If you'd like to be surprised by the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse film, I don't recommend you to watch the trailer beyond 2:18, because it gives away a part of the plot.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018) - Watch the trailer on YouTube
video © Sony Pictures Animations (Sony)
Article updated: 2023.05.30
The Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) is an animated contemporary fantasy action film. The movie was reviewed by Kadmon.
Product: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018)
Original title: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Series: Spider-Man: Spider-Verse
Other adaptations of the story: Ultimate Spider-Man: Season 3-4 (2014-2017), Spider-Man 3: No Way Home (2021)
Previous entries in the series: probably Spider-Man (2002), Spider-Man 2 (2004), Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Sequels: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (2024)
Setting: alternate fantasy Earth (Marvel Universe - Sony's Spider-Verse)
Product type: Film, 2 hours, Genre: contemporary fantasy action, Features: science fiction, fantasy, contemporary fantasy, action, super-human abilities, Style: animated
Release: Premiere: 2018.12.01 (Regency Village Theater), Release: 2018.12.12
Reviewer: Kadmon, Type: Male, 40s, Preferences: Immersive, logical story, consistent setting, prefers surprises to spoilers, prefers establishing elements before referencing them
Watched: very recent (2021.12), second time, first time: 2019.02
Rating: Good (2+ out of 3 points), Enjoyment: Great (3 out of 3 points)
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This is my review of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, an animated fantasy action movie for the Spider-Verse series from 2018. It's about a kid gaining superhuman powers, and meeting other superhumans. The Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse film is an interesting and fun movie, I recommend it.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018)
image © Sony Pictures Animations (Sony)
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Review (spoiler-free) - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018)
I knew they were preparing an animated movie about the Miles Morales / Spider-Man. I even watched the trailer for it, and it looked interesting. When I had the chance to watch the movie, I did it. Recently (2021.12) I did it again.
The Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse movie is about a kid gaining superhuman powers, and meeting other superhumans.
The story good, engaging. The pacing is consistent, and when it changes, it makes the movie more interesting. There are character arcs for the main characters. I didn’t find major logical problems.
The cinematography is great. The graphic novel aspects are visible, and it fits the story perfectly. The whole thing is interesting visually. The action scenes are great.
The characters are good, especially the main character and his family. Some supporting characters are less developed, I think the creators assume the audience would already know them.
The music (by Daniel Pemberton) is especially good. It really added to the scenes of the movie.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is an interesting animated fantasy action film, I think fans of the genre will enjoy it.
My experience
I was satisfied with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018).
Rating: Good (2+ out of 3 points). Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a well-made film.
Enjoyment: Great (3 out of 3 points). Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is interesting, I liked it a lot.
Rewatchability: High. Although the surprise of the story makes you feel interested, but the characters make you invested, and the music makes you immersed.
Chance of watching it again: High. I’ve already watched it twice, so I might watch it again in the right circumstances.
Chance of watching a sequel: High. I'd sure watch it.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018)
image © Sony Pictures Animations (Sony)
Will you enjoy this?
If you like super-hero stories set in the Marvel Universe, this movie is for you.
If you like Spider-Man, especially the Ultimate Spider-Man comics, this film is a must see.
If you like animated action films, you might be interested in this.
If you hate subtitles, there are some thought boxes in the movie, but they are also said out loud, so you won’t miss anything if you don’t read them.
If you prefer visuals over story, you’ll probably still enjoy this movie.
If you hate comedy movies, this film is pretty subtle on comedy, so you might still enjoy it.
Do you need to read the original graphic novels to enjoy this?
It probably adds to the enjoyment if you do. This film lacks the introductions to the classic Spider-Man characters.
Otherwise there's enough explanation that you'll understand what's going on without reading the comics.
Do you need to see the previous Spider-Man films to enjoy this?
It’s not required, but there are references to those.
Watching for plot points
If you are interested in futuristic or super-hero stories, I think it's worth watching the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse movie for the plot points.
Should you watch this on your own screen at home, or is it worth going to the cinema?
The visuals definitely look better if you watch it in cinema.
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Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018)
image © Sony Pictures Animations (Sony)
Review with spoilers - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018)
I really liked the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse movie.
