Spider-Noir: Every Noir Movie That Inspired Nic Cage’s Spider-Man Spinoff

In Spider-Noir, Nicolas Cage plays Ben Reilly, aka The Spider, in 1930s New York, set in an alternate Marvel Noir universe. Cage’s new show has already won over critics, with FandomWire’s Joshua Ryan rating the series a solid 8 in our review of Spider-Noir. With Cage at its helm, a noir-themed setting, and an authentic black & white watch option, Prime Video nailed this Spider-Man spinoff show.

Spider-Noir	Details
Showrunner	Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot
Cast	Nicolas Cage, Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, Abraham Popoola, Jack Huston, and Brendan Gleeson
RT Score (as of May 29, 2026)	91% | 93%
IMDb Score (as of May 29, 2026)	8.3/10
Streamer	Prime Video

Fans are impressed with the darker themes inspired by the film noir genre. There are several incredible films from the genre that inspired the new superhero outing. From Humphrey Bogart‘s noir classics to Rita Hayworth’s femme fatale movie, here are all the noir movies that made Spider-Noir possible.

1 The Maltese Falcon (1941)

During his interview with Esquire, Nicolas Cage made his admiration of Humphrey Bogart very clear. He shared that his character of Ben Reilly was “70 percent Bogart.” While he didn’t mention The Maltese Falcon specifically, we see a lot of inspiration from this classic in the new Prime Video show. For instance, Ben Reilly and Silvermane’s dynamic closely resembled that of Sam Spade, the P.I. character of Bogart in this movie, and Kasper Gutman.

According to Spider-Noir showrunner Oren Uziel, Karen Rodriguez’s Janet is drawn from the character of Effie in the movie (via a separate Esquire report). The film revolves around a simple arson case that eventually turns into a full-blown controversy. The movie and the show also share the same New York City setting.

2 The Big Sleep (1946)

Another Bogart movie that inspired Nicolas Cage for the role was The Big Sleep. In the movie, General Sternwood hires a P.I., Philip Marlowe, to look into the actions of his daughters, played by Lauren Bacall and Martha Vickers. Bogart disguises himself in the movie for his investigation, which inspired Cage’s scene in Spider-Noir, where he goes undercover.

In the show, Ben Reilly “flips up the brim of his hat, wears round glasses, and talks in a nasal voice”, which are all the things Bogart does in The Big Sleep (via Esquire). Moreover, the movie’s female star, Lauren Bacall, also served as an inspiration for Li Jun Li’s Cat Hardy.

3 Great Guy (1936)

Nicolas Cage also names James Cagney as one of his inspirations, besides Bogart. In the show, Ben goes to a theater to watch Great Guy, teasing one of Cagney’s most underrated works. In the movie, James Cagney’s ex-boxer Johnny Cave takes over the position of Chief Deputy of the New York Department of Weights and Measures. He is brought into the position to take on the corrupt merchants and politicians.

It is very similar to how Ben Reilly, aka The Spider, takes on the most powerful villains in the city, including Brendan Gleeson’s Irish mob boss Silvermane. Great Guy was not as popular as Cagney’s other works, like The Public Enemy and G-Men, but the tease in the show proved that it is a great noir film.

4 Gilda (1946)

Li Jun Li’s Cat Hardy immediately reminds you of all the famous femme fatale characters in noir movies. One of the closest resemblances is in Gilda, where Rita Hayworth plays lounge singer Gilda Mundson just like Cat in the show. Uziel confirmed that Hayworth is one of the actresses who inspired Li Jun Li’s character in the movie.

In the movie, Gilda is the wife of gangster Ballin Mundson. He hires Johnny Farrell to watch over her. Hayworth’s character lures Glenn Ford’s protagonist into deep trouble, just like Cat Hardy does with Ben Reilly.

5 Double Indemnity (1944)

Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity is an all-time classic, starring Edward G. Robinson, Fred MacMurray, and Barbara Stanwyck. The plot revolves around an insurance salesman who plots with a woman to kill her husband. Robinson plays a claims manager who suspects a foul play and begins to investigate the case.

A regular name associated with the noir film genre, Robinson was one of the actors who inspired Cage’s performance as a private investigator in the show. The overall atmosphere and Barbara Stanwyck’s femme fatale character are also a couple of things that Spider-Noir has in common with this movie.

6 Dark Passage (1947)

Real-life couple Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart appeared in Delmer Daves’ film noir, Dark Passage. Bacall and Bogart inspired the Spider-Noir characters of Cat Hardy and Ben Reilly, making this film important for the Prime Video show.

In the movie, Bogart’s Vincent Parry wants to clear his name of murder. He resorts to plastic surgery and changes his appearance, which is when Bogart’s face is revealed in the movie. Bacall’s Irene Jansen provides him shelter during this ordeal.

7 In a Lonely Place (1950)

American cinema chain, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, created a curated four-week film series called Web of Shadows: Films That Inspired Spider-Noir as part of the show’s promotions. Bogart’s In a Lonely Place was one of the movies in this four-week film series. In the movie, Bogart plays Dixon Steele, a troubled screenwriter who is suspected of murder. It is very similar to the plots of Sunset Boulevard and All About Eve in its theme about the pitfalls of celebrity life.

8 Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

Tony Curtis and Burt Lancaster’s Sweet Smell of Success was another one of the movies in Alamo’s four-week film series. It also falls into satirical drama and tells the story of a sleazy newspaper columnist who tries to ruin his sister’s relationship with a man whom he deems unworthy of her. The shadowy noir cinematography and the music, featuring jazz performances by the Chico Hamilton Quintet, are similar to what we see in Spider-Noir.

9 The Third Man (1949)

The Third Man was another one of the movies in Alamo’s four-week film series. Orson Welles plays Harry Lime, who dies under mysterious circumstances. His friend and American writer, Holly Martins, played by Joseph Cotten, investigates his murder. During the process, he becomes infatuated with Harry’s girlfriend Anna Schmidt, played by Alida Valli. The film is celebrated for its acting and atmospheric cinematography.

10 Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

Robert Aldrich’s Kiss Me Deadly is the fourth movie in Alamo’s four-week film series. Based on Mickey Spillane’s novel of the same name, it follows a private investigator in LA, who gets entangled in a mystery after helping an escapee from a nearby psychiatric hospital. It is one of the influential noir films of the time, which inspired not only Spider-Noir but also the works of François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, and Quentin Tarantino.

Noir Films that Inspired Spider-Noir	IMDb Score (As of May 29, 2026)	Streaming On (As of May 29, 2026)
The Maltese Falcon (1941)	7.9/10	Rent on Prime Video or Apple TV
The Big Sleep (1946)	7.9/10	Rent on Prime Video or Apple TV
Great Guy (1936)	6.3/10	The Roku Channel, Hoopla
Gilda (1946)	7.6/10	TCM
Double Indemnity (1944)	8.3/10	Prime Video
Dark Passage (1947)	7.5/10	Rent on Prime Video or Apple TV
In a Lonely Place (1950)	7.9/10	Rent on Prime Video or Apple TV
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)	8/10	Prime Video and MGM+
The Third Man (1949)	8.1/10	Prime Video
Kiss Me Deadly (1955)	7.5/10	JustWatch TV

What do you think of these noir genre movies? Let us know in the comments below!

Spider-Noir is now available for streaming on MGM+ and Prime Video.