Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Blu-ray Movie Review

A must-own Blu-ray release...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown September 6, 2023

Forget Morbius. Don't even bother getting excited about Kraven. Set aside every other Spider-project on Amy Pascal's plate. Christopher Miller and Phil Lord's Spider-Verse series is the true heir to the MCU Infinity Saga throne. While Kevin Feige and crew at Marvel Studios wrestle with what to make of Phase 4 and now Phase 5, the Miles Morales series creative wunderkinds and their team of killer animators, smartly cast voice actors, quick-witted writing and sharp-eyed direction is setting the bar high. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was already considered by many to be one of the best Spider-Man films... scratch that... best superhero films ever made. But then along came a second Spider (and sat down beside her), a brilliant, bustling, booming explosion of a sequel that not only bests its predecessor but draws a line in the sand and challenges every superhero movie that will come after it. The one flaw? The only reason a 4.5 sits atop this review instead of a 5.0? Across the Spider-Verse ends somewhat unceremoniously on a massive cliffhanger. If the now-delayed Beyond the Spider-Verse is equally amazing (or by some cine-miracle, better) I'll revisit this review post-haste and bump up the score. As is, the second entry in Miller and Lord's multiverse epic isn't finished yet, and difficult to award a perfect score without having a fitting end to truly measure its excellence.

Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore) returns years after the events of Into the Spider-Verse, sadder and lonelier than we left him without his multiverse-sliding Spider-pals to fill out his social circle. He especially misses best friend and crush Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld), whose absence really stings. Cue incursion-level threat the Spot (Jason Schwartzman), an initially street-level, portal-sliding baddie who hatches a plan to shatter the boundaries between the 'verses and wreak havoc across worlds. Miles is soon reunited with Gwen, now a rookie universe-hopping agent of law and order, and also meets her new boss: Miguel O'Hara (Oscar Isaac), aka Spider-Man 2099, a vampiric antihero more interested in re-establishing "canon" than in reunions or saving Miles' friends and family. Miguel isn't alone. He's flanked by an army of Spiders: one familiar -- Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson), now with a bouncing baby girl strapped to his chest -- but most strangers, including Spider-Woman Jessica Drew (Issa Rae), Indian sensation Pavitr Prabhakar (Karan Soni), AI assistant LYLA (Greta Lee), living hologram-in-the-chair Byte (Amandla Stenberg), aloof and enigmatic Hobie aka Spider-Punk (a scene-stealing Daniel Kaluuya), cringey '80s comic webslinger Ben Reilly (a hilarious Andy Sandberg), and literally hundreds more (among them a web-shooting dinosaur, a mask-wearing cat, a gunslinger on horseback, a musclebound mini-gunning cyborg, cartoon series guest stars, live-action surprises, and other weirdos plucked from Marvel Comics and TV lore.

Surprisingly, Across the Spider-Verse isn't just Miles' movie, and it's better for it. It's as much a full-fledged Gwen film, with a twenty- minute opening sequence that not only focuses on the heroine but offers a truly touching, deeply moving "side" story involving her strained relationship with her father. (Look for obvious-once-you-spot-em signs that Gwen might just be a trans kid, which makes the heartstrings plotline with her dad that much more heartbreaking and tear-jerking.) With two heroes sharing the spotlight, you might think Spider-Verse would be overstuffed, overlong and overcooked... and you wouldn't be entirely out of order making the argument. But when the adventure in question is this carefully penned, this beautifully realized, and this spectacularly animated, the almost two-and-a-half hour runtime is a blessing, not a curse. I'd have happily spent another three hours in Miguel's spider-verses. Miller, Lord and their cohorts fill the screen with fun easter eggs, visual gags and, eventually, a seemingly endless array of Spider-Folk that will leave superfans frothing at the mouth and hitting pause to see who they can spot in the background. And it all ramps up with perfect pacing. Always dizzying and chaotic, but never so much so that it derails the central story. Family is front and center and the film takes its time with quiet moments, allowing drama and character beats to flesh out our heroes without racing off to the next action sequence.

And oh, what action sequences await. An early battle with an alternate Vulture would serve as a thrilling climax to any other film. Here it's just an early glimpse at the insanity to come. No two fights or chases are remotely the same. The film is as visually stunning as it is innovative, with each new world brought to life with different color palettes, animation styles and little touches that make it a cinch to identify where we've landed or who we're encountering in the vast multiverse. It might also be too many characters to juggle, if Lord and Miller didn't have such a deliberate hand on the wheel. Each supporting character is given just enough screentime to be memorable and necessary, with Miguel emerging as the true villain of the piece. It's clear which Spiders are key and which are filler, and without relying on the variety of Spider-people already featured in the first film (other than Gwen they barely appear, save Peter B. Parker in a lesser role than before). To grab hold of the review cliche of cliches, "I laughed, I cried, I cheered". Across the Spider-Verse is the sequel fans were hoping for, and it rarely, if ever disappoints.

