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Spider-Man series
File:SpidermanDVDtrilogy.jpg
Spider-Man complete trilogy box set
Directed bySam Raimi
(Spider-Man 1,2,3)
Written byDavid Koepp
(Spider-Man)
Alvin Sargent
(Spider-Man 2-3)
Ivan Raimi
(Spider-Man 3)
Sam Raimi
(Spider-Man 3)
Gary Ross
(Venom)
Produced byAvi Arad
Laura Ziskin
Grant Curtis
StarringTobey Maguire
Kirsten Dunst
James Franco
Rosemary Harris
J. K. Simmons
Cliff Robertson
Willem Dafoe
CinematographyDon Burgess
(Spider-Man)
Bill Pope
(Spider-Man 2-3)
Edited byArthur Coburn
(Spider-Man)
Bob Murawski
(Spider-Man 1-3)
Music byDanny Elfman
(Spider-Man 1-2)
Christopher Young
(Spider-Man 3)
Distributed bySony Pictures Entertainment
Release date
2002 - 2007
Running time
388 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$597 million
Box office$2,496,346,518

The Spider-Man film series are superhero films based on the fictional Marvel Comics character of the same name. The rights to a motion picture based on Spider-Man were purchased in 1985 and moved through various production companies and studios, at one point having James Cameron to direct, before being secured by Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Sony hired comic book fan Sam Raimi to direct the first three films. Through the trilogy, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) developed a relationship with his school crush Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), and has battled the villains Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), New Goblin (James Franco), Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), and Venom (Topher Grace) as Spider-Man.

The three films, produced on a total budget of US$597 million, grossed nearly $2.5 billion worldwide. Each film set several box office records, with all three included in the top 20 highest-grossing domestic films as well as the top 25 highest-grossing worldwide films. Critics have given the films positive to mixed reviews. The series has been released on both Blu-ray and DVD.

Development

Cannon Films development period

The disappointing performance of 1983's Superman III made comic book adaptations low priority in Hollywood, though the comic industry itself thrived.[1] In 1985, after a brief option on Spider-Man by Roger Corman expired,[2] Marvel Comics optioned the property to Cannon Films. Cannon chiefs Menahem Golan and his cousin Yoram Globus agreed to pay Marvel Comics $225,000 over the five-year option period plus a percentage of the film’s revenues.[3] The rights would revert to Marvel if a film was not made by April 1990.[4]

Tobe Hooper, then preparing both Invaders From Mars and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, was mooted as director. Golan and Globus misunderstood the concept of the character ("They thought it was like The Wolf Man", said director Joseph Zito)[5] and instructed writer Leslie Stevens, creator of The Outer Limits, to write a treatment reflecting their misconception. In Stevens’s story, a corporate scientist intentionally subjects ID-badge photographer Peter Parker to radioactive bombardment, transforming him into a hairy, suicidal, eight-armed monster. The human tarantula refuses to join the scientist’s new master-race of mutants, battling a succession of mutations kept in a basement laboratory.[5][6]

Unhappy with the debasement of his comic book creation, Marvel’s Stan Lee pushed for a new story and screenplay, written for Cannon by Ted Newsom and John Brancato.[7] The variation on the origin story had Otto Octavius as a teacher and mentor to a college-age Peter Parker. The cyclotron accident which "creates" Spider-Man also deforms the scientist into Doctor Octopus and results in his mad pursuit of proof of the Fifth Force. Ock reconstructs his cyclotron and causes electromagnetic abnormalities, anti-gravity effects, and bilocation which threatens to engulf New York and the world. Joseph Zito, who had directed Cannon’s successful Chuck Norris film Invasion USA, replaced Tobe Hooper. The new director hired Barney Cohen to rewrite the script. Cohen, creator of TV's Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Forever Knight, added action scenes, a non-canonical comic for the villain, gave Doc Ock the catch phrase, "Okey-dokey", and altered his goal from the Fifth Force to a quest for anti-gravity. Producer Golan (using his pen name "Joseph Goldman") then made a minor polish to Cohen's rewrite. Zito scouted locations and studio facilities in both the U.S. and Europe, and oversaw storyboard breakdowns supervised by Harper Goff. Cannon planned to make the film on the then-substantial budget of between $15 and $20 million.[3]

