Andrew Garfield’s brief tenure as The Amazing Spider-Man featured a number of scenes that have only gotten better with age. Sitting at the central point in Spider-Man’s movie timeline, Andrew Garfield had the difficult task of following Tobey Maguire’s celebrated performance as the iconic Marvel hero. Garfield’s two Amazing Spider-Man movies did not prove to be as popular as initially expected, creating a perception that his version of the hero was inferior to those of his predecessor, Tobey Maguire, and his successor, Tom Holland.
After Andrew Garfield made his return in the MCU’s movie timeline, however, his two-film arc was reappraised in a more favorable light. Revisiting The Amazing Spider-Man and its sequel highlights that the actor actually featured in many great scenes, with his MCU return also providing excellent moments for the character. With that in mind, here are 10 Andrew Garfield Spider-Man scenes that have only gotten better with age.
10
The Amazing Spider-Man’s Final Swing
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Though in many ways The Amazing Spider-Man and its sequel were unfavorably compared to Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies, there were a few examples of things that Andrew Garfield’s movies did better. The Amazing Spider-Man served as an alternate origin story for its hero, ending with Spidey learning more about the burden of responsibility. The film’s final moments see him take to the skies above New York, swinging his way through the city streets.
The scene remains one of the most exhilarating cinematic representations of Spider-Man swinging through New York. Starting by framing it through Spider-Man’s perspective, then showing him zipping through various streets and alleyways, it’s a delicately crafted sequence that brings the hero to life perfectly. From the first swing right up to his final pose in front of the full moon, it’s an exceptional ending to The Amazing Spider-Man that has only gotten better over time.
9
Arriving In The MCU
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
After the underwhelming reception to The Amazing Spider-Man 2’s release, it seemed that Andrew Garfield’s tenure as Spider-Man was well and truly over. The role being recast for the MCU appeared to be the final nail in Garfield’s Spider-Man coffin, which made it all the more surprising when he reappeared as part of Spider-Man: No Way Home’s cast. Despite repeatedly denying any involvement in the MCU movie, Garfield emerged through a portal in a scene that has only gotten better with age.
Andrew Garfield’s arrival in the MCU proved to be a hugely triumphant moment. Many fans were overwhelmed with excitement upon seeing Garfield again, and the way he was able to capitalize on his return with a touching and humorous performance more than justified bringing him back. Revisiting the scene in which he first appears armed with knowledge of how well his return played out has only made it even better over time.
8
New York’s Crane Operators Help Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
The Amazing Spider-Man may have marked Andrew Garfield’s debut in the role, but it also explored many aspects of the hero’s story. In the midst of his attempts to stop the Lizard from releasing mutagens across the city, Spider-Man faces the impossibility of needing to zip across New York in record time. In answer to his moment of need, New York’s crane operators step up, aligning their cranes to allow Spidey a clear swing across town.
The scene has only gotten better over time, because it has become far more than a great moment in the movie. It’s a scene that summarizes the synergy between the hero and his city, giving voice to an idea that has always been central to Spider-Man’s best stories. The reciprocal nature of Spider-Man’s love for New York is plainly displayed in the scene, making The Amazing Spider-Man moment an often-overlooked gem in Andrew Garfield’s tenure in the role.
7
Three Spider-Men Getting To Know Each Other
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Spider-Man: No Way Home saw the three best-loved live-action Spider-Man actors come together in a single movie, providing an opportunity for unforgettable interactions between them. One scene in particular showed them getting to know each other a little better, and it’s one that has only seemed to improve over time. What’s more, Andrew Garfield’s own part in the scene helps his Spider-Man stand out even amid the stiff compeтιтion of Maguire and Holland.
It’s a scene that has since come to epitomize the differences between Garfield’s Spider-Man and his peers, making it seem even better for The Amazing Spider-Man‘s hero in hindsight.
Throughout the scene, Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker is by far the funniest and most heartfelt of the three Spider-Men. His willingness to emotionally connect with his fellow heroes is genuinely touching and sets him apart from his Multiverse variants. It’s a scene that has since come to epitomize the differences between Garfield’s Spider-Man and his peers, making it seem even better for The Amazing Spider-Man‘s hero in hindsight.
6
Spider-Sense In Times Square
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
One of the aspects of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 that was most widely criticized was its handling of the villain Electro. From the script to the movie’s visual depiction of the character, Electro was not well-represented in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and many of the scenes he featured in were summarily dismissed. However, his first battle with Spider-Man is one scene that has actually gotten much better with age for one key reason.
