Across The Spider-Verse: Why The Webslinging Sound Effect Matters More Than You Think

"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" swung past the competition for best opening-day box office of 2023 and is poised to make even more money as fans swarm back to theaters to spot its countless references, tiny details, and Easter eggs they missed. While some are obvious, like the numerous nods to the live-action Spideys, others are more hidden, like the fact that each Spider-Person has their own distinct "thwip" sound for webslinging.

"The sound department have crafted different thwips for all of the main characters," Phil Lord told BBC Radio 1, picking the detail as the visual development in the Spidey-filled sequel he is proudest of. "When you see Hobie Brown, his thwip is a guitar, and in fact, Miles' thwip has been updated since the last film to sound more mature."

At this point, it seems safe to assume that Lord, Christopher Miller, and the rest of the "Spider-Verse" crew put hours of thought into every detail of "Across the Spider-Verse." Unique thwips not only honor Spider-Man's iconic comic book sound effect but also further drive home the message of being unapologetically yourself. Of course, this isn't the movie's only reference to the comics — as stars Hailee Steinfeld and Shameik Moore said in the same interview, it would probably take about 75 rewatches of "Across the Spider-Verse" to notice all the hidden details.

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller giving Miles (Shameik Moore) a more "mature"-sounding webslinging sound effect plays into the producers' vision for the sequel, which is that it should mature along with its main character. In an appearance on the podcast "ReelBlend," Miller said, "I think there is naturally a thing that happens in sequels, where the protagonist maturing [means] the film has to mature with [them]. It has to get more sophisticated by its nature, or it feels unsatisfying. And so I think the film has to grow up too, to a certain degree."

"Even the lighting in this film has a more sophisticated sheen," Lord added, relating "Across to Spider-Verse" to "Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back," which brought more artistic lighting to the franchise.

Similarly, "Across the Spider-Verse" gives audiences a more mature Miles, who has physically grown up some since accepting his role as Spider-Man in "Into the Spider-Verse." His deeper voice, webslinging sound, and updated costume further show his growth between movies. The sequel also gives Miles a more mature story, focusing on the predestined death of a loved one as he fights against the tragedies that plague every Spider-Person's journey.