| Spider-Man: Across theSpider-Verse | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | |
| Written by | |
| Based on | Marvel Comics |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Edited by | Michael Andrews |
| Music by | Daniel Pemberton |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing |
Release dates |
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Running time | 140 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $100–150 million[2][3] |
| Box office | $690.8 million[4][5] |
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a 2023 American animatedsuperhero film based onMarvel Comics featuring the characterMiles Morales / Spider-Man. Directed byJoaquim Dos Santos,Kemp Powers andJustin K. Thompson from a screenplay by the writing team ofPhil Lord and Christopher Miller andDave Callaham, it is the sequel toSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and the second film in theSpider-Verse franchise. It starsShameik Moore asMiles Morales, withHailee Steinfeld,Brian Tyree Henry,Lauren Vélez,Jake Johnson,Jason Schwartzman,Issa Rae,Karan Soni,Shea Whigham,Daniel Kaluuya,Mahershala Ali, andOscar Isaac in supporting roles. In the film, Miles goes on an adventure withGwen Stacy / Spider-Gwen (Steinfeld) across the multiverse, where he meets a team of Spider-People led byMiguel O'Hara / Spider-Man 2099 (Isaac) known as the Spider-Society, but comes into conflict with them over handling a new threat in the form of theSpot (Schwartzman). It was produced byColumbia Pictures andSony Pictures Animation in association withMarvel Entertainment.
Sony began developing a sequel toInto the Spider-Verse prior to its 2018 release, with the writing and directing team attached. It was set to focus on the relationship between Moore's Miles and Steinfeld's Gwen. The sequel was officially announced in November 2019 and animation work began in June 2020, with a different visual style for each of the six universes visited by the characters. It had a budget of $100–150 million, and with a theatrical runtime of 140 minutes, the film was thelongest American animated film by runtime at the time of its release.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse premiered at theRegency Village Theatre in Los Angeles, California on May 30, 2023, and was released in the United States on June 2, having been delayed from its original April 2022 theatrical release date. Like its predecessor, the film received widespread critical acclaim and it set several box office records, grossing over $690 million at the worldwide box office, surpassing its predecessor and becoming thethird-highest-grossing film of the year domestically in the United States, the highest-grossing film produced by Sony Pictures Animation, and thesixth-highest-grossing film of 2023. TheAmerican Film Institute namedSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse one of the top-ten films of 2023. Among itsnumerous accolades, it won Best Animated Feature at theCritics' Choice Movie Awards,Annie Awards, andProducers Guild of America Awards, and received nominations for the same category at theGolden Globe Awards,BAFTA Awards, andAcademy Awards.
The third film in the trilogy,Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, is scheduled for release on June 18, 2027, while two spin-off films,Spider-Women andSpider-Punk, are in development.
On Earth-65, Spider-WomanGwen Stacy has become increasingly isolated from her friends and estranged from her father George. George is hunting Spider-Woman for killingPeter Parker, unaware that it was an accident after Peter turned intothe Lizard. Gwen encounters a version ofthe Vulture from anItalian Renaissance–themed alternate universe, andMiguel O'Hara andJess Drew arrive through dimensional portals to help neutralize him. George corners Gwen and she reveals her identity to him, and he attempts to arrest her before she leaves with Jess and Miguel.
InBrooklyn on Earth-1610, 16 months afterKingpin's defeat and the destruction of theAlchemax collider,[a]Miles Morales is having trouble with his parents due to his duties as Spider-Man interfering with his personal life, and is grounded when he is late to a party celebrating his fatherJeff's promotion to police captain. Miles encountersthe Spot, an Alchemax scientist-turned-supervillain whose body was infused with portals during the collider's destruction. The Spot blames Miles for causing his mutation and reveals that the radioactive spider that bit Miles and gave him his powers came from an alternate universe,Earth-42, while the Spot was testing the collider. The Spot accidentally transports himself into a void and learns to use his portals to travel to other universes and empower himself by using Alchemax colliders in other dimensions. Gwen travels to Miles' dimension, and they reconnect, sharing their struggles. Miles attempts to convey his feelings towards Gwen but they remain unrequited.
Gwen secretly tracks the Spot and opens a portal to the next universe: Earth-50101. Miles discreetly follows Gwen into the portal, and the two team up with Earth-50101's local Spider-ManPavitr Prabhakar, and laterHobie Brown, against the Spot. The Spot absorbs the power of that dimension's collider, and he and Miles share a vision of his future attacks, which include the deaths of Jeff and Police Inspector Singh, the father of Pavitr's girlfriend Gayatri. The Spot escapes and Miles saves Singh from the collider's destruction, but the world begins to collapse before other Spider-People arrive to contain the damage.
