by Joseph Oscilowski ‘22

Spider-Man: No Way Home was one of the most anticipated 2021 releases. The film follows Peter Parker, played by the well-loved Tom Holland, as he has to deal with the outcomes of Spider-Man: Far From Home and the consequences of interfering with the multiverse.

Receiving a nearly perfect rating of 4.8 stars, No Way Home is fully captivating, bolstered by the believable and often heartfelt relationships among characters. Ned and MJ, Peter’s girlfriend and closest friend, quickly realize that being outed as Spider-Man’s accomplices has negatively affected every aspect of their lives. Doctor Strange becomes a main protagonist in the Spider-Man universe as Peter comes to him for help in fixing his friends’ situation. Their plan takes a major turn for the worse. Old villains from past Spider-Man films are re-introduced, played by their original actors, posing big problems for Peter. MJ, Ned, and Aunt May are thrust even more so into the center of action which allows their relationships with Peter and their characters overall to strengthen. The film contains many surprises and turns which leaves viewers on the edge of their seats. The movie is very easy to follow, even as someone brand new to the Marvel universe. Not understanding all the references does not take away from enjoying the movie. 

Months before its release, fans flooded the media with their own speculations and rumors about the film’s contents. A theory that this Spider-Man universe would tie together with the other two Spider-Man universes, starring Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as different interpretations of Peter Parker, was the main theory that took hold. Fans took this theory and ran with it, keeping tabs on Maguire and Garfield in case of accidental leaks about their possible involvement in the movie. Other theories arose, speculating the death of MJ, and potential new villains.

Even with all the speculation online, fans could not have predicted just how good of a film No Way Home would turn out to be. It’s exciting to see where the Spider-Man universe will move on from here as these films continue to surpass expectations.


Grade: A-