John Says Across the Spider-Verse Deserves More Credit Than Critics Are Giving It

Across the Spider-Verse is getting overlooked by critics, and John is not having it. When Kristian asked whether he was a fan of the film, John did not hold back, saying, "I love this one absolutely."

This matters because John's frustration points to a bigger conversation about how animated films, even acclaimed ones, get treated during awards and year-end list season.

John Says Critics Lists Snubbing Across the Spider-Verse Drive Him Insane

John did not mince words about seeing the film left off critics' rankings. "I see too many critics lists not including it and I just go insane when I see that," he said. He went further, arguing the snubs are not random but reflect a pattern against the genre. "It's clearly a bias animated films towards an animated superhero film, it drives me insane," John said.

John Breaks Down Why Miles Morales's Story in Across the Spider-Verse Is So Strong

John laid out exactly what he thinks critics are missing in the actual substance of the movie. He described it as being about a kid of mixed race origins who does not have a lot of money and is struggling to figure out his voice in a world that is tough on him. Beyond that, John pointed to the personal dilemma at the center of Miles's arc, the question of whether to tell his parents or not tell his parents about the secret he is carrying. He framed it in stark terms, asking whether Miles reveals himself, whether he essentially comes out of the closet with his secret.

John Argues Miles Morales as a Character Does Not Get Enough Credit

For John, all of this adds up to a franchise and a character that are being undersold. "There's a lot here that people don't give credit for to this franchise and to this movie and to this character of Miles Morales that I think is great," John said.

Do you think animated superhero films like Across the Spider-Verse get a fair shot on critics' year-end lists, or is John right that there's a bias at play?