Miles, Gwen, and Hobie are taken to Nueva York in Earth-928, where a multiversal society of Spider-People, known as the Spider-Society, work together to combat multiversal threats. Miles meets Miguel, the leader of the Society, and reunites withPeter B. Parker, who introduces him to his infant daughter:Mayday Parker. Miguel explains to Miles that each Spider-Person's story contains "canon events", such as the death of a police captain close to Spider-Man, which cannot be disrupted; otherwise, that universe may collapse, which in turn could collapse the entire multiverse as a consequence. Miles realizes that the Spot killing Jeff is a canon event and is imprisoned by Miguel to prevent him from saving Jeff. Miles frees himself with help from Hobie, and flees with the Society in pursuit. Miguel corners Miles and tells him that he was never supposed to become Spider-Man, blames him for the Spot's creation, and that Earth-42 has no Spider-Man because of him. Miles overpowers Miguel and, with help fromMargo Kess, flees back to his own universe. Gwen stands up for Miles, and is angrily ejected to her own universe by Miguel.
At home, Gwen reunites with George and they reconcile when he reveals he has decided to resign from the force instead of arresting her. George gives Gwen a makeshift portal device left for her by Hobie. Gwen uses it to travel to Earth-1610 and begins searching for Miles, as do other members of the Society. Miles tries to reveal his secret identity to his motherRio, much to her confusion. Miles and Gwen realize that he is in Earth-42 and not his own earth. In Earth-42, Miles' late uncleAaron Davis is alive while Jeff is dead, and New York is crime-ridden due to the lack of a Spider-Man. Aaron restrains Miles, and is joined by Miles' Earth-42 counterpart,the Prowler. Miles prepares to escape his restraints as the Spot begins his attack on Earth-1610's New York. Gwen, after promising to Rio and Jeff that she will find Miles, teams up with Peter B., Mayday, Pavitr, Hobie, Margo,Spider-Man Noir,Peni Parker, andSpider-Ham.
Additional voice cast includes:Shea Whigham asGeorge Stacy, Gwen's father and a police captain;[29]Jorma Taccone asAdriano Tumino / Vulture, a supervillain from anItalian Renaissance-inspired universe,[18][29] as well asPeter Parker / Spider-Man from the 1967 animated series, which he reprises from the post-credits ofInto the Spider-Verse;[30][31]Greta Lee asLyla, Miguel and the Spider Society'sAI assistant;[32]Mahershala Ali asAaron Davis, the Earth-42 version of Miles' deceased uncle (Ali previously voiced the Earth-1610 version of Aaron in the first film);[33] andJharrel Jerome asMiles G. Morales / Prowler of Earth-42.[34]
Additional iterations of Spider-Man appearing in the film as members of the Spider-Society, with speaking roles, include:Andy Samberg asBen Reilly /Scarlet Spider;[35]Amandla Stenberg asMargo Kess / Spider-Byte, a Spider-Woman remotely operating avirtual avatar from her home reality;[33]Kimiko Glenn asPeni Parker / SP//dr, reprising her role from the first film;[36]Taran Killam asPatrick O'Hara / Web-Slinger;[33][37] Nic Novicki asPeter Parker / Lego Spider-Man,[38]Josh Keaton asPeter Parker / Spectacular Spider-Man from the television seriesThe Spectacular Spider-Man (2008–2009),[39]Yuri Lowenthal asPeter Parker / Insomniac Spider-Man from theMarvel's Spider-Man video game series byInsomniac Games;[39]Mike Rianda asEzekiel Sims / Spider-Therapist;[37][40]Sofia Barclay asMalala Windsor / Spider-UK, an original incarnation ofSpider-UK who wears ahijab;[41]Danielle Perez asCharlotte Webber / Sun-Spider, a fan-created character who uses a wheelchair;[42] andMetro Boomin, who composed music for the film, as Metro Spider-Man.[43]
Melissa Sturm voicesMary Jane "MJ" Parker, Peter B. Parker's wife and Mayday's mother;[44]Rachel Dratch voicesC. Weber, a counselor at Miles' school;[45] andZiggy Marley voices Lenny, a Jamaican shop owner.[36][46]Pixar animator and filmmakerPeter Sohn provides the voice for Miles' best friend and roommateGanke Lee after his dialogue was cut fromInto the Spider-Verse.[47][48]Elizabeth Perkins voices theAunt May of Gwen's Earth-65;[49]Atsuko Okatsuka voicesYuri Watanabe, a police colleague of Captain Stacy;[39]Ayo Edebiri, Antonia Lentini, and Nicole Delaney voice Gwen's bandmatesGlory,Betty andMJ;[46][50][51] andJack Quaid voices theEarth-65 Peter Parker who died after transforming into theLizard.[52]J. K. Simmons reprises his role asJ. Jonah Jameson, voicing various versions of the character on AU Earth-1610, Earth-42, and Earth-65 with archive audio from other Spider-Man media being used for the Lego version on Earth-13122.[39]
Live-action roles are also featured in the film, withDonald Glover appearing as an alternate version ofAaron Davis / Prowler, reprising his role from theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) filmSpider-Man: Homecoming (2017).[39]Peggy Lu reprises her role as convenience store owner Mrs. Chen from theSony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU), identified as Earth-688.[53]Tobey Maguire,Andrew Garfield,Kirsten Dunst, andBryce Dallas Howard appear intheirrespective roles as Peter Parker / Spider-Man,Mary Jane Watson, and Gwen Stacy from previousSpider-Man films through archival footage,[39] as well asCliff Robertson as his version ofBen Parker andDenis Leary asGeorge Stacy.[39] Archival audio ofAlfred Molina'sOtto Octavius / Doctor Octopus fromSpider-Man: No Way Home (2021) is used for a hologram version of the character with a comic book-accurate design.[54]
