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Spider-Man (2002)

tomatometer

89

Average Rating: 7.6/10
Reviews Counted: 215
Fresh: 192 | Rotten: 23

Not only does Spider-Man provide a good dose of web-swinging fun, it also has a heart, thanks to the combined charms of director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire.

83

Average Rating: 7.1/10
Critic Reviews: 36
Fresh: 30 | Rotten: 6

Not only does Spider-Man provide a good dose of web-swinging fun, it also has a heart, thanks to the combined charms of director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire.

audience

65

liked it
Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 32,668,220

My Rating

Movie Info

After incorporating elements of comic book style and design into many of his films, director Sam Raimi helms this straight-ahead, big-budget comic book adaptation, which also marks acclaimed young actor Tobey Maguire's first dip into live-action blockbuster filmmaking. Spider-Man follows the template of the original Stan Lee/Steve Ditko source material, with hero Peter Parker an orphaned, intellectual teen loner living in Queens with his aunt (Rosemary Harris) and uncle (Cliff Robertson), and

Nov 1, 2002

$403.7M

Columbia Pictures

Cast

All Critics (215) | Top Critics (36) | Fresh (198) | Rotten (23) | DVD (55)

In emphasizing angst over energy, the movie is much like its hero -- not the dashing crime fighter in a red-and-black bodysuit but the introspective nerd who both endears and exasperates.

July 14, 2010 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | Comment
TIME Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A perfectly serviceable early-summer popcorn picture that will satisfy its core teen constituency and not displease general viewers looking for some disposable entertainment.

March 5, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Unfortunately the film, like many of its ilk, is driven by special effects, and there's a serious disconnect between Maguire's sweet-natured dialogue and Spider-Man's pounding violence and stunning acrobatic work.

April 17, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comments (4)
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's got appealing performers as the leads.

July 20, 2002 Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | Comment
Chicago Tribune
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Raimi gives this unapologetic fluff a mind, a heart and a keen sense of fun.

May 26, 2002 Comment
Rolling Stone
Top Critic IconTop Critic

[A]n energetic romp.

May 6, 2002 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | Comment
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A fun movie; may be too intense for younger kids.

December 28, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

Sam Raimi has gotten the exact mix right to create certainly one of the best superhero films ever made.

July 6, 2010 Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | Comment
Dark Horizons

Spider-Man is funny, poignant and true to form with Tobey Maguire and company fleshing out the famed comic-book characters with aplomb.

September 8, 2009 Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | Comment
Hollywood.com

Finally, a fully faithful adaptation to a comic book icon, save for some bumps along the road. It's a fun movie.

April 29, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | Comment
Cinema Crazed

A vibrant piece of pop entertainment that serves as the perfect start to the summer season.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Bullz-Eye.com | Comment
Bullz-Eye.com

An adaptation of the Marvel Comics superhero adventures that effectively takes time between exhilarating digital effects to develop character and motivation.

August 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | Comment
Sacramento News & Review

Colourful, energetic and well-cast, Spider-Man is a good-quality, highly-entertaining action movie.

March 5, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

[Sam] Raimi captures the ineffable quality that makes this misfit with muscles New York's own blue-collar, working-man's hero.

February 28, 2008 Full Review Source: Seanax.com | Comment
Seanax.com

Spider-man flows as smoothly from scene to scene, catching the audience in its charming web and setting us up for a sequel which, for once, will be welcome.

July 14, 2007 Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | Comment
Big Picture Big Sound

Practically pitch-perfect summer entertainment.

December 30, 2006 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | Comment
Empire Magazine

This accomplished blockbuster announces itself as a stylish piece of pop myth-spinning.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

At its best, it's action packed fantasy, grounded in reality by a talented cast who pack a real emotional wallop. At its worst, it's over the top, and more than a little sappy.

September 30, 2005 Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | Comment
Three Movie Buffs

Spider-Man was the first really alienated guy to swoop around fighting crime in a funny outfit. His strange powers made this teenage outsider into even more of an outsider -- and Spider-Man... stays true to that idea, thanks mostly to Maguire.

March 3, 2005 Comment

Count on Sam Raimi ... to deliver a Spider-Man movie that recaptures the wonder of those first-generation comics.

December 8, 2004 Full Review | Comment (1)

This is one of those rare adventure movies in which character, not violence, is the backbone of the film.

December 6, 2004 Comment
Looking Closer
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Spider-Man

Possibly the first super-hero movie to have a rags-to-riches story that was actually engaging. Unfortunately, its style wasn't my thing; I hated the cheesiness.

September 18, 2010
Albert Kim

Super Reviewer

Spider-man stands as one of the greatest films of all time in the superhero universe, and it has one of the greatest superhero stories to be told. It may have it's cheesiness running throughout, but who better to present us with that, than the one and only Sam Raimi. Almost ever superhero film can be laughed at through

January 10, 2010
KJ Proulx

Super Reviewer

    1. Peter Parker/Spider-Man: Who am I? I'm Spider-Man.
    – Submitted by Geraldo G (8 hours ago)
    1. Norman Osborn/Green Goblin: You are incredibly predictable like a moth to a flame. What about my generous preposal are you in or are you out?
    2. Peter Parker/Spider-Man: Its you who's out gobby out of mind.
    3. Norman Osborn/Green Goblin: Wrong answer.
    4. Peter Parker/Spider-Man: Oh, great.
    – Submitted by Patryk G (14 days ago)
    1. Norman Osborn/Green Goblin: God's speed Spider-man!
    – Submitted by I Am The Vast UNIVERSE I (39 days ago)
    1. Norman Osborn/Green Goblin: Peter, don't tell Harry
    – Submitted by Andreas K (4 months ago)
    1. Norman Osborn/Green Goblin: So am I out?
    – Submitted by Javis C (4 months ago)

Latest News for Spider-Man

June 27, 2011:
Marvel Movie Madness! Part 22: Spider-Man
Luke: You know a comic book movie's big when it transcends genre and becomes part of the mainstream...

November 5, 2010:
Weekly Ketchup: Martin Sheen Joins Spider-Man Cast
This week's Ketchup brings us yet more casting news for the Spider-Man reboot, new roles for Ice...

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Foreign Titles

  • Spider-Man (2002) (CA)
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