How do you measure the popularity of a super hero? Is it in comic book sales? TV shows? Maybe in toys and merchandising?
Well, one way to measure the popularity of a super hero is to look at box office success. Movies which perform well at the box office demonstrate a collective audience, so are often an indicator on what a significant section of the population is interested in.
And if we look at box office, then boy, Spider-Man is one very popular super hero. In fact, it could be argued that right now he is the biggest super hero on the planet.
At the time of writing, Spidey’s 2026 film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the third highest grossing movie of all time. The film is currently the most popular solo super hero picture, and is the second most popular Marvel movie, sitting just behind the team-up film, Avengers: Endgame.
Oh, and do you know who appears in Avengers: Endgame? Yep, it’s Spider-Man. So Spidey has the third highest grossing movie of all time, plus he appears in the second highest grossing movie.
And that’s not all. Spider-Man also appears in the eighth highest grossing movie, Avengers: Infinity War, as well as the ninth, Spider-Man: No Way Home. No other super hero appears as many times in the box office top ten.
Oh, sure, other heroes and movies might come along, but right now, at this moment in time, based on how successful he is at the box office, Spider-Man is the No. 1 super hero. He beats Batman, Wonder Woman, Iron Man, Wolverine, Deadpool, and Superman – and it’s not even close!
But why is Spidey such a big deal and why is he so popular? Well, it’s not just down to one thing.
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Spidey’s origin
First and foremost, when it comes to super heroes, Spidey has the best origin. Sure, Superman’s origin is epic, and Batman’s is iconic, but Spider-Man’s is easily the greatest.
In the comics, Spider-Man starts off as weedy, geeky, Peter Parker – a science nerd who lives with his aunt and uncle. Pete isn’t cool, he isn’t popular, and he is often the guy who gets picked on.
After being bitten by a radioactive spider, Pete suddenly gets incredible abilities, which puts him head-and-shoulders above his peers. He can climb walls, he is incredibly strong and agile, and he even develops a precognitive awareness which he dubs his ‘spidey sense’.
So, what does he do with all these abilities? Well, like most teens who have spent their early years being the underdog, he decides to use his newfound powers to benefit himself.
He uses his strength and skills to enter a wrestling contest, become a TV star, and make money. Pete wants to make the most of this gift he has been given.
But when Pete’s uncle is killed in a burglary, he suddenly realises that using his powers for his own benefit is a selfish act. With great power there must also come great responsibility, and it is therefore his responsibility to help others.
He had a brief opportunity to intercept the burglar who would go on to kill his uncle, and he chose not to act. His actions had devastating consequences, and moving forward, he never wants to allow such a thing to happen again.
Pete learns a valuable lesson, and it’s a lesson that anyone can understand and learn from. And it’s arguably the reason why kids tend to gravitate towards Spidey, because the moral message about power and responsibility is easy to grasp.
Children are taught right from wrong at an early age, and while their viewpoints and outlooks may change as they grow older, they are given a clear understanding about doing the right thing. Spidey’s origin is a superb representation of ‘doing the right thing’ and what can happen when you don’t.
It’s also important to note that unlike Superman who was given his powers due to his heritage, or Batman who funds his super hero career through his wealth, Spidey is just an average guy trying to make a difference. Speaking of which…
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Spidey is relatable
Out of all the super heroes in existence, Spider-Man ranks as one of the most relatable. Sure, he has these amazing abilities, but when he’s not busy rescuing New Yorkers from Doctor Doom or the Shocker, he’s an average guy trying to make his way through life, often trying to make ends meet in the process.
Pete isn’t rich, he doesn’t come from wealth, and he doesn’t have someone bankrolling him. Instead, he works a freelance job which doesn’t pay much, and between bills, food, and rent, Pete is often short on cash.
He might be out there every day, taking on world-ending foes, but the reality is Pete is often struggling to pay his electric bill, or he can’t afford to buy the nice branded items at the store. Just like you or I, he’s a regular guy who has problems, insecurities, and various troubles to contend with.