By the end of November 2018, ahead of the release ofSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) the following month,Sony Pictures Animation had begun developing a sequel[55] due to the "incredible buzz" surrounding the project.[56] The sequel was to continue the story ofMiles Morales / Spider-Man,[57][58] working from "seeds [that were] planted" throughout the first film.[55]Joaquim Dos Santos andDave Callaham were set to direct and write, respectively, withAmy Pascal returning from the first film as producer. The other producers of the first film—Phil Lord, Christopher Miller,Avi Arad, and Christina Steinberg—were all also expected to return in some capacities.[55] The next month, Pascal revealed that the film would focus on Miles andGwen Stacy / Spider-Woman, exploring a romance between the characters that was cut from the first film, and that the sequel would be a "launching pad" for a previously announced female-focused spin-off film featuring Gwen.[58] Sony officially confirmed the sequel in November 2019, with Lord and Miller returning as producers and a release date of April 8, 2022, announced.[59] In April 2020, Sony shifted the film's release to October 7, 2022.[60]
In February 2021, Miller said that he and Lord were working on the film's screenplay with Callaham, and thatPeter Ramsey would be an executive producer on the sequel after co-directing the first film.[61] That April,Kemp Powers andJustin K. Thompson were announced as co-directors alongside Dos Santos, and that all three had worked on the project since it began. (Thompson was production designer on the first film.) Arad and Steinberg were confirmed to return as producers with Lord, Miller and Pascal, with Alonzo Ruvalcaba co-producing and Aditya Sood,Into the Spider-Verse directorsBob Persichetti andRodney Rothman, and Rebecca Karch andBrian Michael Bendis joining Ramsey as executive producers.[62]
In December, Lord and Miller revealed that the film was being split into two parts:Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One) and(Part Two), because they had written the story they wanted to tell for the sequel and realized it was too much for one film. Work on both parts was taking place simultaneously.[63] The sequels were renamed in April 2022, becomingSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse andSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. Their release dates were shifted then, withAcross the Spider-Verse pushed back to June 2, 2023.[64][65][66] Lord and Miller said that they had told Sony the sequel would be the same size asInto the Spider-Verse, but it ended up having the largest crew of any animated film ever, with around 1,000 people working on it. They added that the film had 240 characters and would take place across six universes.[64] Characters that were considered to appear inAcross the Spider-Verse but were ultimately rejected include versions ofGreen Goblin,Doctor Octopus,Kraven the Hunter,Mysterio,Electro,Shocker,Rhino,Hobgoblin,Chameleon,Puma,Leap-Frog,Alistair Smythe,Grizzly,Boomerang,Screwball,Big Wheel,Beetle, andDiamondhead.[67][68][69]
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Lord and Miller expressed interest in includingSpider-Punk,Takuya Yamashiro, the "Japanese Spider-Man" from the1978Spider-Man series, andItalian Spiderman in the following movies.[70] In November 2019, Lord indicated that the character Takuya Yamashiro was designed, though he didn't make an appearance in the movie.[71] In August 2020,Jake Johnson expressed hope that he could reprise his role asPeter B. Parker from the first film in the sequel.[72]Issa Rae was cast asJess Drew / Spider-Woman in June 2021,[10] Johnson confirmed that he would be returning for the sequel a month later,[16] andOscar Isaac was confirmed in December to be reprising his role ofMiguel O'Hara / Spider-Man 2099 from the post-credits scene ofInto the Spider-Verse.[63][26] Also in December,Tom Holland—who playsPeter Parker / Spider-Man in theMarvel Cinematic Universe—revealed that Pascal had approached him about appearing in theSpider-Verse films during the filming ofSpider-Man: No Way Home (2021). Holland and his co-starsZendaya andJacob Batalon all expressed interest in appearing in the upcoming films.[73] Jeff Sneider ofThe Ankler reported in February 2023 that Holland was set to appear in a live-action sequence and that this had caused the film's delay from 2022 to 2023; Holland ultimately did not appear.[74]Christopher Daniel Barnes, who voiced Spider-Man inSpider-Man: The Animated Series (1994–1998), also expressed interest in returning for the film.[75]
In April 2022,Brian Tyree Henry andLuna Lauren Vélez were confirmed to be reprising their roles as Miles' parents from the first film whileRachel Dratch was revealed to be voicing the counselor at Miles' school.[13] Lord, Miller, and the directors announced in June thatJason Schwartzman would provide the voice of the film's main antagonistJohnathon Ohnn / the Spot, which was added to the story after a suggestion from producer Avi Arad (a second antagonist was later written out of the movie).[76] Powers noted that the Spot was one of "the deepest cuts inSpider-Man's rogue gallery" but the creative team was excited about his abilities, which allow the character to travel between universes.[18]Shea Whigham andJorma Taccone were also revealed to be voicingGeorge Stacy and Adriano Tumino / Vulture, respectively.[29] Taccone previously voicedNorman Osborn / Green Goblin andPeter Parker / Spider-Man from the 1967 TV series inInto the Spider-Verse.[30][31] In November 2022,Daniel Kaluuya was confirmed to be voicingHobart "Hobie" Brown / Spider-Punk in the film.[22] In December 2022, with the reveal of the film's first poster, it was confirmed that thePeter Parker / Spider-Man fromThe Spectacular Spider-Man (2008–2009) would appear in the film.[77]Spectacular showrunnerGreg Weisman was not informed about the inclusion of his show's character and expressed doubts he would even be featured in the film itself.[78] The film's first trailer also confirmed that the Peter Parker / Spider-Man fromSpider-Man Unlimited (1999–2001) would be appearing in the film. In January 2023,Nicolas Cage confirmed he would not be reprising his role ofSpider-Man Noir for the film.[79] In February 2023, it was revealed thatKaran Soni was cast asPavitr Prabhakar / Spider-Man India in the film.[21] In April 2023, it was reported thatAndy Samberg was playingBen Reilly /Scarlet Spider.[80] A report confirmed his casting in May 2023,[35] when it was also confirmed thatAmandla Stenberg would playMargo Kess / Spider-Byte.[81]
