Having appeared in several Marvel Cinematic Universe films Spider-Man delivered a series of incredible quotes in each. Despite being one of Marvel’s most iconic heroes, rights issues prevented Spider-Man from appearing in MCU films until the latter stages of the franchise’s Infinity Saga. Ultimately, this means he’s had fewer appearances than other MCU characters, though that hasn’t stopped him from becoming an important and beloved addition to its roster of heroes.
Since his introduction into the MCU, Spider-Man’s movie timeline has seen him grow from an amateur hero to an Avenger, eventually learning to stand on his own two feet without the support of his mentors. It got him through some major moments, as well as many of his signature jokes along the way. The hero has had many memorable lines throughout his appearances in the franchise, and here are Spider-Man’s best quotes from each of his MCU appearances.
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“When you can do the things I can do…”
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Spider-Man’s first appearance in the MCU film timeline established him as a young teenage hero full of potential. Recruited by Tony Stark during the events of Captain America: Civil WarSpider-Man joined the ranks of Team Iron Man to fight in support of the Sokovia Accords and attempt to arrest Captain America and his allies. Spider-Man’s role in the film wasn’t extensive, but he delivered some great lines during his MCU debut.
Upon being recruited by Tony Stark, Spider-Man delivers an incredible and memorable quote about his approach to heroism. After being asked why he chose to become a hero, Peter Parker eloquently explains: “When you can do the things I can but you can’t, and then bad things happen? They happen because of you.”
The quote puts an interesting spin on the iconic “With great power comes great responsibility” line. It establishes that while the MCU’s Spider-Man may phrase his mantra differently, he still possesses the same spirit as other iterations of the hero. He also has a youthful innocence that feels organic to Tom Holland’s take on the character, making him a great overall quote.
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“Someone needs to take care of the little guy, right?”
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
After debuting in Captain America: Civil WarSpider-Man’s next release in the MCU was a solo film. Spider-Man: Homecoming expanded Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and his story, introducing several supporting characters and providing the MCU with its first example of a young hero balancing everyday life with his responsibilities. It saw Spider-Man operating under the guidance of Tony Stark, trying to stop the Vulture from stealing and distributing dangerous alien technology.
Perhaps the most powerful quote in the film comes in the final scene. After defeating the Vulture and proving himself to be a hero even without the use of a high-tech suit, Iron Man extends an invitation to Spider-Man to become a full member of the Avengers. Spider-Man surprises him by respectfully declining, stating, “Someone has to take care of the little boy, right?”
The phrase is actually a defining moment in Spider-Man’s history in the MCU, as it shows his willingness to step out of Tony Stark’s shadow to become his own hero. His willingness to remain a street hero is admirable and comicalas Spider-Man only occasionally teams up with the Avengers in the comics. It’s a great quote that speaks to Spider-Man’s integrity and perfectly sums up his spirit as a hero.
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“I thought about it. You can’t be a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man if there’s no neighborhood.”
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Despite being one of the MCU’s newest and youngest heroes, Spider-Man follows up his first solo film by joining the Avengers on a life-threatening mission. Avengers: Infinity War saw Thanos’ forces invade Earth, with the Mad Titan trying to accumulate the Infinity Stones to implement his plan to wipe out half of all life in the universe. Spider-Man finds himself tagging along on a mission in space after chasing a fleeing spaceship.
Immediately after discovering Spider-Man aboard the ship, Iron Man becomes furious. He questions the young hero about his reason for coming, insisting that he hadn’t thought his decision through. Spider-Man simply responds: “I thought about it. You can’t be a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man if there is no neighborhood.“
The quote is incredibly mature and establishes that Spider-Man fully understands what’s at stake. This justifies his appearance alongside the Avengers even after he refused a place in their ranks, and irrefutably explains his reasoning for going back on his decision. Considering the path Infinity War In the end, the quote is even more poignant, as it establishes that Spider-Man will risk everything to protect the people in his home.
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“We won, Mr. Stark. We won, you did it, sir, you did it.”
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
After being wiped out of existence by Thanos at the end of Infinity WarSpider-Man’s role in Avengers: Endgame is limited. Only when Hulk manages to gather the Infinity Stones and reverse Thanos’ attack does Spider-Man finally appear, emerging through portals with the MCU’s other fallen heroes to fight Thanos once again. It’s after the conclusion of the Battle of Earth that Spider-Man delivers one of his most memorable lines in the MCU.
After Iron Man’s heroic act of self-sacrifice, his fellow Avengers and closest friends rally around him. Spider-Man’s reaction is one of disbelief, approaching his mentor’s lifeless body. He stammers out his pain saying, “We won, Mr. Stark. We won, you did it, sir, you did it.“
Seeing Spider-Man choking back tears as he tries to awaken the fallen hero is heartbreaking. The line is filled with youthful innocence that feels as emotionally raw as Stark’s own death. This really makes it clear how upset Spider-Man is about losing his idol, marking this as an incredible and devastating quote.
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“The world needs the next Iron Man.”
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
As the first MCU film released after the events of Avengers: Endgame and the death of Tony Stark, Spider-Man: Far From Home had a significant narrative challenge to face. The film followed Spider-Man as he tried to enjoy the life of a normal student traveling across Europe, complicated by his grief over Iron Man’s death. An encounter with Mysterio, who establishes himself as a new hero in the public eye, causes Spider-Man to question his place in Tony Stark’s legacy.
After growing doubts about his ability to responsibly use the EDITH glasses left behind by Tony, Peter Parker trusts Mysterio. Convinced he is talking to another hero, he expresses his reluctance to fill the void left by Stark’s death. He explains to Mysterio that “the world needs the next Iron Man,” before deciding to bestow the EDITH glasses on the apparent hero.
The immediate revelation that Beck was manipulating Peter makes the sentence even sadder, but it already showed Peter’s continued difficulty in processing his loss. The quote showed that Peter was considering the entire world’s feelings as well as his ownand that he wasn’t sure if he was worthy of being Stark’s successor. It’s a quote that carries significant meaning not just for Spider-Man’s story, but for the MCU as a whole at that point in its narrative.
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“Make everyone forget… about me.”
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
The cast of Spider-Man: No Way Home featured many returning characters from the hero’s cinematic past, offering plenty of opportunities for new narrative elements and powerful moments. Follow Peter Parker’s attempts to help five villains from across the Multiverse brought to the MCU by a botched spell. It also saw the return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Men, who helped their MCU counterpart.
The film’s ending saw reality crumble, as Spider-Man villains from across the Multiverse continued to invade the MCU. Spider-Man is forced to make an impossible decision, asking Strange to make everyone forget about Peter Parker in order to repair the damage. He practically begs his fellow hero: “cast a new spell… Make everyone forget… about me.”
Immediately afterwards, No way home shows how much this impacts Peter Parker’s life. Having lost everyone who was important to him in one way or another, he is forced to start over as a hero entirely alone. It’s an incredibly sad and surprisingly inspiring ending, because the quote marks a point of no return for the young hero. The long-standing implications for Peter Parker’s life become clear in that powerful moment, showing the true nature of the MCU. Spider-Man and his remarkable potential for heroism.