In 2018, the beloved Oscar-winning film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse released and won over practically everyone who saw it. From its game-changing animation to its heartfelt story to its thrilling action sequences, it had widespread adoration across all audiences. Its fanbase has only gotten larger and more passionate as the years went on, hailing it as not only one of the best animated films of the decade, but flatout one of the best films of the decade. Five years later, its long-awaited sequel has arrived, and for the most part, it absolutely  delivers. It has a lot to tackle with hundreds of different Spider-Men and a plethora of references while also being an emotionally impactful coming-of-age story. 

The level of animation and filmmaking required to craft this stellar sequel is the first element of this film that comes to mind. To absolutely no one’s surprise, it is utterly gorgeous to look at. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse features an absurd number of unique and beautiful styles of animation on display that blend together magnificently. I won’t spoil anything that is on display in this film, but I will say that it is undeniably revolutionary. The sheer creativity this film showcases visually may have even surpassed the first. 

Another key component contributing to this film’s caliber is the voiceacting on display. Most of the voice performances knock it out of the park. Shameik Moore and Jake Johnson crush it once again as Miles Morales and Peter B. Parker respectively, but Hailee Steinfeld has to be the standout of the returning cast as Gwen Stacy. This film’s script dives deeper into Gwen’s character and her relationship with her father, which led to some of the most powerful moments in the film. Gwen’s arc is a layered one, and Steinfeld manages to portray it convincingly and brilliantly all the way through. From the new cast, Daniel Kaluuya, Issa Rae, and Jason Schwartzman were the MVPs as Hobie Brown (Spider-Punk), Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman), and the main antagonist The Spot respectively. Kaluuya is one of my favorite actors working today and he continued to deliver in this role. He brings this fun, electric energy to Hobie Brown that will surely solidify him as a fan favorite. Jessica Drew is a character I’ve always loved, so it was delightful to see Rae nail her essence. That being said, I wish we had gotten more from this character and I hope that she becomes more prominent in the next film. Last but certainly not least, Schwartzman truly killed it here. I’ve always enjoyed him as an actor, but he’s never had a role that allowed him to truly shine until now. hasn’t ever really had a mainstream role to shine. His performance here is somewhat comparable to his role as Gideon Graves in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, but Schwartzman channels that energy to go one step further. So many villains in comic book movies are either so serious that they become deeply uninteresting or one-note punchline generators. Initially, it seemed like The Spot would be the latter. He’s hilarious conceptually, as a man covered in spots would normally function as a villain of the week. However, the writing coupled with Schwartzman’s menacing performance makes him a truly tragic and horrifying villain. 

The script is an occasionally strong, occasionally underwhelming aspect of this film, with the writing of Miles and Gwen’s arcs and relationships being the best storylines on display. I also think this screenplay does a great job of highlighting each character and giving each one a clear purpose in the film. There are a lot of different Spider-people that are introduced in this story, but the script never feels like it’s forcing cameos and references. Each easter egg always feels natural and exhilarating without overstaying its welcome. This film also plays with the core of who Spider-Man is and what really makes a hero, which is a theme I found fascinating throughout. However, though I adore this concept, I don’t think the film quite manages to nail it because it is very much a part one film. It can only do so much as the first half of a story. Because of this, structurally, the film can feel half-baked and unsatisfying. I know that Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse will give this film more closure, but the story needed to feel more complete to reach the heights of the first film narratively.

Despite this major issue, Across the Spider-Verse is a fantastic cinematic achievement and beautiful Spider-Man story. It isn’t quite on the level of the first Spider-Verse film for me, but it is undeniably awesome that this film exists. After seeing the exceptional quality of these past two films, I am confident that Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and all of the directors and creatives involved are crafting what could potentially be one of the greatest animated, superhero, and flatout film trilogies of all time. 

8.5/10