Delilah, a skilled assassin who serves as the bartender at the Bar with No Name in analternate universe, was meant to make an appearance in the film, but her scene was cut. She would later be included in theInsomniac Games'sMarvel's Spider-Man video game series entrySpider-Man 2 (2023), whose version ofPeter Parker / Spider-Man also appears inAcross the Spider-Verse, withYuri Lowenthal reprising his role from that series.[82][39]
Lord revealed that design work for new characters in the film had begun by November 2019,[71] with comic book artistKris Anka later revealing that he was serving as a character designer on the film.[83][84] On June 9, 2020, the film's lead animator Nick Kondo announced that production had started.[85] The different universes visited in the film were designed to look like they were each drawn by a different artist.[63] Having learned new animation tools after working onThe Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021) following the firstSpider-Verse film, Lord and Miller ambitiously employed them to develop six different animation styles. The intent was to amaze the audience whenever the characters cross into a new environment so the film can accurately reflect its plot and the styles can generate various emotional backdrops.[86] Earth-65, the home of Gwen Stacy, was designed to look like "impressionistic"watercolor paintings. The animation team created a simulator to generate this style and used a visual palette that reflects Gwen's emotions like a "three dimensionalmood ring".[18] According to co-director Justin K. Thompson, the reflection of her emotions through colors is inspired by a scene in 1950'sCinderella where her dress gets torn, and the environment reacts to that trauma. This style was also intended by Miller to remind the audience about the covers of theSpider-Gwen comic books.[citation needed]
One of the two alternate Earths seen in the trailer was Earth-50101, which the crew nicknamed "Mumbattan" afterMumbai andManhattan, due to that world being based on the one fromGotham Entertainment Group'sSpider-Man: India comic book series.[87] The other universe was Nueva York, the futuristic New York City from theMarvel 2099 world, was heavily influenced bySyd Mead'sneo-futurist illustrations, which has an unfinished look.[87] Also the works of artistsRon Cobb,John Bell,John Berkey,John Harris andRalph McQuarrie were inspirations for the city's design, in addition to the architecture ofOscar Niemeyer. The city was created as a highly controlled environment reflecting Miguel's personality, and has an authoritarian,brutalist and minimalist style of design meant to represent a "clean, strong, unified, front-facing ideology". But when going underground one realizes that it's a world that can't really be controlled.[88][89]
While the cast and crew were being interviewed forEmpire in March 2023, codirector Joaquim Dos Santos revealed that another alternate universe would be "thepunky New London, inhabited by Daniel Kaluuya's Spider-Punk", with a final dimension "being kept tightly under wraps for now", later revealed to beEarth-42, the world the spider that bit Miles came from and where he has become that world's version of the Prowler.[86][90] Spider-Punk's animation style took two to three years to develop and is inspired bycollage imagery of 1970s punk-rockalbum covers,posters, andzines emulating the look ofXerox prints, colored papers and images appropriated from magazines and newsprints, and has a general grayed-out quality due to copy machines not havingtoner in them.[91] Also the animators experimented with different frame rates to reflectDIY punk visuals and Spider-Punk'sanarchic personality and tendency of inconsistency. His body is animated on 3s or 2s (8 or 12 images), his guitar on 4s (6 images), and his outline on 2s or 1s (12 or 24 images); unlike rest of the characters that are predominantly animated on 2s.[92] In May 2023, Jake Johnson revealed in an interview that aLego universe would be featured in the film.[93] The Lego sequence was done by 14-year-old Canadian animator Preston Mutanga and was added late in the movie, after the filmmakers were so impressed by his fan-made Lego recreation of the film's first teaser that they tracked him down and recruited him.[94]