Cover
Some covers of the movie are okay, some slightly spoil the movie, although the title "Spider-Verse" probably spoil the multiverse part of the story anyway.
The trailer
The trailer is great, it gives us a taste of the movie, without spoiling it. There's a small spoiler at the very end, though, that you should skip if you are bothered by spoilers.
Promise of the first scene
We see Spider-Man, introducing himself. I assume we'll see a movie about, well, Spider-Man. Although from the title and advertisements, I know he'll meet some other Spider-Man variants from other universes.
Execution: Wow, I was quite shocked, when Spider-Man suddenly died. It was not what I expected from the promise. But it worked as a twist for sure, so I don't mind it.
Plot summary / Synopsis
We see an introduction to Spider-Man.
Then we switch to a teenager boy (Miles Morales), who lives with his father (Jefferson Davis), a police officer and mother (Rio Morales), a nurse, in New York. The boy goes to school (Brooklyn Visions Academy). He tends to leave his shoelaces untied, intentionally. To vent his frustration from the expectations of his family, and from the school, he goes to his uncle (Aaron Davis), who lives a more carefree life. The uncle brings him to an abandoned subway station, so he can do some graffiti. During their stay, a strange spider (Spider #42) bites the boy.
The boy starts to feel strangely. He grew a little bit. His hand stick to things, including the hair of a schoolmate girl (Gwen Stacy). To escape from the situation, he climbs out of the building, humiliated. In his frustration, the boy goes to the abandoned subway station. There he blunders into an experiment, finding a machine that can open a dimensional rift. Spider-Man is there, trying to stop this, while fighting the Green Goblin. Spider-Man made a device that would stop the machine, that he gives to the boy. Then, Spider-Man gets defeated, and killed by the Kingpin. The boy gets chased away by the Prowler.
Although the boy tries to use the device, he breaks it accidentally, when he falls, because his shoelaces are untied. He goes to the grave of Spider-Man to confess his failure, when he meets a Spider-Man from another dimension. Together they get into the Kingpin's research facility, and meet a female scientist (Dr. Olivia Octavius), who turns out to be Doctor Octopus. As they try to escape, they are saved by Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy), who infiltrated the school of the boy, then the facility.
They go the aunt of the deceased Spider-Man, where they meet other Spider-Man variants - a vigilante from 1933 (Peter Parker / Spider-Man Noir), a girl with a spider-mecha (Peni Parker & SP//dr), and an antropomorphic pig (Peter Porker / Spider-Ham). They start to work on a plan to destroy the collider, while they can still return to their home dimensions. The boy inadvertently leads the Kingpin's henchmen to their lair, and they get attacked. During the fight, the boy reveals his identity to the Prowler, who is his uncle. As the Prowler refuses to kill the boy, the Kingpin shoots him. The boy, dressed as Spider-Man, escapes with the dying uncle. The father of the boy sees Spider-Man leaving the scene, and believes that it was Spider-Man who killed his brother.
The other Spider-Man variants don't want the boy to be part of their group, as they think he is not prepared, so he gets webbed, and they leave to the collider. The boy gets out of the webs, and join them in the fight. They beat the henchmen, then beat the Kingpin, and the variants return to their own dimensions, while the collider gets destroyed.
The father of the boy sees Spider-Man during the fight, then he finds evidence that it was the Kingpin, who killed his brother.
The boy get used to a life of being Spider-Man.
Then, one night, he suddenly gets contacted from another dimension (probably by Gwen).
Then, in 2099, we see Spider-Man 2099 finishing his work on the dimensional transporter, and gets back to 1967, to meet Spider-Man '67.
The setting
It is set on contemporary fantasy Earth, on multiple dimensions of the Marvel Universe.
In this world, there are people with superhuman powers, magic and aliens exist.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018)
image © Sony Pictures Animations (Sony)
The collider
Doc Ock was building the device for the Kingpin.
The collider is able to open rifts to alternate dimensions, and summon people from there who meets some set requirement.
The people who get into this dimension sometimes "glitch" due to their different dimensional matter, and prolonged exposure will kill them.
If the people from other dimension step into the opened rift again, they get back into their own dimension? Or there must be a program directing their destination? I'm not sure.
