A third MCU Spider-Man film was planned during the production ofHomecoming in 2017. Negotiations between Sony and Marvel Studios to alter their deal—in which they produce the Spider-Man films together—ended with Marvel Studios leaving the project in August 2019, but a negative fan reaction led to a new deal between the companies a month later. Watts, McKenna, Sommers, and Holland were set to return, and filming took place from October 2020 to March 2021 in New York City and Atlanta.No Way Home serves as acrossover between the MCU and the previousSpider-Man films directed bySam Raimi andMarc Webb. Several actors reprise their roles from those films, including previous Spider-Man actors Maguire and Garfield. The pair's involvement was the subject of wide speculation and numerous leaks despite Sony, Marvel, and the cast's efforts to conceal their involvement until the film's release.
Spider-Man: No Way Home premiered at theFox Village Theatre inHollywood, Los Angeles, on December 13, 2021, and was theatrically released in the United States on December 17, as part ofPhase Four of the MCU. The film received positive reviews from critics and grossed $1.921billion worldwide, surpassing its predecessor as the highest-grossing film released by Sony Pictures. It became thehighest-grossing film of 2021, thesixth-highest-grossing film at the time of its release, the highest-grossing Spider-Man film, and set several other box office records, including those forfilms released during the COVID-19 pandemic. The film received a nomination forBest Visual Effects at the94th Academy Awards, amongnumerous other accolades. An extended version of the film, subtitledThe More Fun Stuff Version, had a global theatrical release in September 2022. An additional film trilogy with Holland is planned, beginning withSpider-Man: Brand New Day, which is scheduled for release in July 2026.
AfterQuentin Beck framesPeter Parker for his murder and reveals that Peter isSpider-Man,[a] theDepartment of Damage Control arrests Peter; his girlfriend,Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson; his best friend,Ned Leeds; and his aunt,May Parker. LawyerMatt Murdock gets Peter's charges dropped, but the group grapples with negative publicity. After Peter's, MJ's, and Ned'sMIT applications are rejected, Peter goes to theNew York Sanctum to ask Dr.Stephen Strange for help. Strange starts casting a spell that would make everyone forget Peter is Spider-Man, but it is corrupted when Peter repeatedly requests alterations to let his loved ones retain their memories. Strange contains the corrupted spell.
At Strange's suggestion, Peter tries to convince an MIT administrator to reconsider MJ's and Ned's applications. He is attacked byOtto Octavius, who ripsnanotechnology from Peter'sIron Spider suit. This bonds with Octavius's mechanical tentacles and allows Peter to control them. AsNorman Osborn arrives and attacks, Strange teleports Peter back to the Sanctum and locks Octavius in a cell next toCurt Connors. Strange explains that the corrupted spell summoned people from other universes within themultiverse who know Spider-Man's identity. He orders Peter, MJ, and Ned to find and capture the others; they locate and retrieveMax Dillon andFlint Marko at a military research facility.
Osborn reclaims control of himself from his splitGreen Goblin personality and destroys the Goblin mask. He gets help from May until Peter retrieves him. While discussing their battles with Spider-Man, Osborn, Octavius, and Dillon realize they were pulled from their universes just before their deaths.[b] Strange prepares to reverse the contained spell and send the villains back to their respective universes, but Peter argues that they should first help each villain to possibly change their fates upon their return. When Strange refuses, Peter steals the spell, traps Strange in theMirror Dimension, and takes the villains toHappy Hogan's apartment. He usesStark Industries technology to cure Octavius. Before Peter can cure anyone else, the Goblin persona retakes control of Osborn. The Goblin convinces the other villains to betray Peter and fatally wounds May as Dillon, Marko, and Connors escape; before she dies, May tells Peter that "with great power, there must also come great responsibility".
Ned discovers that he can create portals using Strange'ssling ring, which he and MJ use to try to locate Peter. They instead find "Peter-Two" and "Peter-Three",alternate versions of Peter who were also summoned from the villains' universes by Strange's spell. The group finds this universe's Peter ("Peter-One"), who is mourning May and ready to send the villains home to die. The alternate Peters share stories of losingUncle Ben andGwen Stacy and encourage Peter-One to fight in May's honor. The three Peters develop cures for the villains and lure them to theStatue of Liberty. Peter-One and Peter-Two cure Connors and Marko while Octavius helps cure Dillon. Ned accidentally frees Strange from the Mirror Dimension. The Goblin unleashes the contained spell, breaking the barriers between universes and pulling in countless others who know Peter's identity. Strange attempts to hold them off while an enraged Peter-One tries to kill the Goblin. Peter-Two stops him and Peter-Three helps Peter-One inject the Goblin with his cure, restoring Osborn's sanity.
Peter-One realizes that the only way to protect the multiverse is to erase himself from everyone's memory and requests Strange do so while promising MJ and Ned that he will find them and remind them who he is. Strange reluctantly casts the spell, and everyone returns to their respective universes—includingEddie Brock,[c] who unknowingly leaves behind a piece of theVenomsymbiote. Two weeks later, Peter visits MJ to reintroduce himself to her and Ned, but decides against it. While mourning at May's grave, he has a conversation with an unknowing Hogan and is inspired to carry on, making a new Spider-Man suit and resuming his vigilantism.
Tobey Maguire (top) andAndrew Garfield (bottom) return as their respective versions of Spider-Man from previous film franchises. Their involvement was kept secret by Marvel and Sony despite fan speculation and leaks before the film's premiere.
