After being bitten by a genetically altered spider at Oscorp, nerdy but endearing high school student Peter Parker is endowed with amazing powers to become the superhero known as Spider-Man.
Direction
Raimi's Dutch angles and horror roots leak into every frame.
Acting
Dafoe's Goblin switch between menace and pathetic desperation.
Practical Effects
That train fight? Mostly real stunts, not pixels. Feel the weight.
Director
Sam Raimi
Tobey Maguire
Spider-Man / Peter Parker
Willem Dafoe
Green Goblin / Norman Osborn
Kirsten Dunst
Mary Jane Watson
James Franco
Harry Osborn
Cliff Robertson
Ben Parker
Rosemary Harris
May Parker
J.K. Simmons
J. Jonah Jameson
Joe Manganiello
Flash Thompson
Gerry Becker
Maximilian Fargas
Bill Nunn
Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson
Jack Betts
Henry Balkan
Stanley Anderson
General Slocum
Ron Perkins
Dr. Mendel Stromm
Michael Papajohn
Carjacker
K.K. Dodds
Simkins
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The iconic upside-down kiss was torture: Maguire couldn't breathe with water pouring up his nose, and Dunst later said it was 'miserable.' Movie magic!
This film essentially created the modern superhero blockbuster template—origin story, love interest, villain mirror, sequel tease—and every MCU movie since is paying rent on Raimi's blueprint.
US
