Andrew Garfield Ranks the Live-Action Spider-Men, and Humbly Puts Himself Last

Few debates divide superhero fans quite like the question of who played Spider-Man best. Tobey Maguire kicked off the live-action era with Sam Raimi’s trilogy from 2002 to 2007, Andrew Garfield took over for ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ in 2012 and its sequel 2 years later, and Tom Holland has carried the web-slinger into the MCU.

The conversation only intensified after all 3 actors reunited in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ in 2021. That shared moment gave Garfield’s version of Peter Parker a major wave of renewed affection, with many fans reassessing his take on the character.

Now, Garfield has finally weighed in himself. While promoting his new film ‘Artificial’ during an interview with Capital, the 43-year-old was asked to rank Holland, Maguire and himself from best to worst Spider-Man.

He barely hesitated before crowning the original. Garfield said Maguire will always be his number one, placing Holland in second and himself in third. His reasoning was refreshingly personal. Garfield explained that Maguire was his Spider-Man growing up, recalling that while he was in drama school, he used to practice Maguire’s lines in front of the mirror.

Garfield also had nothing but kind words for his MCU successor. He described Holland as the perfect person to play Spider-Man for his generation and called him absolutely incredible in the role.

That admiration isn’t new. Garfield has previously praised Holland as an incredible actor, and he has often spoken about his lifelong love for the character, which he says dates back to when he was 3 years old.

Holland’s run also gives him a strong claim in the eyes of many fans. He has now starred as Spider-Man more than any of his predecessors, which some see as proof that he’s the definitive live-action version.

Despite his own popularity, Garfield chose not to put himself at the top. He acknowledged how proud he is of his Spider-Man movies and how much he loves playing the part, but still placed himself behind both of his fellow web-slingers.

The answer has already reignited the fan debate online. Some outlets noted that his charmingly self-effacing ranking might leave his most devoted supporters wanting to demand a recount.

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

It’s a fitting move for an actor known for his warmth in interviews. Garfield has long been celebrated for his genuine and thoughtful demeanor, often sharing personal insights and expressing gratitude for his opportunities.

Garfield seems to know the subject will follow him for years. In a separate conversation with Capital FM, he addressed rumors about his involvement in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’, playfully pointing out that he never actually said he wasn’t in it.

First trailer for Luca Guadagnino’s ‘ARTIFICIAL’, starring Andrew Garfield as Sam Altman. The film follows the story involving OpenAI focused on the firing & rehiring of CEO Sam Altman. In theaters on December 25. https://t.co/qoC8GL3Auf

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 8, 2026

He even joked that he’d still be fielding Spider-Man questions decades from now, when the franchise reaches its 78th installment. With every new chapter, fans continue to wonder whether his Peter Parker might swing back into action.

For now, Garfield’s focus is on ‘Artificial’, which is among the titles screening at the BFI London Film Festival. But as his latest interview proves, no promotional tour is complete without at least one Spider-Man question.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!