Nicolas Cage Chooses Andrew Garfield as Best Spider-Man in Ongoing Debate

Few discussions among fans ignite as much passion as the debate over who wears the Spider-Man suit best. Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland each have their dedicated supporters, and every few months, a new voice adds fuel to the fire. This argument has persisted for years and shows no signs of fading.

This time, the voice belongs to someone with a unique perspective. Nicolas Cage, who first voiced Spider-Man Noir in the animated ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ and later portrayed the character in live action in ‘Spider-Noir,’ has weighed in, making his opinion particularly noteworthy, even if his character isn’t technically called Spider-Man.

Cage’s recent comments have resurfaced online, stirring up discussions once again. In an interview with Complex while promoting ‘Spider-Noir’ in late May, Cage named Garfield as his favorite Spider-Man. He praised Garfield as “a marvelous actor” who “did a terrific job,” declaring him “the best Spider-Man in cinema.”

The conversation took a humorous turn when Cage dodged a question about whether he had seen all the Spider-Man films. The interviewer then introduced a “f—, marry, kill” game involving the various Spider-Men, which left Cage looking confused and unfamiliar with the concept.

Despite the lighthearted nature of the exchange, Cage consistently highlighted Garfield as his top choice. He noted that among the younger portrayals of Peter Parker, Garfield truly stood out. What began as a playful moment evolved into a heartfelt tribute.

Garfield’s journey as Peter Parker has been quite interesting. He starred in two solo films, ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ and ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2,’ which faced significant criticism, especially the latter. However, commentary on his performances has generally been positive across all three of his appearances.

In recent years, Garfield’s reputation has improved, particularly following his return in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ where all three live-action Spider-Men shared the screen. Cage’s endorsement further supports the notion that Garfield’s portrayal was better than the films surrounding it. Additionally, Cage is a well-known comic book fan, adding weight to his praise.

Cage’s role in ‘Spider-Noir’ is unique. He plays Ben Reilly, a down-on-his-luck private investigator in 1930s New York who also happens to be the city’s only superhero. The series exists in a universe separate from the MCU or the Spider-Verse films.

It premiered on MGM+ on May 25 and became available on Prime Video on May 27, with all eight episodes accessible in both black-and-white and color. Developed by Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot, the series is executive produced by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Amy Pascal. Critics and audiences have responded positively, with a 92% critics score and a 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The series also garnered 11 Emmy nominations, the highest of any Prime Video series in 2026. However, Prime Video decided against ordering a second season. Cage expressed to Deadline that one season felt ideal for him, as he had conveyed everything he wanted to with this pop-art interpretation of the hero.

Cage’s remarks come as Spider-Man continues to dominate box office discussions. ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ featuring Holland, has emerged as the biggest release of the year so far, setting domestic opening records this summer. This makes Cage’s choice of someone other than the current MCU star particularly noteworthy.

It also serves as a reminder that each actor in the role has contributed something unique. Maguire delivered an earnest trilogy, Garfield provided an emotional and witty interpretation, and Holland infused youthful energy into the character. Online reactions have been predictably divided, with some celebrating Garfield for not receiving the recognition he deserved, while others argue that Maguire or Holland should still hold the title.

One reviewer described ‘Spider-Noir’ as the best project from Sony’s Spider-Man Universe that does not feature Holland, commending Cage for channeling his passion for cinema and comics. This adds another layer to Cage’s choice: it comes from an actor who has engaged with the character from multiple angles. Regardless of where you stand, Cage’s admiration for Garfield’s performance highlights how deeply it resonates.

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