Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was a miracle. An animated superhero movie, made separately to the two shared-universe mega-franchises, which not only stood out like the vibrant sore thumb it was but has a claim to be sat at the top table of the genre.

If that was a miracle then its sequel (a full five years later!) Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is an almighty gift from the multiverse.

Not only does this (somehow) improve and better its predecessor but it might just be the best superhero movie since the immortal Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame MCU peak.

A bold claim indeed and one that Across the Spider-Verse absolutely lives up to.

It goes through the classic sequel parameters of making the stakes higher, deepening the lore, adding characters etc. but actually keeps the story tighter, more engaging and more shocking than before in terms of the twists and turns.

It obviously doesn’t contain the sheer surprise value of the first but that doesn’t mean that the style here loses any of its potency.

It’s actually enhanced by showing us different universes and adjusting the style as we go from the beautiful watercolours of Gwen’s universe (perfectly matching her tragic backstory) to the sci-fi trappings of Nueva York and comic-like drawings of Mumbattan.

There’s not much more to say here, it simply has to be seen to be believed and the less you know about the plot the better.

There are incredible surprises, laugh-out-loud jokes, thrilling action and still enough left in the tank for next year’s trilogy closer. If that lands anywhere close to the first two, we’re in for an all-time great franchise.

One of the best superhero movies ever made, nothing short of art in every sense of the word.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️