Tom Holland asPeter Parker / Spider-Man: A teenager andAvenger who received spider-like abilities after being bitten by a radioactive spider.[4] The film explores the fallout ofSpider-Man: Far From Home's (2019)mid-credits scene, in which Parker's identity as Spider-Man is exposed,[5] and Parker is more pessimistic in contrast to previousMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films. Holland said Parker feels defeated and insecure and was excited to explore the darker side of the character.[6] The adjustment back to portraying Parker, including raising hisvoice pitch and returning to the mindset of a "naïve, charming teenager", was strange for Holland after taking on more mature roles such as inCherry (2021).[7]
Zendaya asMichelle "MJ" Jones-Watson: Parker's classmate and girlfriend.[8][9][10] The character's full name is revealed in the film, having previously just been known as Michelle Jones, bringing her closer to the comics counterpartMary Jane Watson.[9]
Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr.Stephen Strange: Aneurosurgeon who became aMaster of the Mystic Arts following a career-ending car accident.[11][12] Holland felt Strange was not a mentor to Parker, unlikeTony Stark inSpider-Man: Homecoming (2017), but instead saw them as colleagues and noted their relationship breaks down throughout the course of the film.[13] Cumberbatch felt there was a close relationship between Strange and Parker because both are neighborhood superheroes with a shared history.[14] Co-writerChris McKenna described Strange as the voice of reason in the film.[15]
Willem Dafoe asNorman Osborn / Green Goblin: A scientist and the CEO ofOscorp from an alternate reality who tested an unstable strength enhancer on himself. He developed an insane split personality as a result and uses advanced Oscorp armor and equipment.[21] Dafoe felt Green Goblin had advanced from his portrayal inSam Raimi'sSpider-Man (2002) and had "a few more tricks up [his] sleeves" in this film.[22] Dafoe wasdigitally de-aged for the role,[23] and the character also obtains upgrades to his costume to make him more closely resemble hiscomic book counterpart.[22]
Alfred Molina asOtto Octavius / Doctor Octopus: A scientist from an alternate reality with fourartificially intelligent mechanical tentacles fused to his body after an accident.[24] The film continues from the character's story prior to his death in Raimi'sSpider-Man 2 (2004). Molina was surprised by this approach because he had aged in the years since he made that film; digital de-aging was also used to make him look physically the same as inSpider-Man 2.[25] The mechanical tentacles were created completely through CGI, rather than blending them with puppetry as inSpider-Man 2.[26][23]
Andrew Garfield asPeter Parker / Spider-Man: An alternate version of Parker who is haunted by his failure to save his deceased girlfriend,Gwen Stacy, during the events ofThe Amazing Spider-Man 2.[31][30][32][33] The other Spider-Men refer to him as "Peter-Three",[34] while Marvel's official website named him "The Amazing Spider-Man".[35] Garfield embraced his role as the middle brother of the group and was interested in exploring the idea of a tortured Parker following the events ofThe Amazing Spider-Man 2, including how lessons from those events could be passed to Holland's character.[30] He was grateful for the chance to "tie up some loose ends" for his incarnation of Parker, and described working with Holland and Maguire as an opportunity to have "deeper conversations... about our experiences with the character".[36] Parker ends up saving MJ during the climax in a similar way to how he fails to save Stacy inThe Amazing Spider-Man 2; McKenna and co-writerErik Sommers credited directorJon Watts for coming up with the idea while they watched a pre-visualization reel showcasing ideas for the climactic battle.[15]
Tobey Maguire asPeter Parker / Spider-Man: An alternate version of Parker who uses organic webbing instead of web shooters like his alternate counterparts.[37][32][33] The other Spider-Men refer to him as "Peter-Two",[34] while Marvel's official website named him the "Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man".[35] Maguire wanted the film to reveal only minimal details about what happened to his character after the events of Raimi'sSpider-Man 3 (2007).[30]
During production on the filmSpider-Man: Homecoming (2017), two sequels were being planned byMarvel Studios andSony Pictures.[52] In June 2017, starTom Holland explained that each film would take place during a different year of high school forPeter Parker / Spider-Man, with the third being set during the character's senior year.[53] Marvel Studios PresidentKevin Feige noted in July 2019 that the third film would feature "a Peter Parker story that has never been done before on film" due to the ending of the second film,Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), which publicly reveals that Parker is Spider-Man.[54]
Development on third and fourth MCUSpider-Man films had begun by August 2019, with Sony hoping Holland and directorJon Watts would return for both;[55] Holland was contracted to return for one more film, while Watts had completed his two-film deal and would need to sign on for any more films.[56][57] By then, Marvel Studios and its parent companyThe Walt Disney Studios had spent several months discussing expanding their deal with Sony. The existing deal had Marvel and Feige produce the Spider-Man films for Sony and receive 5% of their revenue. Sony wanted to expand the deal to include more films while keeping the same terms of the original agreement. Disney expressed concern with Feige's workload producing theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise already and asked for a 25–50% stake in any future films Feige produced for Sony.[55][58][57] Unable to come to an agreement, Sony announced that it would be moving forward on the next Spider-Man film without Feige or Marvel's involvement. Their statement acknowledged that this could change in the future, thanked Feige for his work on the first two films, and said they appreciated "the path [Feige] has helped put us on, which we will continue."[58]Chris McKenna andErik Sommers were writing the screenplay for the third film by the time of Sony's announcement, after also doing so forFar From Home, but Watts was receiving offers to direct large films for other studios instead of returning to the franchise, including potentially working on a different property for Marvel Studios and Feige.[57]