Said disappointment only comes with the end credits, which arrive after such an emotional floor-drop (ooph) that the wait for the third film in the series seems grueling, especially now that it's been delayed, most likely into 2025. Be prepared to grimace when the screen cuts to black. Unlike Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, a Part 1 that still felt rather complete in its own right, this particular cliffhanger leaves the sequel feeling very, very unfinished. (Think Empire Strikes Back.) Is that a bad thing? I don't think so, although the risk is that Across the Spider-Verse will be diminished if Beyond the Spider-Verse underwhelms. (Like the Matrix Reloaded and its sequels. Although those who hate Return of the Jedi don't seem to take it out on Empire.) I'll reserve full judgement until the full story has been told. I can't imagine a trilogy topper that spoils the heart and soul of Across the Spider-Verse; in many ways it stands tall and proud on its own. But movie-magic rarely strikes thrice. Here's hoping Miller and Lord pull off the impossible and deliver a third film that bests both previous Spider-Verse marvels.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sony serves up a gorgeous 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation that's nothing short of stunning. Every color erupts off the screen, flashing and pulsing with punch and power. Contrast is nicely balanced, with rich primaries, inky black levels, and revealing delineation. Detail is excellent as well. Every stray line and flick of the animators' pen is captured with crisp, clean precision. Textures are spot on, and every quirk in the intentionally sketchy, sometimes jittery, occasionally painterly line-art is captured without flaw. (Even compared to its 4K counterpart, this is Blu-ray visuals at their best.) Pause at literally any given moment. Nearly every frame of the film is a piece of art that could hang proudly on a cinephiles movie-room wall. I didn't catch sight of any banding, halos or unsightly artifacts. I noticed a tiny hint of pixelation here and there in my screenshots (probably just a product of .jpeg compression) but nothing when the film was in motion, or paused for that matter.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

It may not boast the Dolby Atmos track of its 4K counterpart, but the standard Blu-ray release of Across the Spider-Verse nevertheless offers a strong DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that gets the job done and then some. Dialogue is clean and clear, carefully situated throughout the soundfield, and never overwhelmed by the sonic chaos that fills every speaker. Directionality is as stealthy as a 5.1 track comes, with smooth pans, pinpoint rear speaker utilization, and an immersive soundscape that takes advantage of every channel. The environments practically (sometimes literally) swirl around the listener, creating worlds that dance and spin to life. Webs sling past your ears. Rubble tumbles into the streets. Explosions rip through the air. Shouting Spider-Pursuers leap from speaker to speaker. Electricity crackles all around. It's not quite as engaging as the 4K Atmos experience (how could it be?) but it holds up. Dynamics are strong, even when the mix threatens to grow too loud or chaotic. And that's with a smart score and soundtrack infusing varied music into every scene. It all comes together to create a track that pairs remarkably well with the video presentation and the film's wildly imaginative animation.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Filmmaker Commentary - Co-directors Justin K. Thompson, Joaquim Dos Santos and Kemp Powers are joined by co- writers/producers Christopher Miller and Phil Lord for a lively, informative track that covers everything a fan could want to be covered. The five-some occasionally gets a bit too chummy and veer off into tangents but it's a welcome spark of liveliness that suits the animation exploding under the track.

• Creating the Ultimate Spider-Man Movie (HD, 15 minutes) - Writing, pre-production and the challenges of crafting a sequel to a game-changing film, as told by the filmmakers who worked so hard to push Across the Spider-Verse several steps farther without losing the magic of the first entry in the series.

• Obscure Spiders and Easter Eggs (HD, 6 minutes) - A quick (too quick) overview of the many (many) easter eggs and alternate Spider-Men (Spider-People? Spider-People? Plus Spider-Buggies?) that litter the film.

• "I'mma Do My Own Thing" Interdimensional Destiny (HD, 8 minutes) - Fashioning the rules of a multiverse rife with choices, inevitabilities and, perhaps, fate.

• Across the Worlds: Designing New Dimensions (HD, 8 minutes) - Creating unique worlds through varied visualizations, color palettes, animation styles, and more.

• Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Cast (HD, 13 minutes) - The voice cast stops by to discuss their characters, recording sessions, screen chemistry and more.

• Designing Spiders and Spots (HD, 13 minutes) - A look at the ethnicities, body types, animation styles, personalities and approach to heroism/villainy of the many characters in Across the Spider-Verse.

• Raising a Hero (HD, 9 minutes) - The family dynamics of Across the Spider-Verse.

• Scratches, Score and the Music of the Multiverse (HD, 5 minutes) - An all-too-short glimpse into the scoring and music selection of the sequel. Wish it was longer but at least some attention is given to the film's music.

• Across the Comics-Verse (HD, 8 minutes) - Adapting the Spider-Man comics for the screen.

• Escape From Spider-Society (HD, 8 minutes) - Behind the scenes of the incredibly fun (and incredibly crowded) chase sequence that tops the second act of the sequel.

• Miguel Calling (HD, 6 minutes) - A deleted scene in its early animatic form.

• Lyric Videos (HD, 5 minutes) - "Annihilate" by Metro Boomin, Swae Lee, Lil Wayne and Offset, and "Calling" by Metro Boomin, Nav, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Swae Lee.

• Sony Previews (HD)

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Just buy it. The 4K release if you have the gear to take advantage of the upgrade, but even if not... just buy it. Why are you still reading? Either version of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a must own Blu-ray release worthy of a spot in any filmfan's collection. A fantastic flick, incredible animation, an eye-watering video presentation, a strong DTS-HD Master Audio mix and a solid selection of special features. You could hardly ask for more. Add this one to your cart without delay. Go on. Hurry up. You'll thank me later.