The message of the story
Probably “never give up, always stand up”? At the end, it's stated that "anyone can wear a mask".
The structure of the story
The scenes of the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse film are mostly played in sequence, following the same storyline. There are some flashbacks.
There is no single viewpoint character.
It has the usual arc of the dramatic structure - introduction, action, resolution.
Plot points of interests
Characters
Aaron Davis / Prowler: He is the uncle of Miles Morales. He is also the super criminal known as Prowler, working for the Kingpin. He died when he tried to save Miles from the Kingpin.
Gwen Stacy / Spider-Woman [Spider-Gwen] (of another dimension): She got bitten by a radioactive spider. She got the powers of Spider-Man. She lost her best friend, Peter Parker. She got into this dimension, than got back to her own.
Miles Morales: He is a teenage boy. He got bitten by Spider #42. He gets the power to climb walls, turn invisible, and to shock with a touch.
Norman Osborn / Green Goblin: He is a scientist, working for the Kingpin. He got turned into a green giant humanoid due to his experiments. He disappeared after the explosion in the collider.
Dr. Olivia Octavius / Doctor Octopus: She is a scientist, working for the Kingpin. She has tentacles attached to her body. She disappeared during the fight in the collider.
Peni Parker & SP//dr (from the 3145 of another dimension): Shw was bitten by a radioactive spider. She is the daughter of a scientist, who built a mecha suit. She has a psyhic link with the radioactive spider that lives inside the mecha suit. She got into this dimension, than got back to her own. The SP//dr suit was wrecked during a fight.
Peter Parker / Spider-Man (of this dimension): He got bitten by a radioactive spider. He tries to stop the collider. Then he dies.
Peter B. Parker / Spider-Man (of another dimension): He got bitten by a radioactive spider. He got tired of crime-fighting. He got separated from Mary Jane. He got into this dimension, than got back to his own.
Peter Parker / Spider-Man [Spider-Man Noir] (from the 1933 of another dimension): He got bitten by a radioactive spider. He is a masked vigilante, fighting criminals and Nazis. He got into this dimension, than got back to his own.
Peter Porker / Spider-Ham (of another dimension): He is a spider, who got bitten by a radiactive pig, turning him into an antropomorpic pig, with special powers. He got into this dimension, than got back to his own.
Scorpion: He is a cyborg criminal, working for the Kingpin. He disappeared during the fight in the collider.
Tombstone: A criminal, working for the Kingpin. He got arrested after the fight in the collider.
Wilson Fisk / Kingpin: He lost his wife and son, when they tried to get away from him, when they realised he is a criminal boss. He tries to get them back through the use of the collider. He got arrested after the fight in the collider.
Characters killed
Aaron Davis / Prowler: He got killed when he tried to save Miles.
Peter Parker / Spider-Man (of this dimension): He got killed when he tried to stop the collider.
Fan-service
The fan-service is not intrusive in the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse movie, but it’s fun for the fans of Spider-Man.
Scenes and elements from previous films:
Spider-Man cartoon (1967)
- Spider-Man pointing
Spider-Man (Japanese TV series)(1978-1979)
- The pose of Peni Parker.
- Spider-Man piloting a mecha.
- A drawing of the Japanese Spider-Man's robot is shown in the room of Miles.
Spider-Man (2002)
- "With great power comes great responsibility"
- Upside down kiss.
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- Car thrown through the window by Doc Ock.
- Spider-Man stopping the train.
Spider-Man 3 (2007)
- Peter Parker making dance moves.
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
- Holding vehicles on two sides of a bridge.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
- Webbing up things to hold them together. It's a ferry in Homecoming, here's it's vehicles, about to fall.
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Things I liked
- I liked the though boxes for Miles.
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How does it compare to the other works of the creators?
From the writer (Phil Lord), this was the first movie I've seen, but this was great, so I'm interested in further works.
From the writer / director (Rodney Rothman), this was the first movie I've seen. This was enough to convince me to look forward to his films.
This was his first feature film the director (Bob Persichetti), so I can't compare it to others. But this is a great start.
From the director (Peter Ramsey), I've seen Rise of the Guardians (2012). That was also good, so I'm interested in his work.
How does it compare to the original source?
