Top 15 Moments from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy
Fans are excited about returning characters from director Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy following the official reveal of the Spider-Man: No Way Home teaser trailer. Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy starred Tobey Maguire as the titular main character in Spider-Man (2002), Spider-Man 2 (2004), and Spider-Man 3 (2007).
While the third installment received a mixed reception, the first two movies are considered two of the best superhero movies.
Nonetheless, all three movies were a commercial success, making lots of money at the box office. Whenever the classic Marvel comics hero has a new movie, Marvel fans reach new heights of excitement for the next installment.
The series’ popularity is still prominent today, with the addition of Maguire’s Spider-Man costume in Marvel’s Spider-Man due to fan demand. The popular video game was developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment and Marvel Games. The first game in the epic single-player adventure series is available on PS4 and PS5.
A recent Playstation Showcase announced a sequel to Marvel’s Spider-Man, introducing Tony Todd as the voice of Venom. Yuri Lowenthal and Nadji Jeter return as Peter Parker and Miles Morales from a previous game. The game will release on PS5 in 2023 and will surely push the capabilities of the console. This will be a great step forward from previous Spider-Man games.
Thanks to nostalgia and hype for Spider-Man’s latest installment, No Way Home, die-hard fans have dissected quotes from the trilogy to create countless memes.
Whether heartwarming or memeable, here are the top 15 moments from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy.
15. Peter and Mary Jane Get Together: Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2 ends with Mary Jane Watson (played by Kirsten Dunst) ditching her wedding at the Riverside Church to see Peter at his apartment. Mary Jane tells Peter she wants to face the dangers of Spider-Man alongside him, reaffirming her love for him in the process.
It is great to see Peter and Mary Jane’s iconic romance recognized on the big screen, but one can’t help but feel bad for John Jameson, the man Mary Jane left at the altar.
Mary Jane’s “go get ‘em tiger” must make Peter feel like the Lion King of New York. Perhaps Dunst and Maguire will return as a married couple in Spider-Man: No Way Home?
14. Peter and Harry versus Sandman and Venom: Spider-Man 3
Spider-Man 3 is infamous for having three bad guys, but these villains make for an entertaining climax to the movie.
As Peter struggles to save Mary Jane, Sandman takes a giant monstrous form, and Venom ties the webbed hero down. Things look bleak for the wallcrawler until Harry Osborn (played by James Franco) has a change of heart, joining Peter as one of the good guys.
Harry also sacrifices himself to save Peter, getting impaled by his glider like his father. They may have died the same way, but Norman died selfishly while Harry’s death was selfless.
13. Doc Ock Holds the Sun in his Hands: Spider-Man 2
“The power of the sun in the palm of my hand,” exclaims Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus after starting his experiment.
Peter and his best friend Harry Osborn gather to watch Dr. Otto Octavius’ latest scientific breakthrough with other scientists. He explains the artificial intelligence behind his mechanical arms and how they can control fusion reactions.
When the failed fusion experiment goes critical, Spider-Man arrives to save the day. Unfortunately, the glass from the building shatters, killing Octavius’ wife. It is always tragic when an innocent husband or wife of a character dies in the line of fire.
For this scene in Spider-Man 2, Raimi utilized the real-life Anthology Film Archive building in New York City for exterior shots of Octavius’ lab.
12. Spider-Man and Green Goblin’s Rooftop Encounter: Spider-Man
The adventure reaches new heights in Spider-Man when the Green Goblin (played by Willem Dafoe) attacks the Daily Bugle. Spider-Man swings in to save J. Jonah Jameson (played by J. K. Simmons) but gets knocked out by the Green Goblin.
Spider-Man awakens tied up on a rooftop, where the Green Goblin offers an alliance. This moment conveys the value systems of both characters. Both have great power, but the hero and villain venture down different paths with their abilities.
Green Goblin’s quote, “the one thing they love more than a hero is to see a hero fail, fall, die trying. In spite of everything you’ve done for them, eventually they will hate you,” rings true in later movies in the Spider-Man Trilogy.
