This probably won't come as an enormous shock, but according to early Rotten Tomatoes reviews, critics enjoyed "Across the Universe" quite a lot. As Ben Travis at Empire wrote, "'Across The Spider-Verse' cranks every dial to 11, and somehow doesn't collapse in on itself. Visually astonishing, emotionally powerful, narratively propulsive — it's another masterpiece." ScreenCrush's Matt Singer agreed, saying the sequel builds perfectly on its predecessor: "Expands Into the Spider-Verse's already eye-popping animation in even more audacious directions."
Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent agreed, writing, "Out of every multiverse, this is the easiest to root for." Over at The Daily Beast, Nick Schrager was effusive in his praise, saying a new standard has been set: "Setting a new benchmark for diverse, agile, breathtaking animation, "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" is as striking as non-live-action films come."
Peter Bradshaw at The Guardian had a small caveat but clearly enjoyed the movie nonetheless, saying, "It's dynamic and intriguing, though the detail and the emotion can get lost in the splurge." Meanwhile, Brian Truitt writes at USA Today that the movie contains multitudes when it comes to the narrative arc and emotional journey: "The heart and humor are still there, but a serious side also permeates the impressive follow-up."
