Spider-Noir Soars on Rotten Tomatoes, Signaling Prime Video’s Next Superhero Smash

Prime Video is not done playing in the superhero sandbox. Next week they roll out Spider- Noir, a live-action riff on the Spider-Verse idea with Nicolas Cage slipping back into the trench coat as the black-and-white webhead. Early reviews just dropped, and the buzz is good — better than I expected for something this stylized.

What Spider-Noir is (and why it matters)

It is a live-action spinoff inspired by the Spider-Verse movies, centered on a film- noir take on Marvel 's Friendly Neighborhood icon. Nicolas Cage stars as the shadowy version of the character, and yeah, the entire thing leans into the moody, hardboiled vibe. It premieres next week on Amazon 's platforms, and critics have already weighed in.

Early reviews: strong start

As of now, Spider-Noir sits at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes with 24 reviews logged. That is a healthy Fresh score, especially in a market drowning in capes.

• ComicBook's Simon Gallagher digs the approach, calling it proof there is Spider-Man life beyond the MCU, while also wishing it pushed a bit wilder with the concept.

"A very clever gimmick done well that proves there is life to Spider-Man outside of the MCU."

Beyond that:

Simply Cinema went 9/10 and basically crowned this the slickest, coolest take on the character to date. Collider thinks it will not land for everyone — especially comic die-hards hoping for something grimier — but still calls it a lot of fun. SlashFilm also landed at 9/10 and says the spark that made Marvel's Noir comics pop is alive here, praising it as one of the more creatively energized superhero projects in the last couple years (yes, they also called it a little batty, in a good way).

Not all sunshine, of course. The AV Club gave it a C-, framing the whole thing as a noble swing that does not ultimately connect. Some of the trades are cooler on it too: The Hollywood Reporter found it dull and frustrating, and Variety's take boils down to loads of style with not enough substance.

How it stacks up on Rotten Tomatoes

That 88% puts Spider-Noir in a respectable spot. For context: the latest season of The Boys was at 93% before its finale; Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 sits at 86%. Compared to the Spidey movies, Spider-Noir cannot touch Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (97%) or Spider-Man: No Way Home (93%), but it clears both Amazing Spider-Man films (71% and 51%) and Spider-Man 3 (62%).

Release plan (yep, it is unusual)

All eight episodes drop first on MGM+ on Monday, May 25. Then, two days later, the entire season lands on Prime Video on Wednesday, May 27. Same season, two quick windows. Odd? A little. But that is the schedule.

Big picture: Prime's superhero push

Prime Video has quietly become a heavyweight here. They were in early with Ben Edlund's revived The Tick, turned Invincible into a phenomenon, and recently added Batman: The Caped Crusader. The crown jewel has been The Boys and its expanding 'Vought Cinematic Universe' — and even though The Boys wrapped its five-season run this week, another spinoff is already lined up for next year. Spider-Noir looks like the next distinct swing in that lineup, and based on the early reads, Amazon may have another one that cuts through the noise.