While no casting was finalized, Zito expressed interest in actor/stunt man Scott Leva, who had posed for Cannon's promotional photos and ads, and made public appearances as Spider-Man for Marvel. The up-and-coming actor Tom Cruise was also discussed for the leading role. Zito considered Bob Hoskins as Doc Ock. Stan Lee expressed his desire to play Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson.[8] Lauren Bacall and Katharine Hepburn were considered for Aunt May, Peter Cushing as a sympathetic scientist, and Adolph Caesar as a police detective.[7] With Cannon finances siphoned by the expensive Superman IV: The Quest for Peace and Masters of the Universe, the company slashed the proposed Spider-Man budget to under $10 million. Director Zito opted out, unwilling to make a compromised Spider-Man. The company commissioned low-budget rewrites from writers Shepard Goldman, Don Michael Paul, and finally Ethan Wiley, and penciled in company workhorse Albert Pyun as director, who also made script alterations.[6]

Scott Leva was still associated with the character through Marvel (he had appeared in photo covers of the comic), and read each draft. Leva commented, "Ted Newsom and John Brancato had written the script. It was good but it needed a little work. Unfortunately, with every subsequent rewrite by other writers, it went from good to bad to terrible."[8] Due to Cannon's assorted financial crises, the project shut down after spending about $1.5 million on the project.[5] In 1989, Pathé, owned by corrupt Italian financier Giancarlo Parretti, acquired the overextended Cannon. The filmmaking cousins parted, Globus remaining associated with Pathé, Golan leaving to create 21st Century Film Corporation, keeping a number of properties (including Spider-Man) in lieu of a cash buy-out. He also extended his Spider-Man option with Marvel up to January 1992.[4]

Golan shelved the low-budget rewrites and attempted to finance an independent production from the original big-budget script, already budgeted, storyboarded and laid out.[9] At Cannes in May 1989, 21st Century announced a September start date, with ads touting the script by "Barney Cohen, Ted Newsom & John Brancato and Joseph Goldman."[10] As standard practice, Golan pre-sold the unmade film to raise production funds, with television rights bought by Viacom and home video rights by Columbia Pictures, which wanted to establish a studio franchise. Stephen Herek was attached as director at this point.[11] Golan submitted this "new" screenplay to Columbia in late 1989 (actually the 1985 script with an adjusted "1989" date) and the studio requested yet another rewrite. Golan hired Frank LaLoggia, who turned in his draft but grew disenchanted with 21st Century. Neil Ruttenberg was hired for one more draft, which was also "covered" by script readers at Columbia.[12] Columbia’s script analysts considered all three submissions "essentially the same story." A tentative production deal was set. Said Stan Lee in 1990, "21st Century [is] supposed to do Spider-Man and now they're talking to Columbia and the way it looks now, Columbia may end up buying Spider-Man from 21st Century."[13]

Carolco Pictures

21st Century’s Menahem Golan still actively immersed himself mounting "his" Spider-Man, sending the original "Doc Ock" script for production bids. In 1990, he contacted Canadian effects company Light and Motion Corporation regarding the visual effects, which in turn offered the stop-motion chores to Steven Archer (Krull, Clash of the Titans).[14]

Toward the end of shooting True Lies, Variety carried the announcement that Carolco had received a completed screenplay from Cameron.[15] This script bore the names of James Cameron, John Brancato, Ted Newsom, Barry [sic] Cohen and "Joseph Goldmari", a typographical scrambling of Golan's pen name ("Joseph Goldman") with Marvel executive Joseph Calimari.[16] The script text was identical to the one Golan submitted to Columbia the previous year, with the addition of a new 1993 date. Cameron stalwart Arnold Schwarzenegger was frequently linked to the project as the director's choice for Dr. Octopus.[17][18][19] As late as 1995, Internet industry sources such as Baseline Hollywood still listed both Neil Ruttenberg (author of one of the 1990 "Doc Ock" variations submitted to Columbia), and James Cameron as co-writers.[20]

