Jon Watts, the director behind the most recent Spider-Man trilogy starring Tom Holland, has received some pushback from fans over his advice to not rely on practical effects for web-swinging scenes.
Collider caught up with Watts at CCXP and asked him if he had any insights for his Spidey successor, pulling from his experience on 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming, 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home, and 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home. The one nugget he offered up was not to "waste" time on practical wire work.
"I have a very practical bit of Spider-Man advice, and I think every Spider-Man director goes through it. It doesn't look good when someone is just swinging on a rope," he said. "You think you're gonna go in there, you're like, 'we're gonna do it all practical. We're gonna get a stuntman. We're gonna be swinging around.' It's boring. It looks dumb. It looks like a monkey swinging on a vine when you put someone on just a rope. Don't waste your time. That's my advice to the next Spider-Man director."
These comments caused a stir on social media, with people openly rebuking Watts' opinion by sharing behind-the-scenes videos of the stunt work on past Spidey entries and praising the outcome. Marc Webb's Amazing Spider-Man films frequently came up in the conversation as a positive example of practical effects.
It’s crazy how he says doing it all practical it’s boring and looks dumb but Marc Webb pulled it off don’t believe me check down below ?? pic.twitter.com/d8A8GXxnWs
— PlayStationStudios? and Spider-Man ?️?️account (@Marvelfan2023) May 12, 2024
Here a video of the practical affects within Amazing Spider-Man movie that was made by possible by Marc Webb: pic.twitter.com/bgGuEq7DRS
— Ayman (@GuyWhoConquers) May 12, 2024
Amazing Spider-Man 1 says otherwise
— Drek (@drek77107) May 12, 2024
The Amazing Spider Man literally had practical swinging and it looked amazing even now
— Victory Reviews ?? ?? (@Victory_Reviews) May 12, 2024
Web-swinging was the one thing that lacked in the Home trilogy. Would’ve loved to see some more.
— Clark (@H3LIXSURGE) May 12, 2024
I mean.. I loved Jon watts trilogy. Prob my favourite series of the spider-men ones. But his swinging was prob the worst
— y_akh775 (@YoshuaA13) May 12, 2024
His movies were good... But they had the worst swinging and action of all the spidey movies. The amazing spider man movies, for as bad as they were, were miles ahead of Holland's movies in that aspect.
— Steven. (@glasshalf_full_) May 12, 2024
If you want swinging advice they should ask marc Webb or Sam raimi
— meatrub strikes again! (@meatrub1290) May 12, 2024
While the majority seemed to disagree with Watts on taking the CGI route with Spider-Man's web-swinging, a few thought the filmmaker might have a point. One person argued that live-action swinging can end up looking "awkward and slow" because it's something that "just can't really be done properly practically."
Someone else on X/Twitter suggested that "the proof is in the pudding" because "every sequence someone shares as 'the best swinging ever' is a CGI sequence that doesn't look like someone just swinging on a rope."
"Everyone's cooking Watts but he literally very much in the right here," another person added, throwing their opinion in the mix. "You wouldn't be able to get grand swinging sequences where cameras fly through the city following someone who has incredible agility and flexibility... in real life. You just won't. Watts gave great advice."
One thing that debaters can't rebuff is the enormous success of Spider-Man: No Way Home. It grossed over $1.9 billion at the worldwide box office and set several records along the way, but Watts has since said he "needs a break from the superhero realm," leaving the door open for another filmmaker to take the reins.
Holland, who has donned the Spidey suit for three standalone movies and a handful of other MCU appearances, said in April that he will "always want to do more" Spider-Man films and confirmed that work is still underway on the story for the fourth installment, noting that everyone involved has "a legacy to protect."
It will likely be a while before we hear any news about the fourth film since Marvel is working through a full slate of movies and shows for the MCU's Phase 5 and Phase 6.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter @AdeleAnkers.
