Spider-Noir is off to a strong start on Rotten Tomatoes, with the first batch of critics reviews coming in at 89%.
The live-action Spider-Man spinoff stars Nicolas Cage as an older, down-on-his-luck private investigator in a 1930s noir take on the Spider-Verse.
Based on the early reviews, critics are responding to the show’s style, Cage’s lead performance, and its break from the usual Marvel formula.
The first wave includes only a handful of negative reviews, with most critics calling Spider-Noir a stylish, weird, and entertaining swing for Sony’s Spider-Man universe.
What the Spider-Noir reviews say
The general reaction is that Spider-Noir works because it commits to the noir concept instead of trying to force itself into the larger MCU or Spider-Man movie universe.
Critics praise the series for its black-and-white detective style, 1930s setting, production design, and Nicolas Cage going all-in as Ben Reilly.
Several reviews also point out that the show feels more like a standalone crime mystery than another piece of superhero homework.
Nicolas Cage gets strong praise
Critics say Cage is the reason Spider-Noir works as well as it does.
He brings the right mix of weirdness, sadness, comedy, and hard-boiled detective energy to the role.
Several reviews describe him as fully committed, with UPI saying Cage gives himself over to both the bizarre side of the show and the tragedy of a down-on-his-luck private investigator with superpowers.
What the negative Spider-Noir reviews say
There are only four negative reviews in the first batch, but they hit similar points.
The Playlist gave the show a D and says Spider-Noir may have worked better as a skit or 30-minute proof of concept. The review argues that stretched across eight episodes, the series becomes repetitive and thin.
The Hollywood Reporter is also negative, calling the story “frustratingly dull” and saying it borrows from old detective dramas without adding enough of its own ideas.
Variety says Spider-Noir has a solid cast and strong period visuals, but argues the series is “all style and very little substance.”
The A.V. Club gives the show a C- and calls it a noble but failed experiment, criticizing Cage’s character as someone who never fully feels like a real person.
What the positive Spider-Noir reviews say
The positive reviews are much stronger and far more common.
Critics who liked Spider-Noir say the show succeeds because it leans into the weirdness. It is not trying to be a normal Spider-Man story. It is a crime drama, a noir pastiche, a superhero origin story, and a Nicolas Cage showcase all at once.
Slashfilm says the series smoothly fuses superhero fare with film noir.
Consequence says it follows detective-story tropes without feeling like parody.
TheWrap says the show works for fans of old crime movies, comic books, and TV that aims for style as well as entertainment.
Several reviews also praise the ending. Tell-Tale TV says a few late episodes drag, but the show rebounds with an exciting climax and satisfying conclusion.
Spider-Noir premieres first on MGM+ on May 25 and then globally on Prime Video on May 27, available in two different versions: color and black-and-white.
