Although relatively short-lived, Andrew Garfield’s live-action Spider-Man stint is among the most beloved to have graced the screen. Alongside talents like Tobey Maguire in the Sam Raimi trilogy and Tom Holland in MCU initiatives, the Hacksaw Ridge alum’s iteration of the web-slinger remains well-celebrated amongst fans of the iconic Marvel IP.
In a way, these actors’ identities have become so intrinsic to the essence of the titular superhero and vice versa—where, almost emulating a symbiotic relationship, Spider-Man has helped further their recognition in the industry, while their embodiment has cemented its continued legacy.
Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland, and Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man
Related: Andrew Garfield and 3 Other Actors Who Set a Record by Being Fired from Marvel Movies
Representing such a legendary, adored by all, and timeless character and earning worldwide acclaim and acknowledgment also entails the prospects of lucrative box office returns and satiating paychecks. Though what they have all received for their efforts in the role is no joke, it’s intriguing that Garfield is the lowest earner to have performed the part compared to Maguire and Holland, whose respective tenures brought them unfathomable riches.
Following is a breakdown of what the three actors have received for their respective performances.
Andrew Garfield Was Paid Much Less Than The Other Two Spider-Man Actors
Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
As fans clamor to get their dreams of The Amazing Spider-Man 3 realized, with Andrew Garfield‘s Spider-Man making a glorious return, you might be surprised to learn that before the third installment, the overarching TASM franchise was effectively canceled following Sony Picture’s deal with Marvel Studios. The deal eventually brought forth Tom Holland’s iteration, but a bump in the salary was expected had Garfield headlined a third film.
A compensation of $500,000 for the first film and $1 million for the second was part of the deal presented to the finalists for the highly sought-after role, according to a report from Deadline. The actor would have received a $2 million salary for the third film had the situation been different. Therefore, for his two-movie-spanning tenure, the actor received a paycheck of $1.5 million total.
Whether his overall earnings from the Marc Webb-directed projects accounted for any backend profits is uncertain. For the Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) appearance, Andrew Garfield reportedly made $1 million (via StyleCaster).
The pay that the other two actors received for playing the web crawler, on the other hand, highlights the astronomical income that actors can make from superhero franchises.
Related: Andrew Garfield’s Return as Spider-Man in Madam Web Doesn’t Look Impossible
What Did Tom Holland Earn From His MCU Spider-Man Films?
Tom Holland as Spider-Man
While Tom Holland‘s start in the franchise may have been humble, his salary exponentially increased within a few years. Before delving into the profits he made from his solo on-screen adventures, we must first discuss what he received from other ensemble or co-starring initiatives. Per Parade, the then-up-and-coming star is believed to have been paid $250,000 for his debut appearance in Captain America: Civil War (2016).
The source also states that the Uncharted alum allegedly earned a mind-blowing $3 million each for Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), despite shorter screen time in the latter.
For his solo journeys, Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) reportedly brought to Holland a base salary of $500,000 (via Celebrity Net Worth). With bonuses, his profits totaled $1.5 million. For the second installment, Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), The Sun reported that the actor received $4M.
The same source suggests the 27-year-old was rumored to have been paid $10M for Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), which co-featured cameos from Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire. All of that amounts to a total of $21.75 million. If you feel stunned by this number, wait till you learn what Maguire made from Sam Raimi’s trilogy and his recent No Way Home appearance.
How Much Did Tobey Maguire Make From Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy?
Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man (2002)
Many of us grew up on Maguire’s Spider-Man, and some consider his tenure as the web crawler to be the most iconic. In addition, he is also the one who got paid the most to bring the superhero to life in live-action projects. Reports allege that the actor earned over $30 million (in total) for the Sam Raimi-helmed trilogy. Celebrity Net Worth claims that for the first 2002 endeavor, Tobey Maguire started with a substantial earning of $4 million.
Thanks to follow-up sequels, this figure would reach incredible heights. He was apparently given a salary of $17.5 million plus 5 percent of the movie’s box office gross for Spider-Man 2 (2004). For the last installment in the trilogy, he earned $15 million. As for backend earnings, the celebrity garnered 7.5 percent of the film’s box office gross, 2.5 percent higher than Spider-Man 2.
When we consider the commercial success Raimi’s trilogy brought forth, what Maguire may have allegedly obtained from the backend points becomes mind-boggling.
Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man
Related: Venom 3 Logo Sparks Theory: Andrew Garfield is Coming
For his recent appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home, he was paid $1 million, like his TASM counterpart. Hence, while the discourse on which actor is the better live-action Spider-Man persists, Maguire comes out on top when it concerns being the most paid.
As for Garfield, the actor’s tenure as the web-slinger may have gone under-appreciated from a financial and narrative standpoint. However, he’s easily most people’s fan-favorite, having rekindled their passion for his iteration after his NWH appearance. With many campaigning for TASM 3, we could only pray to see him reprise his Peter/Spider-Man soon.
Was this Article helpful?
Between Tobey Maguire, Tom Holland, and Andrew Garfield, the latter is reportedly the lowest-paid live-action Spider-Man to grace the big screen. Read More