The original Spider-Verse stories from 2014-2015 were a lot darker. I actually prefer this movie, although the comics were also interesting.
How does it compare to other adaptations of the same story?
You might consider Spider-Man 3: No Way Home (2021) as another take on the Spider-Verse storyline. If it is, then Into the Spider-Verse is better in every aspect.
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Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018)
image © Sony Pictures Animations (Sony)
Analysis of the story - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018)
I liked the story a lot, I didn't find problems that would have prevented me from enjoying Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Problematic elements
Missing introductions: I feel that the creators assume that the audience would already know who is Peter Parker / Spider-Man, Mary Jane, Aunt May, the Kingpin, Doctor Octopus, and the rest of the usual characters of a Spider-Man story. They might be right to assume this, but I’m not sure a complete newbie would get enough introductory information about them.
Spider #42: How did Spider #42 get into that abandoned subway station? Why did it bite the kid?
Gwen in the school: The school Miles went to seems like some special, private school. Gwen is able to sneak into the building with her spider powers, but how does she just go into classes without being found out? Did she forge some school admittance papers?
Aunt May: As Ryan George points it out, it's very irresponsible of Aunt May to provide Miles with the tools to endanger his life.
Painting the suit: Before he'd go to join the fight, Miles spends time in painting the suit black with spray paint, then he waits for a while for the paint to dry. He doesn't seem to be in a hurry to save the world.
Gwen in the lab: Aren’t there security cameras everywhere at the place? Although she could crawl in, how did she do it unnoticed?
Unanswered questions
- Did the alternate dimension Spider-Men survive their trip back to their own dimension?
- Did any of the alternate versions of the Kingpin’s family get into this dimension?
- Did the super-villains (Doc Ock, Green Goblin, Scorpion, Tombstone) survive the fight in the collider?
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Possibilities of improvement
Adding dialogue that would tie the presence of Spider #42 to the work on the nearby collider.
How it could have been better?
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Behind the scenes
Thoughts about the reviews of others
Miles alone: Some reviewers say the movie would have been enjoyable enough with only Miles, and watching him finding his ways alone, without the rest of the Spider-Man variants. That's probably true, but for me it was more fun watching all of them.
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Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018)
image © Sony Pictures Animations (Sony)
Uses for the film - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018)
Plot
- There’s a man, who wants to bring his deceased loved ones back from dead.
- There’s a scientist, who have built a machine that can create a portal to alternate dimensions.
- A kid gets strange new powers through an experiment.
- Heroes from parallel dimensions are brought together to fight the antagonist.
Scenes
Designs
- The Scorpion looks cool.
Scenario ideas - Role-playing game scenario ideas
- The team meets a hero during a mission. The hero is injured, and gives them something to get somewhere, or other task to complete, before dying.
Scenario ideas - Wargame scenario ideas
Fight in the machine: There's a large machine that does something one side wants to prevent. The defender sets up the playing area, a research facility with a machine in the middle of it. The defender chooses an objective, that's somewhere in the machine. Then the defender sets up their forces anywhere on the playing area. The attacker deploys their forces on one of the edges of the playing area. An attacker model has to reach the objective and spend an action to disable it. The attacker wins if they are able to disable the machine, while more than half of their units survive. The defender wins if they kill more than half of the attackers. It's a draw if the attackers disable the machine, but they lose more than half of their units.
Disabling device (harder for the attacker): There's a device that must be with the model that tries to disable the machine. The device can be swapped between models, or it can be left on the ground. If the model carrying the device is killed, the device is left on the ground. If an enemy model touches the device, they can destroy it.
Specialist units (harder for the attacker): There's only some specific models from the attacking force that have the knowledge how to disable the machine.
Switched on machine (harder for the attacker): If the machine is switched on (it can be already on when the game starts, or gets switched on at the beginning of a specific turn), random things start happening inside the machine. It can damage the models inside, or push them away. Come up with events that fit the theme of your setting.
