4. Spider-Man (2002)
You never forget your first, and for those who saw Sam Raimi’s original Spider-Man upon release, it remains one of the high marks of the superhero genre. Raimi immediately understood the stakes of Peter’s hero’s journey, contextualizing his superlative powers and what that means for someone who suddenly has destiny thrust upon him. Combine that with a great supporting cast and a wonderfully compelling villain, and it’s no surprise that Spider-Man continues to resonate all these years later.