In September 2019, Sony Pictures Entertainment chairmanTony Vinciquerra said that "for the moment the door is closed" on Spider-Man returning to the MCU and confirmed that the character would be integrated with Sony's own shared universe—Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU)—moving forward. Responding to backlash from fans following the announcement, Vinciquerra added that "the Marvel people are terrific people, we have great respect for them, but on the other hand we have some pretty terrific people of our own. [Feige] didn't do all the work ... we're pretty capable of doing what we have to do here."[59] However, after this fan reaction continued at Disney's biennial conventionD23, and at the urging of Holland who personally spoke toDisney CEOBob Iger andSony Pictures Motion Picture Group chairmanTom Rothman,[60] the companies returned to negotiations.[61] Sony and Disney announced a new agreement at the end of September which would allow Marvel Studios and Feige to produce another MCU Spider-Man film for Sony withAmy Pascal, scheduled for July 16, 2021.[4] Disney was reportedly co-financing 25% of the film in exchange for 25% of its profits, while retaining the character's merchandising rights.[4][61] Feige said he was "thrilled" that the character would remain in the MCU and said "all of us at Marvel Studios are very excited that we get to keep working" on the franchise. The agreement also allowed Holland's Spider-Man to appear in a future Marvel Studios film as well as crossing over to Sony's own shared universe,[4] with the latter interaction described as "a 'call and answer' between the two franchises as they acknowledge details between the two in what would loosely be described as a shared detailed universe". Sony described their previous films with Marvel Studios as a "great collaboration", and said "our mutual desire to continue was equal to that of the many fans."[61] At the time of the new agreement, Watts was in final negotiations to direct the film.[62]
Discussing the new deal in early October, Iger attributed it to the efforts of Holland as well as the fan response to the end of the original deal. He felt that both Sony and Disney had initially forgotten that "there are other people who actually matter" while they were negotiating.[63] Rothman said the deal was a "win-win-win. A win for Sony, a win for Disney, a win for the fans." He felt the initial reports on the negotiations did not necessarily line up with the actual discussions that were taking place, and said the final deal would have eventuated without the reports and fan discourse.[64] By the middle of the month,Zendaya was confirmed to be reprising her role asMichelle "MJ" Jones-Watson from the previous films in the sequel.[8][9]
McKenna and Sommers began working on the script in earnest by December 2019.[30][15] They considered featuringKraven the Hunter as the film's main antagonist,[30] an idea that Watts had expressed interest in andpitched to Holland,[65][66] but was abandoned because Sony wanted to first feature the character ina solo film before any other projects.[67] The plot subsequently gravitated towards a story idea similar to the filmIt's a Wonderful Life (1946) in which Parker makes a wish regarding his now public identity. That idea introduced Dr.Stephen Strange to the story, and the duo began exploring the idea of themultiverse and potentially revisiting characters from pastSpider-Man films. Initially they thought this would just be a tease for fans, but they ultimately decided to fully integrate the past characters into the plot. Sommers said, "Once it was collectively decided that we were going to take this swing, we had to commit and we had to do what was right for the story." They optimistically wrote for all the characters they wanted in the film before those actors were confirmed to be returning.[30] Initial drafts of the film included every major character from pastSpider-Man films returning, but this was narrowed down because the pair felt they had "bit[ten] off more than [they] could chew". The duo worked hard to prevent the film from just being "a bunch of fan service" by using the returning characters to help tell Peter Parker's story instead of just creating "curtain calls for everybody".[15]Norman Osborn / Green Goblin fromSam Raimi'sSpider-Man trilogy was not the main villain of the film in the first version of the script, despite still appearing as an antagonist; after the film lost "other characters", McKenna and Sommers concluded that the Green Goblin "had to be" the main villain and rewrote the script to give him a second chance to replicate his actions in the filmSpider-Man (2002), but in a darker way related to Holland's version of Spider-Man.[68]America Chavez had been considered to appear in the film at one point to serve in the sorcerer's apprentice-type role that eventually became part ofNed Leeds's role in the film; she would go on to appear in the MCU filmDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).[69]
By the end of 2019, filming was expected to begin in mid-2020.[70] By March 2020, McKenna and Sommers were still working on the first draft of the script.[15] In April, Sony rescheduled the film's release to November 5, 2021, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[71] Although the film was originally meant to be set after the events ofMultiverse of Madness, release date changes meant the film would be released first which meant aspects of the plot had to be rewritten,[72] including Strange no longer having firsthand knowledge of the multiverse. McKenna felt this made it "even more frightening, to start fooling around with these things, because it's the fear of the unknown".[15] In June,Marisa Tomei confirmed that she would return asMay Parker along with Watts as director. She was hopeful that May's work as a community organizer would be featured in the film.[29] Also in June,Charlie Cox, who portrayedMatt Murdock / Daredevil inMarvel Television'sNetflix series, was contacted by Feige about reprising his role in upcoming Marvel Studios projects starting with appearances inNo Way Home and theDisney+ seriesShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022).[73][74] While working on the script, McKenna and Sommers discussed the possibility of giving Murdock a larger role in the film than they had originally planned, though the duo ultimately decided against it to avoid shifting the film's focus away from Parker.[75] The next month, Holland said production was planned to take place from late 2020 to February 2021,[76] and Sony shifted the film's release date to December 17, 2021.[77]Tony Revolori was also confirmed to be reprising his role asFlash Thompson.[28] In early October,Jacob Batalon andBenedict Cumberbatch were set to reprise their MCU roles of Ned Leeds and Strange, whileJamie Foxx was set to return asMax Dillon / Electro fromMarc Webb's filmThe Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), with filming beginning later in the month.[16][11] Immediately prior to the beginning of filming, several other key actors in the film had yet to sign on. According to Holland, the film needed "all or none" of the actors to be produced.[72]
The production moved to Atlanta by October 25, with Holland, Batalon, and Zendaya joining forprincipal photography,[84][85] after Holland finished shooting the Sony filmUncharted (2022) two days earlier.[86][78][87]Mauro Fiore served as cinematographer on the film,[88] replacingSeamus McGarvey,[89] who had to leave the production after contractingCOVID-19. McGarvey also had a conflict with the filmCyrano (2021) following the third MCUSpider-Man film's pandemic-caused production delay,[90] as principal photography was originally planned to start in July 2020.[91][92][76] Shooting in Atlanta occurred atTrilith Studios, with strict safety measures in place on the soundstages to prevent exposure to COVID-19.[93] To reduce interactions between cast and crew members on set during the pandemic, the production reportedly relied on "innovative new technology" that scanned actors into a visual effects system that can apply make-up and costumes to actors during post-production.[94] A light system was also in-place to signal when the cast could take off their masks for filming and when masks would be required for the cast and crew members to wear while set work was being done.[95] Cumberbatch began shooting his scenes in Atlanta by late November, before beginning work onMultiverse of Madness which began filming that month in London.[96][97] Filming ran for seven-to-eight weeks using the working titlesSerenity Now andThe November Project, before a break during the 2020Christmas season.[98][87][99]
