If You Loved 'Spider-Noir' Starring Nic Cage, These 5 Brilliant Movies Are a Must-See
Some inspired the show's creators, some share its dark atmosphere, and some will simply give you the same sense of nostalgia.
All episodes of the first season of Spider-Noir, starring Nicolas Cage as a detective leading a double life, are now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. However, the executives have not yet renewed the show for a second season, leaving fans in suspense.
To help pass the time, we've compiled a list of five movies that complement the Spider-Noir experience perfectly.
1. 'Sunset Boulevard', 1950
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
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In the opening episode, viewers learn of the tragic fate of Reilly's fiancée, who drowned before his eyes. This scene is revisited several times throughout the season, and there is one shot in particular where Reilly is frozen in the water, completely helpless.
It is a direct reference to an iconic shot from another noir masterpiece by Billy Wilder: Sunset Boulevard.
The movie won three Oscars and tells the story of a failed screenwriter who finds himself in the mansion of a fading silent film star by a twist of fate.
2. 'Calvary', 2014
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
The main antagonist in the Spider-Noir series is Silvermane, a powerful mafia boss. He is portrayed by Brendan Gleeson, a favorite of the McDonagh brothers and one of Ireland's most talented actors.
Gleeson excels at portraying compelling villains and supporting characters, but he has also played some outstanding leading roles.
His breakthrough performance, and to this day his most famous, was his role as the priest in John Michael McDonagh's philosophical black comedy, Calvary.
3. 'Adaptation', 2002
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
In Spider-Noir, Nicolas Cage plays two roles: the sarcastic private detective Ben Reilly and an elderly, out-of-shape superhero.
Another prime example of Cage's dual roles, and perhaps the finest performance of his career, is in Spike Jonze's postmodern comedy Adaptation, written by Charlie Kaufman.
Traditionally, Kaufman wrote characters based on himself. In this film, one character is his exact neurotic counterpart, and the other is a Jungian shadow: a more confident and successful impersonation of himself. And both characters are flawlessly played by Cage.
4. 'Double Indemnity', 1944
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
As its title suggests, Spider-Noir draws heavily on the aesthetics of classic film noir. Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity is an absolute masterpiece of the genre and largely established the rules by which this aesthetic operates.
The story of insurance salesman Walter Neff, who falls in love with the cunning seductress Mrs. Dietrichson, is a classic example of the femme fatale trope.
This trope occurs when the male protagonist loses his composure upon meeting a beautiful femme fatale who uses him for her own ends.
5. 'The Maltese Falcon', 1941
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
Cage undoubtedly enjoyed playing his version of Humphrey Bogart – it was his iconic portrayal of Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon that inspired the creators of Spider-Noir to write Ben Reilly.
With his performance, Bogart set the gold standard for the hard-boiled private detective, a standard that Hollywood subsequently copied.
Cage not only imitates Spade's mannerisms and gestures, but also wears the same clothes, down to the smallest details, such as his hat, coat, and suspenders.