Miles' design was updated for the sequel to show him having gone through a growth spurt, while Gwen was given a new haircut and an updated costume.Rick Leonardi, the co-creator of Spider-Man 2099, was brought on to adapt his own designs for the film, while comic book artistBrian Stelfreeze was chosen to shape the visual development of Jess Drew, inspired both by thewhite comic-bookEarth-616 Spider-WomanJessica Drew, theEarth-1610Ultimate Spider-Woman, and theblack live-action television Spider-Woman Valerie the Librarian (portrayed byHattie Winston inSpidey Super Stories).[95] The Spot's design, which was influenced by Austrian artistEgon Schiele,[96] evolves throughout the film as he gains more confidence and control of his abilities, beginning with a style that looks like an "unfinished sketch [with] blue construction lines that evoke a comic book artist's rough drawing before the work goes to an inker". The Spot's portals were intended to look like "living ink that had spilled or splattered on the comic artist's drawing", which created new challenges for the animation team. The Vulture was given aRenaissance-era design inspired by the artwork ofLeonardo da Vinci's workbooks.[18] Thompson also revealed that the design of the spider in the "Go Home Machine" is influenced by the spider in the movieKrull (1983), which is also named "Ynyr" after a character from the film.[97] Gwen Stacy's hair received a redesign in the film, incorporatingGwen Poole's pink hair highlights due to a reference mix-up[98] (as previously independently happened in the development ofMarvel Rising). This was credited byAcross the Spider-Verse production designer Patrick O'Keefe to artist Peter Chan in January 2024 as having been based onGurihiru's work onThe Unbelievable Gwenpool: Beyond the Fourth Wall, with the design of Gwen Stacy's bedroom also taking influence from the color palette of Gwenpool's hospital gown.[99]
In May 2023, Powers revealed that the film would end on acliffhanger and co-director Dos Santos compared it to theStar Warsoriginal trilogy filmThe Empire Strikes Back (1980).[100] Powers explained:
Across The Spider-Verse is a movie on its own, but it definitely ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. I think it's a good cliffhanger. We hope that it's a satisfying tee-up for what's coming in the third film, because you want people to be excited about what's coming next. And it helps that we knew going in that this was part two of a three-part story. Since you already know that that third story is guaranteed, you can tackle it a bit differently. That being said, there's a lot of key characters in this film, and there's a story in this film that has an arc of its own that we needed to complete.[100]
In the same month, Powers also stated that the film would not be "tied" to theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). In the film, Miguel makes a direct reference to the events ofSpider-Man: No Way Home (2021), telling Gwen to not "get [him] started on Doctor Strange and that little nerd back on Earth-199999" — referring to theDoctor Strange andSpider-Man of the MCU – while attributing the events ofNo Way Home to the collider explosion fromInto the Spider-Verse. The quote is meant as athrowaway line that Lord and Miller came up with.[101] Additionally,Donald Glover reprises his role as an alternate version ofAaron Davis / Prowler from the MCU filmSpider-Man: Homecoming (2017) in a live-action cameo, depicted as a prisoner of the Spider-Society displaced from his home reality.[102] Production onAcross the Spider-Verse was completed on May 20, 2023, 13 days before the US release date.[103] With a runtime of 140 minutes, it isthe longest animated film ever produced by an American studio, surpassingConsuming Spirits (2012).[104]
On June 23, 2023,Vulture reported that four people who worked on the film alleged that production had faced difficulties due to numerous requests from Lord for changes to already finished animation, as well as the need for him to approve animation layouts early in production.[3][105][106] Lord's directions were said to take precedence over the decisions of the film's directing team and led to numerous weeks of long overtime as the animators drastically revised portions of the film several times. They further stated that difficult working conditions caused by the constant revisions caused over 100 artists to leave the project before its completion, and that bothInto the Spider-Verse andThe Mitchells vs. the Machines (two earlier films that Lord and Miller co-produced for Sony) suffered from similar production issues.[3] One artist said that production onBeyond the Spider-Verse, the film's sequel, had not progressed, and that there was "no way that" it would be completed in time for its scheduled March 2024 release window. Sony denied the allegations concerningAcross the Spider-Verse's production troubles, while declining to comment on the possibility of the sequel being delayed, and producer Amy Pascal called the process of heavy revision normal.[105][106]
Daniel Pemberton confirmed in December 2020 that he would return to compose the sequel's score. In December 2022, Lord and Miller confirmed thatMetro Boomin would create music for its soundtrack. Several artists were featured on it, including21 Savage,Swae Lee,Lil Wayne,Future,Nas,ASAP Rocky,Lil Uzi Vert,Wizkid,Coi Leray,Offset,Becky G,Shenseea,A Boogie wit da Hoodie,JID,Don Toliver,James Blake, and2 Chainz. For the Japanese release, an original song, "Realize" performed byLisa, was featured. The film was supported by another single, "Mona Lisa" byDominic Fike, released on June 2, 2023—the day of the film's premiere. Although originally set to be released as a track on the deluxe edition of the soundtrack album, a few days after its release, the track was removed. On June 23, 2023, it was announced that the track was added into some versions of Fike's second studio albumSunburn, which was released on July 7, 2023.[better source needed]
Though external to the film's score and soundtrack,Daniel Kaluuya also incorporated musical elements into his vocal performance asSpider-Punk / Hobie Brown.[107] Kaluuya elaborated that he searched for the word "Spider-Punk" onSpotify, hoping to find fan-made playlists. He stated that after finding some he "would just listen to them, be like vibing out," helping him with the process of gauging the character's energy.[107] Kaluuya further noted that "he wanted the character's voice to feel like a song," and that a take in which he portrayed the character as "rapping, but in a punk style" would be the one used in the film.[107]