By December 2020,Alfred Molina was set to reprise his role asOtto Octavius / Doctor Octopus from Raimi's filmSpider-Man 2 (2004),[24] withTobey Maguire reprising his role asPeter Parker / Spider-Man from Raimi'sSpider-Man trilogy andAndrew Garfield returning asPeter Parker / Spider-Man from Webb'sThe Amazing Spider-Man films.[30] Acameo appearance of Maguire and Garfield alongside Holland as their respective Spider-Men had previously been considered for theSony Pictures Animation filmSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), but was cut then because Sony felt at that moment that it would be too risky and confusing.[100] At that time,Collider reported that Maguire and Garfield would appear in the film alongsideKirsten Dunst asMary Jane Watson from Raimi'sSpider-Man film trilogy andEmma Stone asGwen Stacy from theAmazing Spider-Man films.[101] The first draft of the script included other characters from theSpider-Man andAmazing Spider-Man films, such asSally Field'sMay Parker, but the writers felt that including too many characters would negatively affect the story.[15] The rumors about returning actors led to speculation and commentary, with Richard Newby ofThe Hollywood Reporter believing that a crossover-style film could "lessen the impact" of Sony's successful animatedInto the Spider-Verse film.[102] His colleague Graeme McMillan felt a "Spider-Verse" crossover would allow Marvel to "clean up some loose ends ... and fulfill some fan dreams in the process", especially if Marvel and Sony's negotiations meant that they wanted to separate Spider-Man from the MCU.[103]/Film's Hoai-Tran Bui feared the film was becoming over-crowded and wished that Holland could lead a Spider-Man film without a "bigger A-list star showing him the ropes",[104] while Adam B. Vary ofVariety noted that these reports were not confirmed and questioned whether the returning actors would be making more than cameo appearances.[105] Shortly after, Holland denied that Maguire and Garfield would appear in the film.[87] Many of the actors returning from previousSpider-Man films were brought to set in cloaks to help prevent their involvements in the film from leaking.[106] Around Christmas 2020, McKenna and Sommers rewrote the introductions of Maguire and Garfield as well as much of the third act in time for those actors to start filming. They had not been able to focus on those scenes earlier because they were busy during filming of much of the first and second acts in the previous months.[15]
Feige confirmed in December 2020 that the film would have connections toMultiverse of Madness.[107] A month later he discussed the fact that the film's title had not yet been announced, acknowledging that it was being referred to by some asSpider-Man 3 and revealing that Marvel was referring to it asHomecoming 3 internally.[108] Cox had shot material for the film by then.[40] An Atlanta set photo indicated that the film would be set during the Christmas season.[109] Filming occurred atFrederick Douglass High School from January 22 to 24.[110][111] The next month, Holland described it as "the most ambitious standalone superhero" film,[98] and again denied the rumors that Maguire and Garfield would appear.[112][7] At the end of February, the film's title was revealed to beSpider-Man: No Way Home, continuing the naming convention of the past two films of featuring "home" in the title.[113] Filming took place atMidtown High School from March 19 to 21.[110][114] TheAtlanta Public Schools system had stopped allowing buildings in the district for use as filming locations because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but gave this film an exception since both the Frederick Douglass and Midtown schools were previously used as filming locations inHomecoming.[110]Hannibal Buress was revealed to be reprising his role as gym teacher Coach Wilson,[114] with Buress releasing amusic video in August 2021 revealing that he had filmed scenes in Atlanta.[43] Holland saidNo Way Home had more "visceral" fight sequences than the previous two films, with more hand-to-hand combat.[26] Filmingwrapped on March 26, 2021.[115][116]
In April 2021, Molina confirmed that he was appearing in the film, explaining that he had been told not to talk about his role in the film during production but he realized that his appearance had been widely rumored and reported on.[25] Later that month,J. B. Smoove revealed that he was returning asJulius Dell fromFar From Home,[45] while Cox stated that he was not involved with the film.[117] In early May, Garfield denied that he had been asked to appear in the film, but later said "never say never",[118][119] whileAngourie Rice was revealed to be returning asBetty Brant in the film, reprising her role from previous MCU media.[42] Later that month, Stone denied her involvement in the film.[120]
Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group PresidentSanford Panitch acknowledged in May that there had been confusion and frustration from fans regarding the relationship between the SSU and the MCU but stated that there was a plan to clarify this. He believed it was already "getting a little more clear for people [as to] where we're headed" at that time and added that the release ofNo Way Home would reveal more of this plan. Vary commented that the apparent introduction of multiverse elements inNo Way Home could be what would allow Holland to appear in both the MCU and the SSU.[121] The official trailer forNo Way Home confirmed the involvements ofJon Favreau asHarold "Happy" Hogan andBenedict Wong asWong, reprising their roles from past MCU films,[18] as well asJ. K. Simmons asJ. Jonah Jameson fromFar From Home (Simmons previously played a different version of the character in the Raimi trilogy as well).[46] It was also confirmed that the characters Electro and Green Goblin would appear in the film,[18][19][122] with the implication that this incarnation of Green Goblin would beWillem Dafoe's version from the Raimi films.[122] In September 2021, Garfield again denied he was in the film, saying, "No matter what I say... it's either going to be really disappointing for people or it's going to be really exciting".[123] Garfield later described his denials as "rather stressful but also weirdly enjoyable".[124]