In Spider-Man 3, Harry’s hatred for Spider-Man hits an all-time high, as well as New York losing faith in Spider-Man thanks to the hold the Venom symbiote has over him.
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will undergo similar scrutiny in No Way Home thanks to the actions of Mysterio (played by Jake Gyllenhaal). Holland will need to win New York back like Maguire once had to.
11. Harry Osborn unmasks Peter: Spider-Man 2
Harry and Peter have multiple fights in the Osborn apartment during Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. This moment is where Peter and Harry’s decaying friendship officially fell apart.
In a deal for more trillium, Doc Ock trades Harry an unconscious Spider-Man. Harry is conflicted, as he wants to kill Spider-Man, but is too taken aback by the man behind the mask.
Dramatic moments like this make Spider-Man 2 a great superhero movie. While the story of this great film takes place in New York City, this scene was filmed at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills.
10. J. Jonah Jameson References a Marvel Hero: Spider-Man 2
When Doctor Octopus begins to wreak havoc on New York, J. Jonah Jameson brainstorms villain names with Hoffman at the Daily Bugle. Hoffman suggests naming Doc Ock “Doctor Strange.” While Jameson likes it, he says the name is already in use.
What started as a fun easter egg seems to have come full circle for the Marvel franchise. Who could have known that 17 years later, Doctor Strange would appear in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Raimi would be directing the sorcerer’s upcoming MCU sequel?
It would be a neat callback for Spider-Man: No Way Home or Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to reference this moment.
9. Emo Peter Parker Takes Over: Spider-Man 3
The mild-mannered Peter Parker acting cool (or his definition of it at least) is hilarious yet cringy. Maybe viewers can give him the benefit of the doubt since he was under the influence of a symbiote.
While walking down the street, Peter performs various dance moves and points finger guns at women walking past him. Peter also acts not like himself at work and around other people, showing his downfall.
His outfit and hairstyle are inexcusable, however.
Maguire’s Spider-Man should probably keep this emo phase to himself, otherwise facing a roast from Tom Holland’s friends in No Way Home.
8. Jameson as Spider-Man: Spider-Man 2
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, at least according to Jameson. When Peter quits being Spider-Man and throws away his costume, Jameson scoops it up from the trash. In his office, he proceeds to try on the Spider-Man suit and Peter’s mask and pretend to be the hero.
Since Peter made the costume to fit himself, how was Jameson able to wear it? It must be one-size-fits-all.
7. Pizza Time: Spider-Man 2
Struggling with the delicate balance of his dual life as a college student and Spider-Man, Peter tries to make ends meet by delivering pizza. To try and save time, Peter uses his powers to drop off a large order of pizzas.
During the moment referred to as a meme by many fans, Peter slams several pizza boxes on a counter, exclaiming “Pizza Time!” Unfortunately, the unamused receptionist tells him he is late, resulting in free pizza and Peter getting fired.
Even though Peter has all these amazing superpowers, Raimi’s Spider-Man movies contain a compelling human story about a guy trying to make ends meet. The journey of both Peter Parker and Spider-Man is tragic yet uplifting.
6. Norman Finds Out at Thanksgiving: Spider-Man
Peter is definitely not thankful for the Thanksgiving holiday in Spider-Man.
Following a fight between him and his new nemesis Green Goblin, a bleeding Peter returns home to a crowded apartment. Since his Aunt May (played by Rosemary Harris) and Norman Osborn are suspicious of his presence, Peter must evade them before changing out of his costume.
Norman’s suspicion grows when he hears a drop of blood fall from the ceiling. His suspicions of Peter are confirmed when Aunt May points out he is bleeding at the dinner table.
From Peter’s entrance to Norman figuring out his identity at the dinner table, the tension of this scene is executed perfectly by Raimi. Although, Norman’s rudeness towards Mary Jane was unnecessary.