In May 2020, Sony entered into a promotional partnership withHyundai Motor Company to showcase their new models and technologies in the film.[108] Aprologue for the film was released atComic Con Experience in December 2021, revealing the title and the fact that the film is a two-part sequel.[109] Following the announcement of the new title and release date in April 2022, Lord and Miller showed 15 minutes of the film (with unfinished animation) at Sony'sCinemaCon panel.[64] Lord, Miller, and the directors showed the same footage at theAnnecy International Animation Film Festival in June, with updated animation and effects.[18] In February 2023,Funko Pops figures based on characters from the film were revealed.[110] In April 2023, another 14-minute footage was previewed at Sony's CinemaCon panel.[111] A second trailer was released on April 4. It gained 148.6M views within 24 hours, becoming the most-viewed second trailer for a Marvel film within that timespan and also the most-viewed superhero film trailer of the summer.[112]Rolling Stone's Larisha Paul remarked that Miles wanted the other heroes to accept and validate him but also wanted to create his own story and not be controlled by them.[113] Christian Holub ofEntertainment Weekly felt the Spider-People were more antagonistic and that Miles' family was in more danger than in the first film.[114] Meanwhile, Abid Rahman fromThe Hollywood Reporter compared Miles' introduction to the Spider-People in the trailer to the "vibe" ofCitadel of Ricks and highlighted the reference to the Spider-Man pointing meme.[115] Commentators also noted that the trailer posited that Miles could potentially have to choose between saving the multiverse or his family.[113][114][115]
On May 15, 2023; the film started the sale of different Spider-Verse themed food items for their collaboration withBurger King. The items available during the promotion included the Spider-VerseWhopper with a red bun and the Spider-VerseSundae.[116] On May 20, 2023,Nike released a special iteration of theAir Jordan 1 High OG inspired by the film.[117] On May 23, 2023,Epic Games added skins of Miles Morales and Spider-Man 2099 toFortnite based on their designs in the film.[118] The electronics manufacturerZOTAC also partnered with Sony Pictures to create limited-edition Spider-Man-themedRTX 4070 graphics cards.[119]
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse premiered on May 30, 2023, at theGrand Rex in Paris, France,[120] and at theRegency Village Theater in Los Angeles,[121] and was theatrically released in the United States on June 2, in premium large formats andIMAX. Unlike the first film, this film was not released in 3D.[65] It was originally set for release on April 8, 2022,[59] but was shifted to October 7 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[60] It was then moved to the June 2023 date.[65] The film was re-released in IMAX in limited theaters on January 19, 2024,[122] which marked the debut of a new Columbia Pictures logo that commemorates the studio's 100th anniversary.[123] In China, the film premiered in Beijing on May 31 and was released on June 2.[124]
On June 9, 2023, in response to complaints of sound mixing issues from viewers in some theaters, Sony sent an updated version of the film with new audio mixing to theaters.[125][126] An official source toldVariety that, while the issues were only present at a "handful of theaters", all prints of the film had been updated and re-sent to cinemas.[125] It was reported that at least two versions of the film—distinct in slight differences in dialogue and animations—exist in theaters. For example, in one version, a scene between Miguel and Lyla ends with Lyla giving a fist bump, while another ends in Lyla taking a selfie of them. The film's associate editor, Andy Leviton, confirmed the reports.[127]
The film's release initially was delayed in theMENA region until June 22, 2023, but later withdrawn from cinemas across the region because the film briefly features transgender iconography,[128][129][130] such as atransgender flag on a banner seen hanging in Gwen Stacy's bedroom with the words "Protect Trans Kids". The flag's appearance led to speculation that Gwen supports her universe'stransgender rights movement and led to interpretations of Gwen's story being a transgender allegory, with some interpreting Gwen herself as being transgender.[129][131] Although she is not identified as transgender in the film, viewers and critics who supported this interpretation additionally pointed to the use of the flag's colors (light pink, light blue, and white) elsewhere in scenes involving Gwen and her universe, and the perceived parallels tocoming out in her character arc within the film.[131][132] However, others have noted that the pink, blue and white colors were already used by thecomics' version of Spider-Woman Gwen Stacy, and thus were not necessarily proof that the film version of the character is trans.[129]
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was released ondigital download bySony Pictures Home Entertainment on August 8, 2023, and onUltra HD Blu-ray,Blu-ray, andDVD on September 5.[133] The digital release of the film featured additional alterations from the initial theatrical cut, such as the removal of several lines of dialogue.[134] This version, which was also available in some theaters, was described by Miller as "an international version" of the film created to help with the necessary translations needed and to be approved by the French censorship board. He added that the animators "cleaned up and tweaked" some of the shots that had already been submitted for the finished version, with other members of the team, such as in the sound department, also suggesting alternate ideas, stating, "Because it's a multiverse movie, it's like there's a multiverse of the movie – that was really the reasoning behind it. It was trying to make the best possible version that everyone was going to be the proudest of." Lord believed some of these changes created an improved film.[135] Some of the alterations have been controversial with the film's fanbase.[136]