In early October, many commentators expectedTom Hardy to reprise his roles asEddie Brock andVenom from the SSU filmsVenom (2018) andVenom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), after theLet There Be Carnagemid-credits scene showed the characters being transported from their universe (the SSU) to the MCU.[125][126][127] Feige said there was a lot of coordination between theLet There Be Carnage andNo Way Home teams to create the scene,[128] which was directed by Watts during the production ofNo Way Home.[15] Hardy ultimately appeared as Brock in the film's mid-credits scene,[41] though there had been discussions about integrating him into the film's final battle,[15] as well as bonding Holland's Parker to asymbiote.[129] Later that month,Empire's issue onNo Way Home stated that the film would include the returns of Doctor Octopus, Electro, Dafoe's Green Goblin,Thomas Haden Church'sFlint Marko / Sandman from Raimi's filmSpider-Man 3 (2007) andRhys Ifans'sCurt Connors / Lizard from Webb's filmThe Amazing Spider-Man (2012).[130] Church's role in the film was originally meant to be larger, counting with a subplot of his own about Sandman's relationship with his daughter Penny (who was previously portrayed byPerla Haney-Jardine), but the COVID-19 pandemic and the script being rewritten led to his role's reduction, only providing scratch dialogue and some motion-capture at aSan Antonio,Texas parking lot.[131] Watts said these were still unconfirmed rumors and was in "no hurry to confirm or deny appearances" of the characters,[130] while Feige said the rumors were fun for fans but audiences should not expect them all to come true.[132] The film's second trailer confirmed the involvements of Dafoe, Church, and Ifans.[21]Paul Giamatti'sAleksei Sytsevich / Rhino fromThe Amazing Spider-Man 2 andJake Gyllenhaal'sQuentin Beck / Mysterio fromFar From Home were also considered for inclusion, with McKenna and Sommers playing with the idea of aSinister Six forming; Rhino, Mysterio, and the Sinister Six ultimately did not appear in the film,[133] thougharchival footage of Gyllenhaal as Beck fromFar From Home was used inNo Way Home.[49] A cameo appearance by the version ofPeter Parker / Spider-Man fromInsomniac Games'sSpider-Man video game series was also considered forNo Way Home.[129]Concept art of Doctor Octopus forNo Way Home revealed that in addition to his original outfit fromSpider-Man 2, there were plans for the character to wear a green-and-yellow comics-accurate costume in the film, but the idea was scrapped.[134]
At the beginning of November,Jorge Lendeborg Jr. revealed that he would be reprising his role asJason Ionello fromHomecoming andFar From Home in a similar role to those films that would have "very little to do with the core" story.[135] By the middle of the month, additional photography had been completed for the film.[136] Pascal describedNo Way Home as "the culmination of theHomecoming trilogy",[137] andArian Moayed revealed that he had a role in the film,[138] playingDepartment of Damage Control (DODC) agentCleary.[49] At that time, Dunst confirmed that she would not appear in the film,[139] but also stated that she would "never say no" to reprising her role as Mary Jane Watson.[140] In mid-December,Martin Starr was confirmed to be appearing asRoger Harrington in the film, reprising his role from previous MCU media.[44] A teaser trailer forMultiverse of Madness was included at the end of the film as a post-credits scene,[141] before being released online shortly afterNo Way Home's theatrical release.[142]Jeffrey Ford and Leigh Folsom Boyd served as the film's editors.[143] The visual effects were provided byCinesite, Clear Angle Studios, Crafty Apes,Digital Domain, Folks VFX,Framestore,Luma Pictures, Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies, Mr. X, Perception, Secret Lab,Sony Pictures Imageworks, and SSVFX.[144] The scene of Holland's Parker's first confrontation with the Green Goblin in Hogan's apartment went through several different iterations, including one that featuredMichael Keaton'sAdrian Toomes / Vulture fromHomecoming, and another in which the Goblin bombs Hogan's apartment with May still inside, presumably killing her in a different manner than how it was depicted in the final film.[145][146][129]
In November 2020,Homecoming andFar From Home composerMichael Giacchino was confirmed to be returning forNo Way Home.[147][148] The film's score album was released digitally on December 17, 2021, with a track titled "Arachnoverture" released as asingle on December 9 and another titled "Exit Through the Lobby" released the following day.[149] Giacchino references themes from previousSpider-Man films byHans Zimmer,James Horner,Christopher Young,[150] andDanny Elfman, as well as his own themes fromDoctor Strange (2016).[151] Regarding the use of these other themes, Giacchino did not want their use to be fan service and finding ways to include them in a "very targeted" way. He and Watts were "very much in alignment in terms of when to use them and when not to use them for their maximum effect".[152]
In May 2020, Sony entered a promotional partnership withHyundai Motor Group to showcase their new models and technologies in the film;[153] Hyundai later released a commercial, titled "Only Way Home", that was directed by Watts to promote the film and theIoniq 5 electric-poweredSUV (which appears in the film along with theHyundai Tucson), with Holland and Batalon starring.[154] In late February 2021, Holland, Batalon, and Zendaya released three stills featuring their characters from the film alongside fake logos with the titlesSpider-Man: Phone Home,Spider-Man: Home-Wrecker, andSpider-Man: Home Slice, respectively.[155] The film's official title was announced the next day with a video showing Holland, Batalon, and Zendaya leaving Watts's office (where they supposedly received the fake titles). Batalon and Zendaya note that Holland could not be trusted with the actual title since he had "accidentally" revealed the second film's title. The video ends on a whiteboard showing the film's true title, among various other titles featuring the word "home" that were apparently considered.[113] Jennifer Bisset ofCNET suggested the fake titles and logos could represent the villains in the film, including Foxx's Electro and Molina's Doctor Octopus,[155] whileTheWrap's Umberto Gonzalez called them funny "bait-and-switch fakes", and noted thePhone Home title referenced a line fromE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982).[156] Gregory Lawrence ofCollider felt theHome-Wrecker title could point to the film feeling like a 1990sthriller film, and said the fake titles were a "solid goof" to excite fans. He also compared the stills to the "terrifying/awe-inspiring wonder" ofSteven Spielberg films andThe Goonies (1985),[157] while Germain Lussier fromio9 said they gave off "subtleNational Treasure,Indiana Jones vibes".[158] In July 2021, Marvel revealed various toys and figurines for the film, includingFunko Pops,Marvel Legends figures, andLego sets.[159]
At the end of August 2021, when asked about the lack of trailer and official images or descriptions for the film, Feige stated that the film was not being "any more or less secret than any of our other projects" and reaffirmed that a trailer would be released before the film's premiere in theaters.[160] Though Sony handles the marketing for the film, their marketing team is in coordination with Disney's to ensure each knows when the other is releasing MCU-related content so it is a "win-win for everybody".[161] On August 22, an apparent leak of the first trailer was shared on social media,[162][163][164] whichThe Hollywood Reporter deemed "legitimate" after Sony worked to have various copies of the trailer taken down.[162] Adam Chitwood atCollider noted the built up online "fervor" surrounding the trailer and felt that it would not be able to "live up to the hype fans have built up in their minds". Chitwood continued that the other 2021 film releases from Marvel Studios had not seen a similar level of demand asNo Way Home, pointing out that all of the rumored castings had positioned the film to be a "once-in-a-lifetime moviegoing experience" if they were accurate. He also wondered if Sony was wary of committing marketing that noted the film's December 2021 release date amid the resurgence of theCOVID-19 Delta variant.[165]