Cameron "scriptment"

Months later, James Cameron submitted an undated 47-page "scriptment" with an alternate story (the copyright registration was dated 1991), part screenplay, part narrative story outline.[21] The "scriptment" told the Spider-Man origin, but used variations on the comic book characters Electro and Sandman as villains. This "Electro" (named Carlton Strand, instead of Max Dillion) was a megalomaniacal parody of corrupt capitalists. Instead of Flint Marko's character, Cameron’s "Sandman" (simply named Boyd) is mutated by an accident involving Philadelphia Experiment-style bilocation and atom-mixing, in lieu of getting caught in a nuclear blast on a beach. The story climaxes with a battle atop the World Trade Center and had Peter Parker revealing his identity to Mary Jane Watson. In addition, the treatment was also heavy on profanity, and had Spider-Man and Mary Jane having sex.[22]

This treatment reflected elements in previous scripts: from the Stevens treatment, organic web-shooters, and a villain who tempts Spider-Man to join a coming "master race" of mutants; from the original screenplay and rewrite, weird electrical storms causing blackouts, freak magnetic events and bi-location; from the Ethan Wiley draft, a villain addicted to toxic super-powers and multiple experimental spiders, one of which escapes and bites Peter, causing an hallucinatory nightmare invoking Franz Kafka’s "Metamorphosis"; from the Frank LaLoggia script, a blizzard of stolen cash fluttering down onto surprised New Yorkers; and from the Neil Ruttenberg screenplay, a criminal assault on the NYC Stock Exchange.[6] In 1991, Carolco Pictures extended Golan’s option agreement with Marvel through May 1996,[4] but in April 1992, Carolco ceased active production on Spider-Man due to continued financial and legal problems.[23]

Litigation troubles

When James Cameron agreed to make Spider-Man, Carolco lawyers simply used his previous Terminator 2 contract as a template. A clause in this agreement gave Cameron the right to decide on movie and advertising credits. Show business trade articles and advertisements made no mention of Golan, who was still actively assembling the elements for the film.[4] In 1993, Golan complained publicly and finally instigated legal action against Carolco for disavowing his contractual guarantee credit as producer. On the other hand, Cameron had the contractual right to decide on credits.[6] Eventually, Carolco sued Viacom and Columbia to recover broadcast and home video rights, and the two studios countersued.[3] 20th Century Fox, though not part of the litigation, contested Cameron’s participation, claiming exclusivity on his services as a director under yet another contract.[21] In 1996, Carolco, 21st Century, and Marvel went bankrupt.

Via a quitclaim from Carolco dated March 28, 1995, MGM acquired 21st Century's film library, assets, and received "...all rights in and to all drafts and versions of the screenplay(s) for Spider-Man written by James Cameron, Ted Newsom & John Brancato, Menahem Golan, Jon [sic] Michael Paul, Ethan Wiley, Leslie Stevens, Frank Laloggia, Neil Ruttenberg, Barney Cohen, Shepard Goldman and any and all other writers."[24] MGM also sued 21st Century, Viacom, and Marvel Comics, alleging fraud in the original deal between Cannon and Marvel. In 1998, Marvel emerged from bankruptcy with a new reorganization plan that merged the company with Toy Biz.[4] The courts determined that the original contract of Marvel's rights to Golan had expired, returning the rights to Marvel, but the matter was still not completely resolved. In 1999, Marvel licensed Spider-Man rights to Columbia (by then absorbed by Sony) for a reported $7 million. MGM disputed the legality, claiming it had the Spider-Man rights via Cannon, 21st Century, and Carolco, and threatened to make a competing film.[25]

007 vs. Spider-Man

Further information: Spider-Man (film) § Development

In the meantime, MGM/UA chief executive John Calley moved to Columbia. Intimately familiar with the legal history of producer Kevin McClory’s claim to the rights to both Thunderball and other related James Bond characters and elements, Calley announced that Columbia would produce an alternate 007 series, based on the "McClory material", which Calley acquired for Columbia.[26] (Columbia had made the original 1967 film spoof of Casino Royale, a non-Eon production.)

