The first reactions to “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” came, with critics and journalists saying that the film is “a real work of art” while being “darker and sadder” than expected.
The long-awaited sequel to the highly successful 2018 animated adventure “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” Across the Spider-Verse takes place more than a year after the events of the first film. Gwen Stacy / Spider-Man (Hailee Steinfeld) is approached by Miles Morales / Spider-Man (Shameik Moore) to help her complete a mission that will save all of the universe from the supervillain Spot (Jason Schwartzman). Together, Miles and Gwen travel across the multiverse, where they encounter the Spider Society, led by Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac).
CinemaBlend managing editor Sean O’Connell wrote on Twitter that the film “lives one step above Masterpiece. It’s a true work of art. Every frame deserves to be hung in a museum. The jokes and nods to Spidey lore are perfect.”
THR writer Brian Davids quipped that Across the Spider-Verse is “darker and sadder than I expected, but necessary.” Davids also praised Steinfeld’s performance as Gwen, saying that she “really comes through in her role”.
Meanwhile, Rotten Tomatoes writer Tessa Smith said Across the Spider-Verse “raises its own standards that seemed impossible.”
Smith continued, “There are shocking twists, unexpected surprises, and a story that really makes sense to the crazy multiverse we all jumped into first.”
Uproxx writer Mike Ryan agreed, tweeting that the sequel is “surprisingly not great” and that it “still revolves around Miles wanting to be accepted for who he is”.
However, not everyone was a fan of the sequel. This Week Media editor-in-chief Eze Baum said the film ultimately “fails to come close to the setting of the original for me, mainly due to the fact that it prioritizes fan service over a solid story.”
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K Thompson, the film’s cast also includes Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez, Jake Johnson, Issa Ray, Karan Soni, and Daniel Kaluuya.
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is set to hit theaters on June 2. A third film is already in development and is scheduled to be released on March 29, 2024.
See more reactions below.