The Times Square battle between Spider-Man and Electro is one of the most underrated scenes in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Its visual representation of Spider-Man’s spider-sense is by far the best in the hero’s cinematic history, as it slows its action down to cycle through the many threats that Spider-Man becomes aware of before showing his reaction. It’s an expertly delivered scene that taps into one of the hero’s most iconic abilities, even though it wasn’t appreciated enough upon release.
5
Saving Jack
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Part of the charm of Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man is the time and attention that went into displaying his human side. This wasn’t as simple as exploring Peter Parker’s story as well as Spider-Man’s, but included many scenes that showed the hero interacting with civilians in different contexts. One of the best scenes to do this came in The Amazing Spider-Man, when a child named Jack is trapped in a car hanging over the Hudson River.
Seeing Jack’s fear, Spider-Man immediately takes off his mask to put him at ease. When he is too scared to climb out of the car, the hero encourages him to wear the mask, saying it will give him strength. It’s an incredibly touching moment that shows just how sensitive Spider-Man can be to the plight of ordinary people, making him so much more relatable and lovable in the process.
4
The Death of Gwen Stacy
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Not all of Andrew Garfield’s best Spider-Man scenes were unappreciated upon release. One of the consistently most powerful moments in his history comes at the end of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, when Spider-Man’s battle with the Green Goblin takes a tragic and fatal turn. While attempting to save Gwen Stacy, Spider-Man is unable to slow her fall, and her neck breaks, killing her instantly. It’s a moment that has become an iconic and upsetting part of Spider-Man’s cinematic legacy.
The scene only gets better with time, because its impact has since been explored. Andrew Garfield’s appearance in No Way Home touched on the guilt and devastation the moment caused for the hero, making revisiting it all the more poignant. It’s a scene that was impactful upon release, but remains every bit as heartbreaking when watched back more than a decade later.
3
Saving MJ
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
If part of what makes Gwen Stacy’s death in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 great is the emotional follow-up, then the scene in which it’s paid off is an equally powerful moment. After explaining to his fellow Spider-Man how Gwen’s death affected him in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Andrew Garfield’s Spidey finds himself in a similar situation in the movie’s climactic battle. In that instance, he’s able to save MJ, prompting a tearful reaction from the hero.
It’s a scene that perfectly pays off one of the most emotional moments in Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man history. Seeing how much it means to him to have saved the MCU’s MJ is perhaps one of the character’s deepest moments, as it cuts to the very core his hero’s journey. It’s a moment of triumph and redemption that taps into the rawest part of Garfield’s Spider-Man story, and it only seems to get better as time pᴀsses.
2
Uncle Ben’s Responsibility Speech
The Amazing Spider-Man (2021)
After the hugely iconic Uncle Ben scene from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man had the impossible task of recreating it without simply creating a carbon copy. The movie seemed to fumble it slightly, with Martin Sheen’s Uncle Ben offering up a much wordier explanation of the same concept. However, it’s a scene that has only improved since release, thanks mostly to Andrew Garfield’s performance.
At first, Garfield’s Peter Parker doesn’t listen to Uncle Ben, much as his predecessor didn’t in 2002’s Spider-Man. However, Peter’s dismissal of Uncle Ben’s lecture coming from an emotional standpoint makes it all the more powerful when it sinks in much later. The way in which it plays out is far more relatable than it might otherwise have been, making it an incredibly powerful moment in hindsight due to the way Spider-Man’s story continues.
1
Web-Slinging Kiss
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Perhaps the most underrated aspect of Andrew Garfield’s entire tenure as Spider-Man was the on-screen chemistry between his Peter Parker and Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy. The two characters’ relationship was at the core of the two-film arc, and the scene in which Peter reveals himself as Spider-Man to Gwen is one of their greatest moments. After being unable to verbally share his secret with Gwen, she attempts to walk away, and Peter webs her back toward him in a romantic gesture. Gwen understands, and they share a kiss.
Putting a romantic spin on the important hero moment makes it feel so much more intimate. It allows the chemistry between the characters to speak for itself, putting drama aside in favor of a more emotional connection. It’s a perfect representation of the ways in which Andrew Garfield’s time as Spider-Man featured moments that weren’t always appreciated at the time, but have only grown better since.
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