Andrew Garfield Names the Best Live-Action Spider-Man and Ranks Himself Last

The debate over who is the best live-action Spider-Man has persisted for years, with fans frequently aligning themselves with their favorite Peter Parker. This week, one of the three actors at the heart of this discussion shared his thoughts.

Three actors have donned the Spider-Man suit on the big screen: Tobey Maguire, who starred in Sam Raimi’s trilogy from 2002 to 2007; Andrew Garfield, who took on the role in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ in 2012 and its sequel in 2014; and Tom Holland, who joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in ‘Captain America: Civil War’ and has since portrayed the character more frequently than his predecessors.

During a recent appearance on the Capital show to promote his new film ‘Artificial’, Garfield was asked to rank Holland, Maguire, and himself from best to worst—a question that every Spider-Man actor likely dreads. He responded almost instantly.

Garfield placed Maguire first, Holland second, and himself last. He explained that Maguire has always been his top choice because his films were the ones he grew up watching. In drama school, he often practiced Maguire’s lines in front of a mirror.

Garfield was equally generous in his praise for Holland, calling him the perfect fit for the role for his generation and commending his incredible work. By ranking himself last, he demonstrated his characteristic humility in handing the crown to his fellow actors.

Andrew Garfield says he thinks Tobey Maguire is the best live-action Spider-Man actor of all time
He ranked Tom Holland at 2nd and himself at 3rd
(via @CapitalOfficial) https://t.co/Mty3Y9sbha

— CoveredGeekly (@CoveredGeekly) October 9, 2026

Fans of the trio know that Garfield’s admiration for Maguire is well-documented. In October 2024, while promoting ‘We Live in Time’, he named Maguire as his favorite on-screen Spider-Man after Florence Pugh was asked the same question. He reiterated that he practiced being Maguire as a young actor, while also expressing his appreciation for Holland’s contributions.

Garfield has praised Holland on multiple occasions. At a New York screening of ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’, he expressed his admiration for Holland and shared that he has loved Spider-Man since he was three years old. During that event, he speculated that the mysterious Spider-Man signal in the post-credits scene of ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ might belong to Maguire.

The three actors reunited in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ in 2021, creating one of the most celebrated crossover moments in recent blockbuster history. Since then, Garfield has experienced a significant reappraisal of his own films, making his humble ranking all the more notable. Many fans would argue he deserves a higher position.

His response also highlights how each actor has uniquely shaped the character. Maguire’s portrayal is often seen as the definitive take on Peter Parker, while Garfield brought a modern, quippy energy, and Holland’s version is closely tied to the broader MCU.

The interview was part of the promotional tour for ‘Artificial’, directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Simon Rich. In the film, Garfield portrays OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in a drama about the real five-day crisis in November 2023, when the company’s board fired Altman and then reinstated him. The cast includes Monica Barbaro as Mira Murati, Yura Borisov as Ilya Sutskever, and Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk.

The film has faced a tumultuous journey to the screen. Initially developed by Amazon MGM Studios, it was later dropped and subsequently acquired by Neon in late June. It premiered at the New York Film Festival in early October and also screened at the London Film Festival, with a US release set for December 25 as an awards-qualifying film.

Garfield’s fans will notice the shift in focus. After years of being associated with the red-and-blue suit, he is now portraying a Silicon Valley figure in one of the year’s most discussed films. Nevertheless, the Spider-Man question continues to follow him.

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