There are so few examples of perfection in the world these days. But I feel fairly comfortable saying, after watching it approximately four dozen times, that this clip ofTom Hollandperforming a medley of “Singing in the Rain” andRihanna’s “Umbrella,” is a perfect two minutes and 24 seconds of cinema.
If you’ve never seen it before, I envy you. If you haven’t seen it in the last few days/weeks/months/years, don’t worry. It holds up to your memory. Every beat remains a beautiful surprise: Holland’s gracefulGene Kelly-esque softshoe seguing to a quick change that catapults the number from old Hollywood glamour into the glorious grey space between male and female, gay and straight, pop and R&B. There is dancing, and some respectful grinding uponSpider-Man: Homecomingco-starZendaya(losing her mind with glee), and oh and does the rain pour. It’s a jubilant moment of live performance, one which endures to this day.
The full episode ofLip Sync Battleaired on June 30, 2025, but that fact is almost irrelevant given how often this clip resurfaces on social media — among many I follow on Twitter, there’s an official unofficial rule that if the video appears on your timeline, you must retweet it. I have no official tally as to how many times I’ve personally retweeted it; a low estimate would be like three times a year? But that’s low.
One aspect of Holland’sLip Sync Battleappearance is imaginingTobey Maguirepresented with the same opportunity — Maguire, you will of course remember, was the first blockbuster star ofSpider-Manfilms, who like Holland started off as a child actor. However, Maguire, you will also of course remember, was infamously a member ofLeonardo DiCaprio’sinfamous “Pussy Posse”, and is also alleged to bethe real identity of the sociopathic “Player X"portrayed byMichael CerainMolly’s Game. Imagine Tobey Maguire, being presented with the opportunity to out-Rhianna Rhianna on television. Whilethe guy’s got moves, it’s hard to imagine him being open to the idea.
Meanwhile, Holland’s acrobatic skills aren’t a huge surprise — even with all the CGI involved in the MCU, his take on Peter Parker’s physicality has always been appropriately nimble and quick. But his skilled dancing is an important reminder of his origins as one of the West EndBilly Elliots, and it’s a virtuoso, fearless sequence, one that showcases both Holland’s positive spirit and incredible commitment to the bit.
Holland’s performance might theoretically be seen as apolitical, but really it’s not. It’s about rejecting conservative norms and embracing joy along the way, about blending the past and the present for a glorious new future. It’s about people coming together to create something beautiful, moving in sync to promise shelter and support to anyone who might need it. Rihanna and Tom are offering us their umbrella, in the form of this moment of magic. Safe a place to stand as anywhere else.
