Credit: Unsplash

As if it wouldn’t be a slam dunk.

People really, really like Spider-Man. Even before he was introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he was one of the most beloved super-heroes ever cooked up by Stan Lee, and Stan himself was a pretty big fan as well. That love only multiplied with web-head’s portrayal by the charismatic Tom Holland in the MCU, and since then, every Spider-Man-centric film has been a slam dunk. This Friday, the latest entry in the franchise, Spider-Man: No Way Home hits theaters, and the press have already gotten their first screenings. Is it another slam dunk? Did you even read this first paragraph?

The reviews are in on Spider-Man: No Way Home, and if critics are to be believed, it’s yet another platinum hit. At time of writing, the film has achieved a 100% certified fresh critical rating on critic aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, with 52 reviews singing its praises. While consensus on the film is generally positive, though, some critics did note that a lot of the fun comes from in-jokes and fan-service, which may exclude some newcomers to the franchise.

“Spider-Man: No Way Home is both a gigantic act of franchise-mad hubris and a ridiculous amount of fun,” writes Globe and Mail’s Barry Hertz.

“No Way Home’s extended exercise in franchise-agnostic fan service is at once an ominous precedent for future event movies and an at-times rather poignant gimmick,” writes A.V. Club’s A.A. Dowd.

Early reviews are in for #SpiderManNoWayHome – currently it's #Fresh at 100% on the #Tomatometer, with 46 reviews: https://t.co/iqbm4Zqgsn pic.twitter.com/azXakldmcr

— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) December 14, 2021

Unsurprisingly, the lion’s share of the kudos once again goes to Tom Holland for his heartfelt and relatable portrayal of the young superhero Peter Parker. “This is Holland’s best performance as Spider-Man!” writes JVS Media’s Samuel Leggett Jr.