In April 2021, Sony signed deals withNetflix and Disney for the rights to their 2022 to 2026 film slate, following the films' theatrical and home media windows.[137][138] Netflix signed for exclusive "pay 1 window" streaming rights, which is typically an 18-month window and included the sequels toSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse; this deal built on an existing output deal that Netflix had signed with Sony Pictures Animation in 2014.[137][139] Disney signed for "pay 2 window" rights for the films, which would be streamed onDisney+ andHulu as well as broadcast on Disney's linear television networks.[138][140]Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was released on Netflix in the United States on October 31, 2023,[141] and was released on Disney+ on May 1, 2025.[142]
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse grossed $381.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $309.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide gross of $690.8 million.[4][5] The film surpassedInto the Spider-Verse's total gross of $384.5 million after 12 days of release,[143] and overtookThe Smurfs to become Sony Pictures Animation's highest-grossing film.[144]Deadline Hollywood calculated the net profit of the film to be $328 million, when factoring together all expenses and revenues placed it third on their list of 2023's "Most Valuable Blockbusters".[145]
In the United States and Canada,Across the Spider-Verse was released alongsideThe Boogeyman, and was initially projected to gross around $80 million from 4,313 theaters in its opening weekend, with rival studios predicting it could reach $90 million.[146] It made $17.35 million from Thursday night previews, the third-best total for an animated film afterThe Lion King ($23 million in 2019) andIncredibles 2 ($18.5 million in 2018).[147] After making $51.7 million on Friday (including previews, the best first-day of 2023 up to that point), weekend estimates were increased to $113 million.[148] It went on to debut to $120.7 million,[149] the second-highest opening weekend total of 2023 (behindThe Super Mario Bros. Movie's $146.4 million) and theeighth-best ever for an animated film.[150] It also surpassedHotel Transylvania 2 ($48.4 million in 2015) to achieve the highest opening weekend for a Sony Pictures Animation film.[151] The film made $55.5 million in its second weekend, finishing second behind newcomerTransformers: Rise of the Beasts.[152] It then made $27.8 million in its third weekend, finishing third.[153] The film would make $19.3 million on its fourth weekend, topping the box office once again amidst competition fromNo Hard Feelings, a new release, andThe Flash andElemental, both holdovers.[154]
Outside of the US and Canada, the film grossed $88.1 million from 59 markets in its opening weekend.[155] In its second weekend,Across the Spider-Verse grossed $47 million, for a drop of 44%,[156] while in its third weekend, it grossed $27.6 million from 60 markets, including Japan where the film made $2.8 million.[157] As of July 9, 2023,[update] the highest grossing territories were China ($49.6 million), UK ($35 million), Mexico ($27.8 million), Australia ($20.6 million) and France ($13.4 million).[158]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 95% of 386 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.6/10. The website's consensus reads: "Just as visually dazzling and action-packed as its predecessor,Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse thrills from start to cliffhanger conclusion."[159]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 86 out of 100, based on 60 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[160] Audiences surveyed byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled atPostTrak gave it a 93% overall positive score, with 82% saying they would "definitely recommend" it.[150]
Brian Tallerico ofRogerEbert.com gave the film 4 out of 4 stars, writing, "Like the work of a young artist who refuses to be restrained by the borders of the frame,Across the Spider-Verse is loaded with incredible imagery and fascinating ideas. It is a smart, thrilling piece of work that reminded me of other great part twos likeThe Dark Knight andThe Empire Strikes Back."[161]Ann Hornaday ofThe Washington Post gave the film 3/4 stars, calling it "an extravagant, very cool love letter to graphic design, executed with superb draftsmanship and giddy, infectious joy."[162]Richard Roeper of theChicago Sun-Times also gave it 3 out of 4 stars, writing, "It's a bit too much at times, but it's also pretty great, and it'll be a huge surprise if the third chapter in the trilogy isn't equally entertaining."[163]Kevin Maher ofThe Times gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, writing, "It rarely draws breath between set pieces, and creates distinct and spectacular environments for each separate spider-verse."[164]