The film'steaser trailer was officially released on August 23 during Sony'sCinemaCon 2021 panel.[19]Entertainment Weekly's Devan Coggan noted that the trailer confirmed the multiverse's role in the film, including elements from the Raimi and Webb films,[5] while Ethan Anderton from/Film called the trailer "nothing short of thrilling" since it confirmed many of the previous rumors about the film.[166] Austen Goslin atPolygon conversely felt much of what had been rumored did not get revealed in the trailer, feeling that the rumors were either false or Marvel was still intending to keep them a secret.[167] Anderton's colleague Joshua Meyer called the trailer "a doozy... packed with jaw-dropping moments" and noted how the film would be adapting the "One More Day" comic book storyline;[168] Newby had previously noted the apparent adaption of "One More Day" and "One Moment in Time" storylines following the reveal of Cumberbatch's casting.[102] Many commentators noted the possible teases of Spider-Man villains Sandman and the Lizard in the trailer as an indication of theSinister Six forming in the film.[46][122][169] Vinnie Mancuso atCollider was excited to see the return of Molina and the potential for Dafoe's involvement, but called it a "cheap pop" since it was doing "a disservice to the stories you're trying to tell in the present by reminding the audience how much better things used to be". He also felt the trailer played into "Marvel's ongoing reluctance to let Tom Holland's Spider-Man star in his own Spider-Man movies" since the trailer gave Parker "zero memorable moments" among all of its elements.[170] The trailer had 355.5million global views in its first 24 hours, becoming the most viewed trailer in that time period. This surpassed the record ofAvengers: Endgame (289million views) and more than doubled the views for theSpider-Man: Far From Home trailer (135 million). It also generated the largest 24-hour social media conversation volume of all-time globally with 4.5 million mentions, made up of 2.91 million in the United States, and 1.5 million internationally; these both exceededAvengers: Endgame's mentions (1.94 million in the United States, 1.38 million internationally).[171]
The second official trailer premiered at a fan screening at theRegal Sherman Oaks theater in Los Angeles on November 16, 2021.[172] Goslin felt the trailer "reveals the full extent of Marvel's Spider-Man multiverse",[173] while his colleague Matt Patches noted the missing appearance of Maguire's or Garfield's Spider-Man in the trailer but felt that it was "entirely possible the actors appear inNo Way Home".[174] Jason Robbins ofCollider was disappointed by the trailer, saying it was "what we expected, but less", since it just showed the returning villains and had no confirmation of Maguire or Garfield or "further insight into the multiverse".[47] Some commentators said parts of the trailer appeared as though Maguire and Garfield had been edited out of the footage, such as a shot in which the Lizard appears to be struck by an invisible force.[175][176] On November 24, Sony began releasing several videos onTikTok as part of theirThe Daily Bugleviral marketing campaign featuring Simmons and Rice.[177] In December 2021, the first minute of the film premiered exclusively onLate Night with Seth Meyers,[178] while anewsstand forThe Daily Bugle was set up in New York City in partnership withLiberty Mutual to promote the film.[179] Other marketing partners include the video gamesFortnite andPUBG Mobile, which featured special in-game Spider-Man themed props and costumes,Asus, whoseRepublic of Gamers (ROG) laptop is used by Ned in the film,Xiaomi,iQOO,Continental AG, andTampico Beverages. The film had a total promotional marketing value of $202million.[180]
Spider-Man: No Way Home had its world premiere atFox Village Theatre inHollywood, Los Angeles, on December 13, 2021.[181][182] The film was released in the United Kingdom and Ireland on December 15,[183] and in the United States on December 17, where it opened in 4,325 theaters including inRealD 3D[184] andIMAX and other premium large formats.[185] It was previously set for release on July 16, 2021,[4] but was pushed back to November 5,[71] before it was further pushed back to the December 2021 date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[77] It is part ofPhase Four of the MCU.[186]
In August 2021, Sony and CJ 4DPlex announced a deal to release 15 of Sony's films over three years in theScreenX format, includingNo Way Home.[187] In November 2021, the film was reported to be getting a theatrical release in China, making it the first Phase Four film to do so asBlack Widow,Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, andEternals were not released in the country,[188] though as of February 2022[update], there had been no release date,[189] in part because of diplomatic tensions between the country and the United States,[190][189] which stemmed in part fromthe U.S. diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.[190] In May 2022, Chinese authorities had reportedly requested for theStatue of Liberty to be removed from the film for it to be released in the country, but Sony refused.[191]
In March 2024, Sony announced that all of their live-action Spider-Man films would be re-released in theaters as part of Columbia Pictures' 100th anniversary celebration.Spider-Man: No Way Home was re-released on June 3, 2024.[192]
Theatrical release poster forThe More Fun Stuff Version. It was considered an improvement from the original poster since it featured all the characters previously kept secret with the marketing of the original release.[193][194][195]
Anextended cut of the film, subtitledThe More Fun Stuff Version, was announced in June 2022. The re-release celebrated 60 years of Spider-Man in comics and 20 years ofSpider-Man in film,[196] and featured approximately 13 minutes of additional and deleted scenes. The additions included: an introduction by Holland, Maguire, and Garfield; additional scenes of Parker and May being interrogated by the Department of Damage Control; the scene with Holland's brother Harry as a thief that was cut from the original release; additional scenes of Parker at school; Brant interviewing Parker, his teachers, and his classmates;Daily Bugle reports of Parker's first day back at school and the arrivals of Dillon and Marko; additional scenes in the basement of the New York Sanctum; a scene featuring May, Parker, and the villains in an elevator while on the way to Hogan's apartment; an additional scene with Murdock and Hogan; additional scenes of the three Parkers; and a new post-credits scene, replacing the teaser trailer ofMultiverse of Madness, which showcases the effects of Strange's second spell.[197]
