Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a 2023 animated action-adventure superhero film directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, from a script by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Dave Callaham, based on characters from Stan Lee. It is the sequel to the hit 2018 film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders and must redefine what it means to be a hero so he can save the people he loves most.

The cast includes Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, Jason Schwartzman, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez, Greta Lee, Rachel Dratch, Jorma Taccone, Shea Whigham, and Oscar Isaac.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is set to debut in theaters on June 2, 2023, courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

THE GOOD

Things got away from me a bit back in 2018 when Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse hit theaters. I remember I went to see The Mule with Clint Eastwood which came out the same day, but I also just wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this new animated Spider-Man movie. But lo and behold, the movie dominated the box office and created a massive following pretty much immediately. It also had quite a run on Netflix, which yet again I somehow missed, so as we got closer to the sequel releasing in theaters I knew I needed to see this movie.

Instead of renting VOD I decided to buy the 4K Blu-ray and planned a movie night with my wife and two toddlers, and we all loved it! I just couldn’t get enough of the unique animation style, the voice actors were superb, and it was just so action-packed and fun from start to finish. I finally knew why people were next-level excited for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and I was officially on the bandwagon as well. So, does it live up to sky-high expectations after a nearly 5-year wait or should you just hold off until it inevitably becomes available to stream? Keep reading to find out!

Pardon my French, but holy shit was this movie amazing! I’m still trying to gather my thoughts and make sense of it all, but this was without a doubt two and a half hours of audio and video ecstasy. I honestly don’t know how else to explain it. Now I’m not going to sit here and break Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse down from top to bottom, for one because I refuse to spoil anything, but also because I quite simply don’t have the knowledge of the comics or the brainpower to fully comprehend everything that happened in this movie. To say that there was a lot going on would be one heck of an understatement. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has more Easter Eggs than my kid’s Easter baskets after I spent an hour covering the yard for their egg hunt. From a purely cinematic standpoint, as it relates to what a film has to offer visually for a live-action animated film, this really is as good as it gets.

Right from the opening, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse had my eyes damn near popping out of my head, and my ears were equally engaged. The editing team seriously deserves like 30 Oscars, and the entire crew behind the technical elements of the film is all amazing. While I was watching Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse I just kept thinking about how many hours went into crafting what I was now seeing on screen. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they started working on this movie as soon as the original was released nearly five years ago. A ton of credit to the directing duo of Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson for all of their efforts to create this work of art, and Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Dave Callaham for a masterful screenplay.

I’m going to try my best to keep this review short and sweet so that I can get people out to theaters to experience it for themselves, but I have to touch on the visuals, editing, and the cast of voice actors. I will start with the star of the show for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse which was without a doubt the animation and the editing. If you watched the original film, you had an idea of what to expect as far as some of the most amazing and unique visuals I have ever seen in a film. It all just looks so, so good, and in some ways, the animation dominates the film because you will find yourself in awe from start to finish. Working in tandem with the animation and the incredible visuals is high-level editing that I cannot even begin to fathom as far as the scale of difficulty. Everything is as smooth as butter, and I was having so much fun I wanted the movie to surpass the two-and-a-half-hour runtime, for a few different reasons but I won’t get into that. Bottom line, when Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse releases on 4K Blu-ray, I will be standing in front of Best Buy waiting for the doors to be unlocked and telling them to take my money.

Next, I have to touch on this phenomenal cast of voice actors, and everyone was amazing. First I have to talk about Jamaican-born actor Shameik Moore who has been making a name for himself in Hollywood, but undeniably was given a massive opportunity with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and he has taken full advantage of it. Moore is the voice of Miles Morales, who goes by the nickname Spin in my kid’s favorite show Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends. Fun Fact, the nickname was given in the show so as to not confuse children as the primary characters are Morales (Spin), Peter (Spidey), and Gwen (Ghost-Spider), who are friends and crime fighters. The nickname was also used earlier in the comics. Moore embodies the role of Morales and I honestly couldn’t imagine anyone else taking it on.

Next, I have to touch on the other main piece of the puzzle which is the gorgeous Hailee Steinfeld who voices Gwendolyne Maxine "Gwen" Stacy, who is also known as either Spider-Woman or Ghost Spider, as my kids know her. My 4-year-old is obsessed with her, but that is a story for another day. Steinfeld, who I have loved since her role in the coming-of-age movie Edge of Seventeen, has proven herself to be a very versatile and talented actress, albeit with questionable taste in men as she is reportedly now dating Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Steinfeld is amazing as Gwen, and she really brought to life some of the more emotional scenes in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Jake Johnson aka Nick Miller (New Girl) once again voices Peter Parker, and although he does have a smaller role in this film compared to the original, he is fantastic yet again.

I can’t go on a spiel about everyone who voiced characters in the film got obvious reasons, paramount amongst them my inability to keep a reader’s attention for that long, but this is one of the best casts of voice actors I have ever experienced. Just to go down the list of pure talent, we have Oscar Isaac as Miguel O’Hara, Issa Rae as Jessica Drew, Brian Tyree Henry as Jefferson Davis, Daniel Kaluuya as Hobart ‘Hobie Brown/Spider-Punk (he was so damn awesome in this), Taran Killam as Patrick O’Hara/Webslinger, Andy Samberg as Ben Reilly/Scarlet Spider, Jason Schwartzman as Jonathan Ohnn/The Spot, Karan Soni as Spider-Man India (love this dude), Amandla Stenberg as Margo Kess/Spider-Byte, Jorma Taccone as Adrian Toomes/The Vulture, and Shea Whigham as George Stacy. Now if that doesn’t sound like the guests at a red carpet Hollywood event I don’t know what does, and they are all incredible.

THE BAD

If you have been paying attention it should come as no surprise that this part of the review will be brief. Bottom line, I loved this movie and honestly have no criticisms. But as a parent of kids who love Spider-Man, I do suggest seeing it yourself before bringing the kids because the nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime will likely be a bit much for young kids and may result in an early departure from the theater. I plan to offer an unlimited supply of popcorn to mine and hope for the best.

THE VERDICT

With jaw-dropping visuals, a spectacularly satisfying soundtrack, some of the best film editing I have ever seen, and an absolute dream team cast of voice actors, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is everything I wanted it to be and then some. This movie really is that good, and I know for a fact that I will need to see it another few times to fully appreciate everything it has to offer because I know I missed a ton. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is going to obliterate next year’s Academy Awards, and I cannot wait to celebrate along with everyone who worked on this cinematic masterpiece.

If you want to avoid spoilers I’d suggest seeing this movie in theaters ASAP, and I personally hope to see it again very, very soon. Plus, it will likely be not only the best-animated movie you will see all year but one of the best movies in general. Highly recommended.