David Fear ofRolling Stone said that the film "completely recaptures the panel-to-panel thrill of discovering your respective era's teen-angsty Marvel icon. The thrill of the multiversal new is gone. Everything else, however, is extra-webbed for your pleasure."[165] Alison Willmore ofVulture wrote, "Across the Spider-Verse looks incredible, even better than the groundbreaking first installment, but what's truly impressive about it is how willing it is to entrust its storytelling to its animation."[166]The Atlantic's David Sims wrote that the film "avoids seeming like a physics lesson because its visuals are consistently thrilling; the most static bits of dialogue still pop because of how daring the animation is."[167]Kyle Smith ofThe Wall Street Journal described the film as being "visually hypercaffeinated" but with a slow plot in the first half of the film,plotlines being a "hectic series of clashes", action sequences that were "jumpy but not especially engaging", and "too many long monologues".[168] Jake Wilson ofThe Age gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, writing, "Typically for Lord and Miller, the upshot is both adventurous and conformist, an outwardly bold reimagining of the material that never stops congratulating us for our brand loyalty, and which plays it safer in plot terms than the early sequences might lead you to hope."[169]
At the96th Academy Awards,Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse received a nomination forBest Animated Feature.[170] Its other nominations include sevenAnnie Awards (winning all, a clean sweep),[171] twoBritish Academy Film Awards,[172] threeCritics' Choice Movie Awards (winning one),[173] and threeGolden Globe Awards.[174] TheAmerican Film Institute namedSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse one of the ten-best films of 2023.[175] It also won theNational Board of Review Award for Best Animated Film.[176]IndieWire listedSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as the second greatest animated film of the 21st century.[177]
FilmmakerGuillermo del Toro, who won theAcademy Award for Best Animated Feature forhis 2022 adaptation ofPinocchio, praised the film, saying "Spider-Verse will fulfill and heal."[178] During a London Q&A screening,Andrew Garfield, who portrayedPeter Parker inThe Amazing Spider-Man films, called the film "a masterpiece of pure cinema".[179]Bryce Dallas Howard, who played Gwen Stacy inSpider-Man 3 (2007), expressed her and her father,Ron Howard's, love for the movie, calling it "an astonishing film on every level".[180] The filmmakers behindKung Fu Panda 4 cited theSpider-Verse films as inspiration for their fight scenes, incorporating an "inkbrush" style.[181]
AnInternet meme involving the notion ofcanon events began spreading onTikTok after the film's release,[182][183] which later became atrend.[184] The meme's word "canon" elaborated its special definition as "ironic (if not actually painful)" experiences in real life.[185]Collins Dictionary selected "canon event" as one of its ten contenders forWord of the year in 2023, defining the term as "an event that is essential to the formation of an individual's character or identity".[186]
A third and final film in theSpider-Verse trilogy,Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, is scheduled for release on June 18, 2027,[187][188] withBob Persichetti and Justin K. Thompson returning as directors along with Lord, Miller, andDave Callaham returning as screenwriters.[189] Moore, Steinfeld,[189] Schwartzman,[190] Soni,[191] Kaluuya,[192] and Jerome reprise their roles.[193]
Sony began developing aSpider-Women film in November 2018 that would focus on three generations of female, Spider-related characters. Bek Smith was writing the spin-off,[57] andLauren Montgomery was in talks to direct.[55] Pascal said the film would focus on the characters Gwen Stacy / Spider-Gwen,Cindy Moon / Silk, and Jess Drew / Spider-Woman, and saidAcross the Spider-Verse would serve as a "launching pad" for it.[58] Lord and Miller were confirmed to be producing the film in April 2021, when the project was undergoing rewrites.[194] Pascal and Arad reaffirmed that the film was in development in May 2023, when Arad said it would be made sooner than expected, while Steinfeld expressed interest in the film.[195]
In August 2025, a spin-off film centered on Spider-Punk was revealed to be in early development, with Kaluuya co-writing the script withAjon Singh and expected to reprise his role.[192]
On May 29, 2023, it was announced that a manga spin-off titledSpider-Man: Octopus Girl written by Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrated by Betten Court would begin serialization on June 20 onShueisha'sShōnen Jump+ website and app. The story revolves aroundDoctor Octopus, who falls into a coma and has been reawakened in the body of young Japanese middle schooler named Otoha Okutamiya.[196][197] In February 2024,Viz Media announced that they licensed the series for English publication in the fourth quarter of 2024 under the titleSpider-Man: Octo-Girl (Japanese:スパイダーマン：オクトパスガール,Hepburn:Supaidāman: Okutopasu Gāru).[198] The series ended its serialization on January 7, 2025.[199]
Multiple Across the Spider-Verse crew members... describe the process of making the $150 million Sony project as uniquely arduous...
As Columbia Pictures celebrates its 100-year legacy, critically acclaimed and box office smash hit filmSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will be re-released in theaters on January 19, 2024, with the Columbia Pictures animated centennial logo making its theatrical debut.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has been blocked from release in the United Arab Emirates ... apparently fallen foul of the country's censorship laws due in part to the blink-and-you-miss-it protect trans lives poster featured in the background of one frame, according to a source familiar with the situation.
This new agreement builds upon Netflix's pre-existing output deal with Sony Pictures Animation films to now include all SPE film labels and genres.
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