When it comes to superhero movies from the 2000s, the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies were arguably the ones that dominated the decade the most. It is not an overstatement to say that Sam Raimi’s campy trilogy of movies starring Tobey Maguire were pop culture phenomenon’s when they first came out. The first movie, in particular, stood out for being a campy and wholesome blockbuster that served as the perfect escapism in the dark times the world was living in. With that said, these movies appeared to have become yesterday’s news following the release of movies like The Dark Knight and The Avengers, but in recent years, there has been a newfound appreciation for them, in a similar manner to the Star Wars prequels. With that in mind, here are 10 things that make the Sam Raimi trilogy so well remembered.
Tobey Maguire
Tobey Maguire’s performance as Peter Parker/Spider-Man stands as a very memorable take on the Wall-Crawler. With his awkwardness that many people have found endearing, as well as his character’s constant desire to perform altruistic deeds, Maguire’s performance has had many people proclaiming him to be the definitive live-action Spider-Man, even in light of Tom Holland’s well-regarded performance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While there have been detractors who have complained about Maguire’s take on Peter Parker being too awkward and not as prone to the character’s trademark quips as they would like, in addition to his frequent on-screen crying, none of this has prevented him from being the definitive Spider-Man for many people.
Willem DaFoe
Some would say that a hero is only as good as his villain, and Willem DaFoe as Norman Osborn/the Green Goblin is certainly a memorable villain. DaFoe’s reputation for playing hammy and over-the-top characters proved to lend itself well to the psychotic character of the Green Goblin. Balancing both the well-meaning but neglectful father that is Norman Osborn, as well as the power-hungry psychopath that is the Green Goblin, DaFoe’s performance has managed to both entertain and terrify people throughout the entirety of Sam Raimi’s trilogy. Few actors could pull off talking to a mask as effectively as Willem DaFoe.
The Campiness
If there is one thing that both fans and detractors of these movies can agree on, it’s that they’re extremely silly and old-fashioned, like a 1960s comic book brought to life. Just like the aforementioned Star Wars prequels, the dialogue in these movies can be rather awkward and “cheesy” to listen to, but they’re delivered with such a level of earnestness that, like with Tobey Maguire’s performance in general, it’s difficult for many not to find it endearing. Whether it’s the sappy romantic dialogue between Peter and MJ or silly lines like “It’s you who’s out Gobby, out of your mind!”, the dialogue is difficult to forget.
The Horror Elements
Despite the generally silly and lighthearted atmosphere of these films, they don’t forget to remind you that Sam Raimi is a horror director at heart. The first Spider-Man movie has more than a few couple of jump scares, in addition to a scene of people getting disintegrated by one of the Green Goblin’s trademark pumpkin bombs, but perhaps the most (in)famous scary scene in these movies is the hospital scene in Spider-Man 2. Seeing Doctor Otto Octavius’ metal claws murdering a room of innocent doctors while they scream for their lives makes for a jarring, but memorable tonal shift.
The New Yorkers Helping Spider-Man
During the climax of the film, as Spider-Man is desperately trying to save both Mary Crane and a crane full of children from falling to their deaths, some unlikely help arrives for our hero. As the villainous Green Goblin attempts to stop Spider-Man, a band of brave New Yorkers show up and begin defiantly throwing various objects at the villain. While earlier in the film, the people of New York were shown to be divided on Spider-Man, with some viewing him as a menace, this scene cements the idea that our hero has managed to inspire the people to rally together to stop the true threat to their city.
The Opening Sequence in Spider-Man 2
With Spider-Man’s origin out of the way, Spider-Man 2 was given the freedom to start things off with the Web-Slinger in action. So, what is the first thing we see him do? Surprisingly, it’s not stopping a crime, but delivering pizzas on schedule! Right off the bat, this sounds like a ridiculous way of opening your big and exciting superhero movie, but like many things in these movies, it’s hard not to love it, especially as Spider-Man is shown taking the time out of his urgent task to save some children, reminding us that even when he’s not stopping crime, Peter Parker is a hero. To top it off, there’s the now-iconic line, otherwise known as “Pizza Time.”
The Train Sequence
While the opening sequence of Spider-Man 2 is a lighthearted introduction to the movie, the train sequence where Spider-Man is fighting Doc Ock serves as an intense action sequence where our protagonist is desperately trying to stop the bad guy. With its inventive stunts and constant sense of tension, the scene truly had audiences in 2004 at the edge of their seats. While it’s easy to make jokes about some of Tobey Maguire’s weird facial expressions, the scene where a train full of grateful civilians promise to keep Peter’s identity a secret never ceases to be heartwarming.
The Dance Scene
Yes, people have talked ad nauseum about this scene, but that alone is a good reason to justify its place on this list. In a sequence that shows off just how much bonding with the Venom symbiote has changed Peter, “Emo Peter Parker” randomly begins dancing in public and hitting on random women, much to their disgust, all set to James Brown’s Drive That Funky Soul. This scene has often been cited as a notorious low point for Spider-Man, to the point where it received a call back in 2018’s critically acclaimed Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Cringy? Perhaps, but memorable all the same.
Alfred Molina
Along with Willem DaFoe as the Green Goblin, Alfred Molina as the tragic Doctor Octopus is another well-regarded villain, and for good reason. While the character does follow a similar route as Willem DaFoe’s character, in that he’s a man corrupted by a split personality, there is a distinct humanity to his performance. His interactions with Peter before becoming a villain, his grief over the death of his wife and the manipulation he suffers at the hands of his creation makes it clear that he is not just some cartoony comic book bad guy. His heroic sacrifice at the end cements his status as a tragic character.
J.K. Simmons
This one was a no-brainer. J.K. Simmons has always been a respected actor, but his role as the Spider-Man hating J. Jonah Jameson is a performance that people won’t be forgetting anytime soon. Despite being a comic relief side character, Simmons brings such a level of manic energy to the role that makes it clear he is giving it his A-game. There’s not much to the character of Jameson, but there doesn’t need to be, as he perfectly stands out as a loudmouthed and rude boss who, nevertheless, is willing to lie to protect one of his employees from the Green Goblin. It’s no wonder he reprised his role for the MCU.
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