Spider-Man (2002)
Average Rating: 7.6/10
Reviews Counted: 224
Fresh: 200 | Rotten: 24
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.
Average Rating: 7.1/10
Critic Reviews: 44
Fresh: 37 | Rotten: 7
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.
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Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 34,269,332
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
Cast
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Tobey Maguire
Peter Parker/Spider-... -
Willem Dafoe
Norman Osborn/Green ... -
Kirsten Dunst
Mary Jane Watson -
James Franco
Harry Osborn -
Cliff Robertson
Uncle Ben -
Rosemary Harris
Aunt May -
J.K. Simmons
J. Jonah Jameson -
Joe Manganiello
Flash Thompson -
Gerry Becker
Maximilian Fargas -
Bill Nunn
Robbie Robertson -
Jack Betts
Henry Balkan -
Stanley Anderson
General Slocum -
Ron Perkins
Dr. Mendel Stromm -
Bruce Campbell
Announcer -
Michael Papajohn
Burglar -
Randy Savage
Bone Saw McGraw -
Ted Raimi
Hoffman -
Elizabeth Banks
Betty Brandt -
Myk Watford
Cop at Fire
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Spider-Man Trailer & Photos
All Critics (225) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (200) | Rotten (24) | DVD (59)
With earnest, unpretentious delivery, Maguire is an eminently likable hero audiences will root for from his earliest moments as the class wimp.
At its best, Spider-Man takes the adolescent yearning at the heart of most superhero sagas and gives it a lovely swing.
Coarse mayhem notwithstanding, Spider-Man will probably provoke a pandemic of arachnophilia.
The perils and advantages of being bitten by a genetically modified spider are made abundantly clear in Sam Raimi's enjoyable, if broken-backed, exercise in high-cost pulp.
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.
A perfectly serviceable early-summer popcorn picture that will satisfy its core teen constituency and not displease general viewers looking for some disposable entertainment.
When the cast and their director are really cooking, they conjure a bipolar sense of high school-age emotion -- and use it to fuel outrageous fantasy.
Spider-Man is an effortless, intelligent entertainment, and a fabulous, fun-filled start to the hugely lucrative franchise.
Not since 1978's Superman has there been a live-action, comic book-based film so savvy at mixing self-aware camp with sincere emotion, and so successful at establishing the normal guy life of its spandexed protagonist.
Full of swinging action but finding plenty of time to explore the people behind the masks, Spider-Man is a franchise with real legs. At last, a blockbuster that lives up to the hype.
Maybe having such a big budget and being able to afford so many computer effects (which aren't so hot anyway) crippled the creativity of the film.
This crowd-pleaser is a highly satisfying rendering of Lee's reluctant hero, one that captures the broken heart and tortured soul of a young man whose coming of age arrives with a perilously high price tag.
Captures the high-energy, pulpy effervescence of Marvel when it was young and feisty... whatever imperfections the film picks up along the way, they practically demand to be hand-waved aside.
It's got all that you'd want from superhero movie and more. A truly enjoyable film.
Fun movie, but may be too intense for younger kids.
Sam Raimi has gotten the exact mix right to create certainly one of the best superhero films ever made.
Spider-Man is funny, poignant and true to form with Tobey Maguire and company fleshing out the famed comic-book characters with aplomb.
Finally, a fully faithful adaptation to a comic book icon, save for some bumps along the road. It's a fun movie.
A vibrant piece of pop entertainment that serves as the perfect start to the summer season.
An adaptation of the Marvel Comics superhero adventures that effectively takes time between exhilarating digital effects to develop character and motivation.
Colourful, energetic and well-cast, Spider-Man is a good-quality, highly-entertaining action movie.
Audience Reviews for Spider-Man
Super Reviewer
Movies Like Spider-Man
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- Uncle Ben: With great power, comes great responsibility.
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- Norman Osborn/Green Goblin: The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout, down came the goblin, and took the spider out.
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- Bone Saw McGraw: What are you doin up there?
- Peter Parker/Spider-Man: Staying away from you. That's a cute outfit, did your husband get it for you?
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- J. Jonah Jameson: Who is Spider-man? He's a criminal that's who he is.
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- Burglar: Just give me a chance!
- Peter Parker/Spider-Man: What about my uncle? Did you give him a chance? Did you? Did you?
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- Mary Jane Watson: Who are you?
- Peter Parker/Spider-Man: You know who I am.
- Mary Jane Watson: I do?
- Peter Parker/Spider-Man: Your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman! [swings off]
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| Spider-Man is the greatest film of all time. | 9 days ago | 4 |
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Top Critic
1 Star 9-27-07