Nicolas Cage has never been one to play it safe. From National Treasure's action hero to the fiery Ghost Rider, from Dracula in Renfield to a satanic killer in Longlegs, the Oscar winner thrives on genre-hopping. Now, he's diving into a new kind of web-slinging adventure with Spider-Noir, a sci-fi detective thriller that's already winning over critics.
The series, which premieres on MGM+ and Prime Video, follows Cage as Ben Riley, a down-on-his-luck private detective in 1930s New York City who also happens to be a superhero grappling with his past. Loosely based on his character from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, this live-action spin-off exists in an alternate universe separate from the animated films. Created by Oren Uziel, the show leans into a dark, gritty noir aesthetic—available in both black-and-white and color—and features a visceral transformation scene that has fans buzzing.
So, is it any good? According to early reviews, yes. Spider-Noir has debuted with a stellar 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though that number may shift as more critics weigh in. The series boasts a strong supporting cast including Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, Abraham Popoola, Jack Huston, and Brendan Gleeson, all of whom help elevate the pulpy premise.
What the Critics Are Saying
Collider's Aidan Kelly notes that while a few elements "hold Spider-Noir back from being a truly stellar return to form," the show's supporting cast is its "secret weapon," especially Morris and Jun Li. Kelly adds, "it's also hard to deny that Spider-Noir is just a heck of a lot of fun."
ScreenRant's Felipe Rangel echoes that sentiment, admitting that "certain emotional moments did not have quite the same punch, or a few villains ended up being more generic than expected." Still, he calls the show "a winning story for this new live-action side of Spider-Man."
MovieWeb's Mark Keizer sums it up best: "It may not prove that Spider-Man is ready to be shoehorned into a Southern Gothic or Italian neorealist series, but it does show that he's flexible enough to survive a bizarre genre transplant, as long as his core emotions—guilt, responsibility, and loss—are woven into the web."
Is Spider-Noir Worth Your Time?
Whether you're a die-hard Spider-Man fan, a Nicolas Cage enthusiast, or just a casual viewer, Spider-Noir seems to have something for everyone. Its strong Rotten Tomatoes score suggests it's a solid entry in the superhero genre, blending noir detective work with sci-fi thrills. For those who love a good crime thriller, the series also fits nicely alongside other recent hits like Prime Video's 94% RT crime thriller ZeroZeroZero.
If you're in the mood for more psychological twists, you might also check out our list of Top 10 Psychological Thrillers of the Last 20 Years. But for now, Spider-Noir is shaping up to be a fun, stylish ride that proves Cage can still surprise us.
Spider-Noir drops on May 25 on MGM+ and May 27 on Prime Video. Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more updates.