5. Peter Tells Aunt May the Truth: Spider-Man 2
In this heartbreaking scene, Peter tells Aunt May the truth about Uncle Ben’s death. The way the camera lingers in a close-up on Peter during his confession does a great job amplifying his sorrow. Tobey Maguire gives a stellar performance in this scene.
Aunt May is distraught at the revelation, but perhaps Uncle Ben would be proud of his nephew for taking responsibility for his actions.
4. Spider-Man No More: Spider-Man 2
After consulting his doctor about the loss of his superpowers, Peter ponders what he wants in life outside of being Spider-Man. Peter ultimately decides to give up the mantle of Spider-Man, going against his Uncle Ben’s wishes, whom he sees in a dream.
While good for Peter for trying to take control of his personal life, it is tragic to see him dismiss Uncle Ben’s words of wisdom.
In a neat callback to Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 #50, Raimi recreates the moment when Peter throws away his Spider-Man costume. Raimi was influenced by many of the Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 comic books when creating his trilogy.
Peter should probably see a doctor more often. Being a superhuman crime fighter that swings from high buildings is bound to cause at least a little bit of back pain.
3. The Final Battle: Spider-Man
The final battle between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin is a brutal fight filled with lots of comic book-style violence. Between exploding bombs, gritty hand-to-hand combat, and constant slamming into brick walls, it is a miracle Peter survived his origin story.
Norman’s final pleas to Peter are pathetic but show how much the Green Goblin has twisted Norman’s mind. Not that anyone deserves to be impaled by a glider, but he brought it onto himself.
The Green Goblin will be back for revenge in No Way Home, so Tom Holland’s Spider-Man better watch out for his brutality.
2. Fighting Doc Ock on a Train: Spider-Man 2
A high-speed battle ensues when Spider-Man and Doc Ock are fighting alongside a train full of people. The brilliant Otto Octavius escalates the conflict by sabotaging the train’s controls with his mechanical arms. This fight takes the film to new heights of unprecedented excitement.
In arguably one of the most iconic moments of Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, Peter slows down the train by webbing surrounding buildings.
After slowing down the train, the train’s occupants surround the unmasked hero. Peter finds two children holding his mask, giving it back to him.
Everyone on the train promises not to share Peter’s secret identity. But come on, there has to be one person who at least thought about sharing it. Peter should have made them sign some privacy policy before they spill the beans to Jameson or another journalist.
From Maguire’s train problems to Mysterio hitting Holland with a train, the Spider-Men do not have a good track record facing the vehicle.
Hopefully, no trains are around when Holland faces off against Doc Ock in No Way Home. Otherwise, he is in for a bad time unless Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man can tag in.
1. Aunt May Inspires Peter: Spider-Man 2
While packing her belongings for a move, Aunt May gives Peter insightful advice about how people need heroes and the burdens of being heroic, raising important metaphorical questions.
Aunt May’s speech is a sensational expansion to Uncle Ben’s lesson of “with great power comes great responsibility.” Their advice changes Peter’s life. Rosemary Harris delivers a moving performance that gives Peter the inspiration to become Spider-Man again.
Aunt May’s words of wisdom also influence Peter’s actions in the final battle against Doc Ock. By reciting a similar speech, Peter reminds Dr. Otto Octavius of the brilliant scientist he once was, saving New York City and Mary Jane.
What is your favorite moment from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy? Does the title of best superhero movie belong to anything in Raimi’s blockbuster Spider-Man series? These movies have earned their way into the Anthology Film Archives. Whether you love the first movie or last, this is a series everyone can enjoy!
Spider-Man: No Way Home has a release date of Dec. 17 in the United States. Fans of Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy will be ecstatic if Tobey Maguire returns for new stories related to Spider-Man.
For more superhero cinema content and a break from real life, check out:
Tom Holland’s Best Interview Moments
Easter Eggs in Marvel’s “What If… Zombies!?”
10 Relatable Peter Parker Quotes
Five Marvel Comics to Read Before Watching “What If” on Disney+
