Should I watch Spider-Noir in black and white or in color?
Spider-Noir has arrived, with the eight-episode live-action Spidey series hitting MGM Plus first in the United States. Before you begin your Memorial Day binge-watch, however, you might be a little bit confused as to how you should watch it.
The new superhero show was filmed in color, but on streaming has the option for viewers to select between "Authentic Black and White" and "True-Hue Full Color." This is because Spider-Noir takes place in 1930s New York City, and is inspired by the black-and-white, mystery noir movies of the time. Nicolas Cage stars as Detective Ben Reilly, who has since retired from his days as the city's resident superhero, the Spider. When an exceptional case comes across his desk, however, he's forced to become the Spider once more.
If you're wondering which is the best way to watch the series, we've broken it down for you below. No spoilers, just vibes. For even more, you can check out our full Spider-Noir review.
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Should I watch Spider-Noir in black and white or in color?
There's no right or wrong answer! The show was filmed in color, as Amazon was (according to star Nicolas Cage) nervous about filming in black-and-white. It was Cage who ultimately persuaded the studio to do both, telling Esquire that color would appeal to a younger audience, and that black-and-white might lead them to go out and revisit the pulp movies of the 30s and classic noir of the 40s and 50s.
If you decide to watch the show in "Authentic Black and White," it really does transport you to a different time and bring out those old-school vibes. It also adds to the mystery element, making the stakes feel just a bit higher.
If you decide to watch in "True-Hue Full Color," you do get to see the bright, comic-book-esque colors used throughout the series – from Robbie Robertson's flashy suits to Cat Hardy's stage makeup and glittery lounge singer attire.
Both options are pretty great. My personal recommendation is to start off in black and white, switch to color for the second episode, and then continue to switch back and forth. You could very well end up wanting to watch all of it in black and white or all of it in color, and that's totally up to you! I think switching between the two gives it a nice mix.
Sign up for the Total Film NewsletterSpider-Noir premieres on MGM Plus in the US on May 25, before arriving on Prime Video globally on May 27. In the meantime, check out our guide to the other best new TV shows on the way in 2026.
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Lauren Milici is a Senior Entertainment Writer for GamesRadar+ based in New York City. She previously reported on breaking news for The Independent's Indy100 and created TV and film listicles for Ranker. Her work has been published in Fandom, Nerdist, Paste Magazine, Vulture, PopSugar, Fangoria, and more.
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