Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse fans are unhappy about the changes made to the movie for its digital release, including the omission of one of the best lines teased in multiple trailers.
GamesRadar reports that the digital release of Across the Spider-Verse cuts a line of dialogue delivered by Miles Morales voice actor Shameik Moore in the scene where his character faces off against Miguel O’Hara, AKA Spider-Man 2099. The original moment sees Miles saying, “Nah, I’mma do my own thing,” before declaring he’s going home. The “going home” part is now missing from the movie.
Viewers are confused over why the movie keeps getting released with minor changes to its dialogue or animations, with people taking to X (formerly known as Twitter) to vent their frustrations. A common complaint is that one of the theatrical cuts, which some fans preferred, is now seemingly lost forever.
I feeling I’m tripping bc I swore there was another line after “Nah, Imma do my own thing” pic.twitter.com/TyHzkONJc1
— Nicholas (@NicholasPas5) August 9, 2023
I’m a little upset that the digital
Version of Across The Spider-Verse
cut out so much cool stuff
the main two things I don’t like is
Them Cutting out the lines
“Sorry Man I’m Going Home” and
cutting out Gwen’s lines when
looking for Miles in the rubble pic.twitter.com/MTtss3GJH2— Kevykev2007 (Fan Account): (@kevykev2007) August 10, 2023
different versions was a neat idea at first but now it kinda sucks that we might not be able to ever watch the same version we saw in theatres💀
— ZaP__bOy (@ZaP__bOy) August 9, 2023
There’s no way this movie has “alternate versions” completely on purpose cuz they’ve “patched” this movie like six times already it’s not even fun anymore it’s just lame now. https://t.co/tt0Gfn2NBX
— Mau | Browntable – Support The WGA (@Browntable_Ent) August 9, 2023
X user @chrisagwrites assembled a handy list of all the differences they spotted in the digital version of Across the Spider-Verse compared to the theatrical release. One of the dialogue cuts that caused quite a stir came from the scene where Spider-Gwen is frantically searching for Miles beneath the rubble in Mumbattan.
I’m not bothered by most of the changes for the Across the Spider Verse digital release, and some I even like better (like cutting Miles “going home” line). This Gwen change I seriously disagree with though: https://t.co/SmrHLGHobY
— Schnee (@JD_Schnee) August 11, 2023
So I’m watching the Spider-Verse digital release, and they cut a bunch of harmless lines for no reason. Like Gwen panicking when she thinks Miles is crushed and Miles simply saying “Wow” in Earth 928. What is the reason bro?😭
— Chronos (@chronosUnsynced) August 9, 2023
Not too many changes that bother me but this one actually does frustrate me
— For The Love of Cinema🎥🎬 (@TEBerry2) August 11, 2023
I don’t even want a bootleg, much less a paid-for copy if it doesn’t have Gwen’s FULL freakout in it. I would gladly sacrifice my preference for all the other changes as long as Gwen’s FULL freakout is present.
— D (@_DrunkenHamster) August 11, 2023
At least two versions of Across the Spider-Verse rolled out in theatres in June. Some people attributed the change between the cuts to the moment Sony Pictures swapped out the prints to fix sound issues after viewers complained about the sound mixing and having trouble hearing the dialogue over the music.
When the second chapter of the Spider-Verse saga hit digital storefronts, fans who downloaded the movie put out a PSA for which version of the film featured on the release, making it canon. However, several people who saw the alternative theatrical cut are still reeling from the changes and missing certain moments.
theater version vs digital version of Across the Spider-Verse pic.twitter.com/VpxqTSnsLW
— Wong Updates (@WongUpdates) August 10, 2023
It’s such a shame that the version of across the spider-verse that’s been released to digital feels incredibly incomplete. A lot of things are either missing that were in the theatrical release or some things are just completely changed. Hopefully the Blu-ray gives everything
— NintenMaster64 (@NintenMaster64) August 10, 2023
im sorry but it was interesting and fun at first to see people talk about different versions of across the spider-verse but today after the digital release it started to bother me really
— rana ⧗ (@ranadjarin) August 9, 2023
Even with multiple versions floating around, Across the Spider-Verse has received widespread critical acclaim, with IGN’s own review calling it “a more-than-worthy follow-up to an all-time classic” that “surges with visual inventiveness and vibrance in an undeniably strong evolution of the style established in Into the Spider-Verse”.
You can also watch the first 10 minutes of the animated blockbuster here.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.