Both studios now faced rival projects, which could undercut their own long-term financial stability and plans. Columbia had no consistent movie franchise, and had sought Spider-Man since 1989; MGM/UA’s only reliable source of theatrical income was a new James Bond film every two or three years. An alternate 007 series could diminish or even eliminate the power of MGM/UA’s long-running Bond series. Likewise, an MGM/UA Spider-Man film could negate Columbia’s plans to create an exclusive cash cow. Both sides seemed to have strong arguments for the rights to do such films.[27]

The two studios made a complex trade-off in March 1999. Columbia relinquished its rights to create a new 007 series in exchange for MGM's giving up its claim to Spider-Man.[28] Columbia acquired the rights to all previous scripts in 2000,[12] but exercised options only on the "Cameron Material", i.e., both the completed multi-author screenplay and the subsequent "scriptment."[5] After more than a decade of attempts, Spider-Man truly went into production.[3]

Film series

After a long development history, all of the Spider-Man films were produced by Laura Ziskin and distributed by Columbia Pictures, the primary film production holding of Sony. They were all directed by director Sam Raimi.

Spider-Man (2002)

Main article: Spider-Man (film)
File:Spiderman movie.jpg
Spider-Man theatrical poster

Spider-Man follows Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), an orphaned high schooler who pines after popular girl-next-door Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). While on a science class field trip, Peter is bitten by a genetically-engineered "super spider". As a result, Peter gains superhuman abilities, including increased strength, speed, and the abilities to scale walls and generate organic webbing. After his beloved uncle (Cliff Robertson) is murdered, a murder Peter could have easily prevented, the teenager realizes that he must use his newfound abilities to protect New York City. Meanwhile, wealthy industrialist Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe), the father of Peter's best friend Harry Osborn (James Franco), subjects himself to an experimental performance-enhancing serum, which creates a psychotic and murderous split personality. Donning a military battlesuit, Norman becomes a freakish "Green Goblin", who begins to terrorize the city. Peter, as Spider-Man, now must do battle with the Goblin, all while trying to express his true feelings for Mary Jane.

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Main article: Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man 2 picks up two years after the events of the first film. Struggling to balance both his superhero life and private civilian life, Peter still pines after Mary Jane, who is now engaged, and Harry continues to thirst for revenge against Spider-Man. As the stress of his dual life causes Peter's superpowers to wane, the hero must contend with the presence of Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), a.k.a. Dr. Octopus, a mad scientist with four mechanical tentacles fused to his spine who sets out to recreate a dangerous fusion-based experiment that could destroy half of New York City. As the villain rampages across the city, Peter must choose between living the normal life he desires, or committing to his responsibility to protect New York as Spider-Man.

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Main article: Spider-Man 3

Spider-Man 3 finds Peter (Tobey Maguire) basking in the spotlight as Spider-Man, and finding a balance between being a superhero and being with his love, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). Harry (James Franco) finally decides to take his revenge by setting up Mary Jane, then becomes the New Goblin and threatens the elements in Peter's life. Eddie Brock (Topher Grace), another photographer for the Bugle, sets out on a mission to defame Spider-Man and incriminate him. Flint Marko AKA William Baker (Thomas Haden Church), an escaped convict, falls into a particle accelerator and becomes a shape-shifting sand monster later known as Sandman. He sets out to steal money for his chronically ill daughter. Peter later learns that Marko is the one that killed Uncle Ben, causing Peter's own dark intentions to grow. This vendetta is enhanced by the appearance of the mysterious black alien symbiotic substance that bonds to Peter, resulting in the formation of a new, jet-black costume. Once Peter separates himself from the alien, it finds a new host in the form of Brock, resulting in the creation of Venom.