The More Fun Stuff Version was released in theaters beginning August 31, 2022, in Indonesia, followed by the United States and Canada, among other countries, on September 1, and later in a number of other markets through October 6.[198][199] The poster for the extended cut was considered an improvement on the original release's marketing, since it was able to feature all of the characters who were previously kept secret in the lead up to the film's release.[193][194][195] Shrishty Mishra atCollider said it was an "Avengers-style poster [with] a perfect blend of multiverse feels, combined with the 'Where's Waldo' effect".[193] Anthony Lund ofMovieWeb called it an "epic poster that [the fans] have been calling out for".[200]ComicBook.com's Russ Burlingame said the poster was what "we've all been waiting for" and "a big change in the way [Sony] initially promoted the movie" since they "continued to play coy" on the cameos after the film had released.[195]
Spider-Man: No Way Home was released bySony Pictures Home Entertainment ondigital download on March 15, 2022,[201] and onUltra HD Blu-ray,Blu-ray, andDVD on April 12. Digitally, the film was also available in a three-film bundle including all of Marvel Studios' Spider-Man films, as well as an eight-film bundle including Holland, Maguire, and Garfield's films.[202] Sony moved the digital release up to March 15 from March 22, following Blu-ray versions of the film being leaked to torrent sites.[203][201] The home media includes a gag reel and various behind-the-scenes featurettes, including two roundtable discussions: one with Dafoe, Molina, and Foxx, and another with Holland, Maguire, and Garfield.[204] It has the most pre-release digital purchases onVudu, surpassing the purchases forEndgame. To announce the home media release dates, Sony and the film's social media accounts posted a photo of Holland, Maguire, and Garfield recreating a popular meme from the1967Spider-Man television series of multiple Spider-Men pointing at one another; the tweets of the image garnered more than 10,000 retweets within minutes of being posted.[205] Within its first week of release, the film sold over 2.1million digital units in the United States, equaling $42million; this was a record for a film's first week available on digital release.[206] It was also the highest-selling film on physical media for 2022 in the US according toThe NPD Group.[207]
The film was released onStarz following its theatrical and home media releases, the last film released by Sony with an exclusive limitedstreaming video on demand (SVOD) release on Starz. Following films would be released onNetflix after their theatrical and home media releases, through 2026.[208][209] Additionally, Sony signed a deal with Disney in April 2021 giving the latter access to Sony's legacy content, including past Spider-Man films and Marvel content in the SSU, to stream onDisney+ andHulu and appear on Disney's linear television networks. Disney's access to Sony's titles to be released from 2022 through 2026 would come following their availability on Netflix.[210][211] In February 2022, Sony expanded their pre-existing deal withWarnerMedia for making their films available onHBO Max andHBO across Central and Eastern Europe, which includedNo Way Home.[212]The More Fun Stuff Version was released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on digital on October 18, 2022, asSpider-Man: No Way Home – Extended Cut,[213] when it also began streaming on Starz.[214]
Spider-Man: No Way Home grossed $814.9million in the United States and Canada, and $1.107billion in other territories for a worldwide total of $1.921billion.[3] It became thehighest-grossing film of 2021,[215] thesixth-highest-grossing film of all time,[216] thethird-highest-grossing film in the United States and Canada,[217] the highest-grossingSpider-Man film, and the highest-grossing film released by Sony.[218]No Way Home is also the first film sinceStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) to gross over $1billion,[219] becoming the third-fastest to reach that milestone and the first to do so during the COVID-19 pandemic.[220] It surpassedJumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) to become Sony Pictures' highest-grossing film in North America.[218] Based on a final projected worldwide gross of $1.75billion (a figure that was surpassed),Deadline Hollywood estimated the film's final net profit at $610million, accounting for production budgets, marketing, talent participations, and other costs versus box office grosses and home media revenues.[221] It returned the global revenue ofCineworld, the world's second-largest cinema operator, to 88% of 2019 levels.[222]
In the United States and Canada,No Way Home earned $121.85million (which included $50million from its Thursday night previews) on its opening day, becoming the second-highest opening film afterEndgame ($157.4million) and the highest-opening film for a December release. In its opening weekend, it grossed $260million, surpassingInfinity War ($257.7million) to become thesecond-highest domestic box office opening of all time.[223] As of January 9, 2022[update], an estimated 54.4million people have seenNo Way Home in theaters in the United States and Canada.[224] The film remained at the top of the box office for three additional weekends until it was dethroned in its fifth weekend byScream.[225][226][224][227] In its sixth weekend of release,No Way Home reclaimed the top spot at the box office.[228] The film once again held onto the number one spot in its seventh weekend of release.[229] In March 2022, the film surpassed $800million in the United States and Canada, becoming the third film to do so afterStar Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) andEndgame.Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian called the film "arguably the most important movie to the movie theater industry ever", as it helped show the viability of the movie theater industry and the benefit of theatrical release windows while the industry recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.[206] The film dropped to the 11th spot on its 15th weekend.[230]No Way Home returned to first place at the box office, earning $1.8million on the first day of the release ofThe More Fun Stuff Version,[231] and went on to finish third with $6.5million over the four-dayLabor Day weekend, finishing behindTop Gun: Maverick (2022) andBullet Train (2022).[232] It was the highest opening weekend box office gross for a re-released MCU film, surpassingEndgame ($5.5million) andFar From Home ($4million).[233]
No Way Home earned $43.6million from 15 markets on its opening day, with Sony holding the best opening-day record in South Korea, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Italy, and Taiwan. In South Korea, the film grossed $5.28million on its opening day, thereby beatingFar From Home's opening day in the country by over 11% and the biggest day-one figure for any film during the pandemic. In the United Kingdom, the film beatNo Time to Die's opening box office record at £7.6million ($10.1million).[234] In India, the film's box office on its opening day was₹320 million (equivalent to₹360 million or US$4.2 million in 2023) to₹345 million (equivalent to₹390 million or US$4.6 million in 2023), beatingEndgame and the Indian filmSooryavanshi (2021).[235] In its five-day opening weekend, the film grossed $340.8million from 60 markets.[236] InLatin America as of January 16, 2022, it became the all-time highest-grossing film in Mexico ($72million), and the second all-time highest in Brazil ($50.4million),Central America ($12.6million) and Ecuador ($7.9million).[237] As of February 27, 2022[update], the film's largest markets are the United Kingdom ($127.3million), Mexico ($76.2million), Australia ($67.9million), France ($65.2million), and South Korea ($63.1million).[238]