Iron Man’s great, as is Thor, but they don’t live in the real world with the rest of us. Spidey does.
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Spidey is inspirational
And because Spider-Man is so damn relatable he is also inspirational. Pete regularly demonstrates that being ordinary doesn’t prevent anyone from doing extraordinary things.
As Spider-Man, Peter stands up for the little guy. This in turn inspires others to do the same.
There are multiple examples in the Spider-Man movies where Spidey sticks up for New Yorkers, and when the chips are down they stick up for him too! Take a look at 2002’s Spider-Man, and you’ll see citizens standing up for Spidey against Green Goblin, while in 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man, a construction worker helps Spidey get from one side of the city to another, as a favour for helping the man during his hour of need.
These are ordinary people doing extraordinary things because they believe in Spider-Man. And when you have an inspiring figure like Spider-Man, you can’t help but love him.
He’s not perfect, and there are plenty of times when he fails. But Spidey picks himself back up, gives himself a motivational talking to, and gets back out there to fight the good fight.
The human race (well most of us) like to support the do-ers and try-ers in life. We feed off them, they make us better people, and we often want to be like them.
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The mask
Now, something which helps us all feel better connected to Spidey is his mask. Unlike Wonder Woman or Mister Fantastic, who show their face to the world, Spider-Man has a mask which covers his identity.
And this mask is extremely important, because it means that it could be anyone under his costume. So those who feel inspired by Spidey can also feel like they could be Spider-Man.
It doesn’t matter what skin colour you have, or how old you are, you too could put on that mask. And once you’re under that mask, you can be a force for good.
It’s one of the reasons why Spider-Man costumes are popular with cosplayers or at Halloween parties. Anyone can wear the mask, anyone can embody the spirit and ethos of Spider-Man, giving him universal appeal.
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It’s good to talk
It’s also important to note that while Spider-Man has a wealth of brilliant powers, one of his greatest strengths is his gift of the gab, i.e his ability to wise crack and talk is way out of problems. Not only does he continually think on his feet, but Spidey is quick-witted and very resourceful.
Who doesn’t enjoy this aspect of his character? And his cutting quips are often used when facing down the meanest foes.
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The villains
Outside of Batman, who I think we can all agree has the best villains, Spidey is the next hero with the greatest foes, right? Many are a dark reflection of him, be it someone like Venom who looks like Spider-Man, or someone like Doctor Octopus, who has Peter’s science skills… which he uses for evil.
And speaking of Doctor Octopus, he is the perfect example of just one of the many villains who are connected to the animal kingdom. Some of Spidey’s best villains are animal-related (the Lizard, the Vulture, Rhino, the Scorpion, etc), and they exploit the animal world for their own benefit.
Spider-Man doesn’t exploit his connection to nature. Instead, he uses his knowledge of a spider’s strength to aid him in his battle for justice.
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He continually chooses to be Spider-Man
And finally, it’s worth noting like any good hero, Pete continually chooses to be Spider-Man. He could walk away – after all, he has certainly performed his fair share of rescues – but he chooses to put on the mask again and again.
Spidey is special, but he’s not superior. He’s one of us, and just like us he gets up in the morning, goes to work, and gets the job done, because it’s the right thing to do.
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Spider-Man isn’t always the most confident super hero, but he makes a difference. And maybe this is why he has had longevity (Spidey has been around since 1962).
The reason why we all like Spider-Man so much is because being relatable, approachable, and seemingly ordinary is actually quite cool. Being ordinary or being the average Joe doesn’t stop us from doing extraordinary things – what stops us is ourselves.
We are the roadblock in our own lives, but if we can get over ourselves and use our skills, our gifts, or our compassion to help other people, then maybe we can be Spider-Man. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to be Spidey?
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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this post about Spider-Man. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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