Spider-Man 4 (2011)

Tobey Maguire just released this statement to me: “I am so proud of what we accomplished with the Spider-Man franchise over the last decade. Beyond the films themselves I have formed some deep and lasting friendships. I am excited to see the next chapter unfold in this incredible story.”

2ND UPDATE: Mike Fleming and Nikki Finke have just confirmed that Sony Pictures decided today to reboot the Spider-Man franchise after franchise director Sam Raimi pulled out of Spider-Man 4 because he felt he couldn't make its summer release date and keep the film's creative integrity. This means that Raimi and the cast including star Tobey Maguire are out. There will be no Spider-Man 4. Instead, Mike Fleming is told, the studio will focus on a Summer 2012 reboot from a script by Jamie Vanderbilt with a new director and a new cast. All this took place today at meeting on the lot today. An official Sony Pictures news release about it is expected out now (see below).

Immediately, the news brought celebration and consternation equally to webslinger fanboys who say the reboot plot puts Peter Parker back in high school. There's also much unconfirmed speculation that this new franchise will be in 3D. And the fans also recall that, in 1991, James Cameron wrote a treatment for Spider-Man and now they're wondering if he might helm the reboot. (Sony ended up acquiring his treatment in a legal settlement.)

Here's what went down: My sources tell me that Raimi told Sony Pictures: "I can't make your date. I can't go forward creatively." And, so, once he said "That's it", Sony Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal and Columbia Pictures' Matt Tolmach decided they didn't want to replace him and instead chose to reboot the franchise. Insiders also tell me that Tobey Maguire heard the news in a phone call with Amy today. I'm told Tobey wasn't upset. "He's made 3 great Spider-Man movies. He's done really well. But he's the kind of guy who, if Sam wanted to go forward, would have been there for Sam and the studio. Absolutely."

Mike Fleming has heard that, from Spidey, Raimi could move to World Of Warcraft, or to The Given Day, that terrific novel by Dennis Lehane, author of Shutter Island and Mystic River. Both are worthy projects, but World Of Warcraft is a huge franchise.

Fortunately for the studio, Sony was not yet "pay or play" on some of the talent negotiations which were still only at the tail end. Raimi was insisting that John Malkovich play the villain, and the studio was looking to cast Anne Hathaway. "I'm not so sure we're going in that direction," an insider told me on January 5th. Sony had been hot for her until bigwigs realized she'd cost too much and they probably don't need "such a big star" for the pic, I was told. (See my previous, Anne Hathaway Wanted For 'Spider-Man 4'.)

As for those repeated rumors that Spider-Man 4 might shoot in 3D, I've learned it would have added at least 6 months to the production schedule and "no one on the pic has any idea how to do that," a source confided. You've got to figure 3D now is uppermost on Sony minds given the post-Avatar climate, and Summer 2012 is more than enough time to make the reboot with new technology. Back in April, Amy Pascal and Michael Lynton told Forbes magazine: "People are paying a premium to see movies in 3-D and that's a very big deal. It's never been done before that someone says you have to pay more to see Spider-Man than a romantic comedy."

The events that led to today's shocking decision to scrap Spider-Man 4 can be traced to mid-December when I saw a December 11th email alerting the pic's special effects crew that the fourquel would not be starting as planned "but Sam Raimi has story issues [that] need to be resolved before we are ready to shoot". At that point, it wasn't well known that the Spider-Man franchise director helming the 4th installment had huge problems with the script that has run through screenwriters Jamie Vanderbilt, David Lindsay-Abaire, and Gary Ross. I was told Sam Raimi had been very vocal inside Sony that he "hated" it. I broke this story on January 5th, and reported that Raimi and Sony were anxiously waiting for still another version from screenwriter Alvin Sargent, who wrote Spidey 2 & 3 and is married to Spidey franchise producer Laura Ziskin. "It is unlikely that May 11, 2011, date will be made," a Sony insider told me that day. "It depends on how quickly the script can get in." However, agents told clients in the movie to already expect the film to be pushed back.