Fight in the storage: There is a defensible position, but it's full of precious objects that can be destroyed during a fight. The defender sets up the playing area, including a building in the middle, that's full of objects (these can be depicted by tokens). There's no cover or any hiding place around the building. The defender than sets up their army in the building. The attacker then deploys their army at any edge of the playing area. If there is a model that's touching an object while being attacked or shot at, roll a d6: 1-3: the object is okay, 4-5: the object gets damaged, any other damage will destroy it, 6: the object is destroyed, remove it from the playing area. The attacker wins if they achieve their objective. The defender wins if they achieve their own objective, but every destroyed object reduces their Victory points.
Dangerous objects: When the objects are destroyed, they damage (explode, poison, electrocute) every model that touches them.
Miniatures - 1/50-1/60 (28-32mm scale)
Doctor Octopus: Human-sized female human with four tube-like robotic tentacles.
Green Goblin: Large male humanoid, with wings.
Dr. Olivia Octavius: Human-sized female human in a lab coat.
Scorpion: Human-sized male cyborg human, with insect-like mechanical legs, mechanical claw, and a mechanical spider tail.
Spider-Man: Human-sized male human in skintight suit.
Spider-Man Noir: Human-sized male human in trench coat and hat.
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Similar stories - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018)
Graphic novels
Spider-Men (2012): Miles Morales crosses over to the universe of Peter Parker.
Spider-Verse (2014-2015): An army of Spider-Man variants are gathered from multiple dimensions, to fight an army of enemies.
Movies
Spider-Man 3: No Way Home (2021): Multiple Spider-Man variants arrive through a dimensional portal opened by the side-effect of an experiment. They have to fight multiple Spider-Man enemies. In the end, they return to their own home dimensions.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023): The second movie in the Spider-Verse series.
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (2024): The third movie in the Spider-Verse series.
TV series & episodes
Ultimate Spider-Man: Season 3-4 (2014-2017): Spider-Man travels to other dimensions to meet multiple Spider-Man variants, including Spider-Gwen, Spider-Ham, Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Woman. Spider-Man variants are brought to the dimension of Spider-Man.
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Frequently asked questions - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018)
Is the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse film based on a book or comics?
Yes, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is based on the Spider-Man graphic novels, specifically the Spider-Verse series, and the Ultimate Spider-Man, Spider-Gwen, Spider Ham, Spider-Man Noir, and the Japanese Spider-Man / Peni Parker stories.
Is the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse film a remake or reboot?
No, the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse film is neither a remake nor a reboot.
Is there a post credit scene in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse? Does Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse have end credit scenes?
Yes, there's a post credit scene in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Also, the credits list has some cool animations that are worth watching.
Is Into the Spider-Verse in the MCU? / Is Into the Spider-Verse part of the MCU?
No, the Sony's Spider-Verse movies (Into the Spider-Verse, Across the Spider-Verse and Beyond the Spider-Verse) are not considered to be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Where can I see Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse? Where can I watch Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse online? Is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse available on Netflix? Is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse on Amazon?
As of 2021.12.26, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, Microsoft Movies, Netflix, Vudu, YouTube.
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Resources - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018)
Information
IMDB: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018): Database article.
WikiPedia: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Database article.
Letterboxd: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2018: Database article.
Rotten Tomatoes: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2018: Database article.
TVTropes: Western Animation / Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Database article.
Creation
: Concept art article.¤
Reviews with no spoilers - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse film (2018)
: Review video about the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse film with no spoilers.¤
Reviews with spoilers - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse film (2018)
: Review article of the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse movie, with spoilers. Includes a very detailed plot summary.¤
Analysis - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse movie (2018)
: Analysis video, explaining the finale of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.¤
Ryan George (for ScreenRant): Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Pitch Meeting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPUey-qBNAI
https://www.denofgeek.com/comics/spider-man-into-the-spider-verse-complete-guide-to-marvel-easter-eggs/
https://www.vox.com/2018/11/28/18113552/spider-man-into-the-spider-verse-review-miles-morales
https://www.imageworks.com/our-craft/feature-animation/movies/spider-man-spider-verse
https://www.superherohype.com/movies/430271-spider-man-into-the-spider-verse-review
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Buying the product - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, movie (2018)
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Have you seen the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse film for the Spider-Verse series? How do you like the movie? Would you recommend it to others? Do you know reviews or resources you'd like to add? What further thoughts do you have about it? Tell your opinion in the comments!
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