Tickets went on sale the midnight of November 29, 2021, with several ticket websites such asFandango andAMC Theatres crashing due to the high influx of users attempting to purchase tickets.[239] Ticket sales on Fandango surpassed those forBlack Widow in just two hours, and by the end of the day it became the best first-day advance ticket sale sinceEndgame,[240] while also surpassing the 24-hour ticket sales ofInfinity War,Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017),Far From Home,The Rise of Skywalker andRogue One (2016).[241]No Way Home had the second-highest one-day ticket sales on AMC, with CEOAdam Aron attributing this to Spider-Man-themednon-fungible tokens (NFTs).[241]
The film also set records in Mexico with $7million in the first-day ticket sale, which was 40% aboveEndgame. In the United Kingdom, the film outsoldNo Time to Die three times in the same twelve-day span before their release, while Brazil's ticket sale was 5% aboveEndgame at the same point. The film also passed the presale records ofThe Rise of Skywalker in Poland andNo Time to Die in Portugal. Other markets with the best presale records include Spain, Brazil, and Central America.[242]
Thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 93%, with an average score of 7.9/10, based on 432 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "A bigger, bolderSpider-Man sequel,No Way Home expands the franchise's scope and stakes without losing sight of its humor and heart."[243] OnMetacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 71 out of 100, based on 60 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[244] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film a rare "A+" grade on an A+ to F scale, the first live-action Spider-Man film and the fourth MCU film overall to earn the score afterThe Avengers (2012),Black Panther (2018), andAvengers: Endgame.[223]PostTrak reported 96% of audience members gave it a positive score, with 91% saying they would definitely recommend it.[223]
Amelia Emberwing ofIGN gave the film 8 out of 10, stating that its "impact on the universe as a whole, as well as the overall emotional beats, all feel earned" while praising the performances of Dafoe, Molina, and Foxx.[245] Pete Hammond ofDeadline Hollywood praised Watts's direction and wrote, "Holland, Zendaya, and Batalon are a priceless trio, and the various villains and 'others' who pop in and out make this pure movie fun of the highest order. Fans will be in heaven".[246] Peter Debruge ofVariety praised Garfield's and Maguire's performances and felt the film "provides enough resolution for the past two decades of Spider-Man adventures that audiences who've tuned out along the way will be rewarded for giving this one a shot".[32] Writing forDen of Geek, Don Kaye gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, for its action sequences, performances and chemistry of the cast, stating that "No Way Home channels the entire spectrum of Spider-Man movies while setting the character on a course all his own at last".[247] Jennifer Bisset ofCNET praised the action sequences, performances, and story, writing: "A Russo Brothers influence can almost be felt ushering Holland's third Spider-Man movie into new, weightier territory. If the character is to become the next Tony Stark, this is the way to etch a few more scars into a more interesting hero's facade. If you came for the biggest movie of the year, you'll definitely leave satisfied".[248]
Kevin Maher ofThe Times gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, saying that it was "As satisfying to watch as it is perilous to discuss", and described it as "a dynamite blast of smarty-pants postmodernism that never once abandons its emotional core."[249] Benjamin Lee ofThe Guardian gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, praising Watts for "bringing back numerous baddies from the previous Spider-Man universes, delivering a propulsive, slickly choreographed adventure that will appease a broad fanbase this Christmas" but feeling that the script "lacks the expected fizz, that sense of shaggy fun struggling to break through a more robotic plot".[250] Kate Erbland ofIndieWire gave the film a "B−", feeling that Watts's work was "satisfying, emotional, and occasionally unsteady". She found that the script spent "far too long dwelling on the machinations of people and plans we already know, throwing in some awkward misdirection and simply delaying the inevitable".[251]The Hollywood Reporter's John DeFore felt that the inclusion of "multiversal mayhem" addressed the "Iron Man-ification of the character" that made Holland-centric films "least fun".[252]
CNN's Brian Lowry praised the humor and wrote, "What's already apparent, though, is that this movie was conceived to be savored and enjoyed. And in what has become an increasingly elusive phenomenon, that will include whoops and hollers from appreciative fans in theaters, whereSpider-Man will first reveal its secrets, and then, more than likely, shows off its legs."[253]Richard Roeper ofChicago Sun-Times gave the film 3 out of 4 and praised the performances of Holland and Zendaya, writing: "There's nothing new or particularly memorable about the serviceable CGI and practical effects, but we remain invested in the outcome in large part because Holland remains the best of the cinematic Spider-Men, while Zendaya lends heart and smarts and warmth to every moment she's onscreen. We continue to root for these two to make it, even if the multiverse isn't always on their side."[254] In contrast, Bilge Ebiri ofVulture called the film "aggressively mediocre", criticizing the action, comedy and writing, but praising Dafoe – describing him as "once again gets to have some modest fun with his character's divided self" – and Garfield, calling him a "genuine delight" and naming his the film's best performance.[255] Hannah Strong ofLittle White Lies criticized the film for poor character development particularly in regard to Holland's Peter Parker character stating, "It's grating seeing the same character repeatedly fail to learn any lessons or show even a modicum of personal growth". The same review was also generally critical of the film prioritizing fan service over good storytelling.[256]
By August 2019, a fourth film in the franchise was in development alongsideNo Way Home.[55] In November 2021, Pascal said there were plans for another trilogy of Spider-Man films starring Holland, with work on the first of those about to begin.[137] The next month, Feige confirmed that he and Pascal, along with Sony and Disney, were actively beginning to develop the story for the nextSpider-Man film following Parker's "momentous decision" at the end ofNo Way Home.[270] He said that ending was a promise to audiences that they would see Holland as a "proper Spider-Man" for the first time, with the character on his own and fighting street-level crime in New York.[271]
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