-Men joke about it is exactly why this movie is one of the highest grossing films of all time.

A Jolly Green Elf, a Black Goo Alien, and a Russian Mechanical Rhino Walk Into a Bar… 

“What are, like, some of the craziest villains that you guys have fought??”

 The three Spider-Men compare what villains they fought… First, Holland asks, “Hey, what are, like, some of the craziest villains that you guys have fought??” Maguire jokes, “Seems you’ve met some of them.” Because some of the best live-action Spider-Man villains were seen in the Rami trilogy which is the exact reason Marvel Studios brought them back, like Green Goblin, Doc Ock, and Sandman. But one villain that didn’t make an appearance was Topher Grace’s Venom, which has quite divided opinions amongst fans. Just because we don’t see him, doesn’t mean he isn’t mentioned. Maguire brings up, “Yeah, I fought a… an alien made out of black goo once.” Which is a direct nod to Spider-Man 3, where he was controlled by the symbiote but once shedded took the host of Eddie Brock. Holland has a similar experience with a mad titan, ““Oh, no way! I fought an alien too. On Earth and in space… Yeah, he was purple.” Poor Garfield says, “I want to fight an alien!!” Maguire is still shocked by the fact that Holland fought in space. 

The AMAZING… Garfield… Spider-Man

‘“Cause you’re… you’re amazing.”

When comparing villains, Garfield sadly says, “(sighs) I’m lame. Compared– Like, I fought a Russian guy in, like, a rhinoceros machine.” Maguire then steps in, “Can we wind it back to the ‘I’m lame’ part? ‘Cause you are not.” He then goes on to repeat, “‘Cause you’re… you’re amazing. Just to take it in for a minute. You… you are amazing. (really grounding it) You are amazing!!” When Maguire tells him to say it himself, Garfield says, “No, I kinda need to hear that. Thank you.” 

Not only did Andrew Garfield’s Peter redeem himself but Andrew himself with fans because of No Way Home. Many fans reprimanded and criticized The Amazing Spider-Man films and his “emo and dark” approach to the character. But No Way Home proved everyone wrong since the Spider-Man, who got the worst reviews, got the loudest applause during his return. So, for Maguire to tell Garfield that he’s amazing wasn’t only a nod to the iconic comic name and the title of his Spider-Man films. But also giving Andrew the long awaited recognition he deserves. 

Right as they’re about to continue to chit-chat, all three of their spidey-senses go off… the villains are here… “All right, guys, focus up. You feel that??”

The New-New Electro “Sup, Pete??” 

Though The Amazing Spider-Man films were not as successful as the other two Spider-Man trilogies. One of the biggest mistakes Sony made was the redesign of Electro from page to screen. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, when Jamie Foxx’s Max, who used to be the sweetest guy ever, falls into a pool of electric eels, he turns into Electro. Sony’s Electro is all just Jamie Foxx all blue in a hoodie. However, in No Way Home, Marvel Studios fixed this right up by having Electro have a brand new look in their universe. Not only does he have the comic accurate suit but the comic accurate powers as well. Electro has yellow electricity instead of blue. When Electro shows up to the Statue of Liberty, electricity surges around his face that creates a mask-like shape that is a nod to his yellow bolts around his face from the comics. “How you like the new-new?? Look, you give it to me, I’m gonna destroy it. But I’ll let you live. Don’t make me a murderer, Peter.” 

“Hey, Max!! I missed you, man– Whoa!!” 

After most of the villains show up at the Statue of Liberty at the same time, Maguire and Garfield pull on their masks and swing into action at the same time. After being confronted by Electro, Garfield launches at Electro with the cure. He says, “Hey, Max!! I missed you, man– Whoa!!” Some of the best Spider-Man dialogue or one-liners is the banter between Peter and whatever villain he is fighting, especially Andrew Garfield’s. This, once again, just proves that Andrew Garfield might be the best Spider-Man because of his physique, like his height, and mannerisms. But of course because of his suit with the very distinctive enlarged eyes on the mask.  

Is the Avengers a band?? Is Peter in a band??

“I don’t want to brag, but I will… I was in The Avengers.”

The three Spider-Men were thrown into battle and are having trouble working together. Garfield yells to Maguire, “What the hell is going on out there?! I keep yelling at you, Peter-Two, Peter-Two, Peter-Two–” They obviously didn’t plan this out, since Maguire, completely confused, says, “I know, but I thought you were Peter-Two.” Of course they start to bicker since they’re getting completely beat out there, “What?! I’m not Peter-Two!!” But then Garfield questions if he’s Peter-Two or not… Holland, somewhat being the voice of reason, yells, “Stop arguing!! Both of you!! Listen to Peter-One. Look, we’re clearly not very good at this!!” Garfield agrees, “I know, I know, we suck. I– I don’t know how to work as a team.” Neither Garfield nor Maguire have worked in a team, they’ve always just been the Friendly-Neighborhood Spider-Man. But guess who has been a part of a team… The MCU’s Peter. “Well, I do! I have been in a team, okay? I don’t want to brag, but I will… I was in The Avengers.” Maguire, hyping him up, screams over the chaos, “The Avengers?! That’s great!! (pause) What is that??” This answers a very important question. The Avengers don’t exist in neither the Rami-Verse nor the Webb-Verse. So when Holland starts to brag about being a part of the Avengers, Garfield hilariously thinks they’re a band. “Is that a band?? Are you in a band??” Holland’s spirit is completely shattered, “No, I’m not in a band. No, The Avengers is uh, uh… Earth’s mightiest–” One of the best lines from this very awkward encounter is when Maguire agitatedly yells, “How’s this helping?!” Which was such a Bully Maguire moment… 

“Peter-One, Peter-Two, Peter-Three.” “PETER-THREE!!” 

Trying to work together and have somewhat of a plan. Holland tells the other two Spider-Men that in order to cure them all, they have to focus, trust their tingle, and coordinate their attacks. They have to pick one target and take them off the board one at a time. “Now you got it!!” To make this already dangerous battle easier, Holland points to himself, “Peter-One.” Then, to Maguire, “Peter-Two.” And lastly Garfield, “Peter-Three.” Then very enthusiastically, Garfield says, “Peter-Three”, with the extra jazz hand effect. This is a fan-favorite moment of No Way Home, because Andrew just seems too excited to be “Peter-Three”, but that is exactly what fans love about him. 

“I love you guys!!”

Before the big battle, right before Maguire and Holland are about to turn away, Garfield stops them to say, “I love you guys!!” In a very awkward response, Holland and Maguire say in unison, “Thank you.” Andrew Garfield actually revealed that he improvised the sweetest line in No Way Home. 

“Try to cure them while they try to kill us, and then send them home.”

After hyping each other up, they’re ready for battle. “Let’s go.” The three of them share a determined look. Three Peters, united as one, pull on their masks and LEAP off the scaffolding. One of the most distinctive features about each Spider-Man suit is, in fact, the design of the spider. This specific scene when they all leap together perfectly shows the different symbols on the back of their costumes. 

3 Is the Magic Number!! 

The big ticket, money shot, is when the three Spider-Men swing together as a team. All land, one by one, on the Statue of Liberty’s crown. At the beginning of the final battle, when all the Spider-Men pose together, they land in the order of the release of their movies. First, Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, then Andrew Garfield, and finally Tom Holland in his new integrated spidey suit landing in the middle. Between the two Spider-Men actors that shaped the comic book world as we know it. 

Look out for “Spider-Man: No Way Home Reflection (Pt. 5)” Coming Soon!!