My sources said Sony still intends to release that summer, even if the new date is July 2011. But Spider-Man has always owned that coveted early May date. Even as far back as September 2008 when I reported my exclusive that Sony Locks Sam Raimi/Tobey Maguire For 'Spider-Man 4'.

What a giant opportunity for other studios planning their 2011 schedules to grab this big opening. And they did. Paramount and Marvel Entertainment pushed up the release of Thor by two weeks to May 6, 2011. Thor was set to have opened May 20, 2011, a slot which Disney grabbed for Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides.

Spider-Man 4 was supposed to start filming in February, which Tobey Maguire echoed repeatedly in publicity appearances for Brothers. Then it pushed to March. Then late March/early April. And by January 5th there was no date at all, according to my Sony insiders who emailed me: "Some decisions have been made over the holiday about Spider-Man 4. We will be extending the production hiatus on the film. The studio is firmly committed to this franchise but, for us, the script must come first. We intend to notify members of the crew immediately. As you know, Alvin Sargent is currently working on the screenplay. When we have more news, we will keep you posted."

Pascal and Tolmach, who have shepherded the Spider-Man franchise from Day One, have been wrestling with this script problem for months. "I'm going to do everything I can to make May," she has repeatedly told Hollywood types involved with the movie. "But I'm not going to start a movie where the script isn't right yet. Not unless I want my career to be over."

Here is the Sony press release:

Reboot

On January 11, 2010, simultaneous with the cancellation of Spider-Man 4, Sony announced that the franchise would be rebooted with a new director and new cast. The reboot film is scheduled to be released in summer 2012 and will focus on Peter Parker developing his abilities in high school.[29] Sony also confirmed that James Vanderbilt will write the script for the new film and Marc Webb will direct the next Spider-Man film.[30][31][32]

Venom (2012)

In July 2007, Avi Arad revealed a Venom spin-off was in the works.[33] The studio commissioned Jacob Aaron Estes to write a script, but rejected it the following year. In September 2008, Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese (Sony's Zombieland) signed on to write.[34] Stan Lee has been signed on to make a cameo in the film.[35] Rhett Reese later revealed that they had written two drafts for the film and that the studio is pushing the film forward.[36] Gary Ross has been called to do a rewrite, and may also direct the film.[37] Variety has stated that Venom will become an anti-hero instead of a villain.[38]

Cast and characters

List indicator(s)

  • Italics indicate a transition to a minor role, such as an extended flashback or mentioned, after the initial appearance.
  • A dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film.
  • An asterisk (*) denotes the movie that the character dies in (1, 2, or 3)
Character Film
Spider-Man Spider-Man 2 Spider-Man 3
Peter Parker / Spider-Man Tobey Maguire
Mary Jane Watson Kirsten Dunst
Harry Osborn / New Goblin*** James Franco
May Parker Rosemary Harris
Ben Parker* Cliff Robertson
Norman Osborn / Green Goblin* Willem Dafoe
J. Jonah Jameson J. K. Simmons
Joseph "Robbie" Robertson Bill Nunn
Betty Brant Elizabeth Banks
Hoffman Ted Raimi
Bernard John Paxton
Dennis Carradine* Michael Papajohn Mentioned only Michael Papajohn
Flash Thompson Joe Manganiello   Joe Manganiello
Bone Saw McGraw Randy Savage Mentioned only  
Mendel Stromm* Ron Perkins  
Ring Announcer Bruce Campbell  
Snooty Usher (Dylan Reid)   Bruce Campbell  
Maître d’   Bruce Campbell
Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus**   Alfred Molina Mentioned only
Rosalie Octavius**   Donna Murphy  
John Jameson   Daniel Gillies  
Dr. Curt Connors Mentioned only Dylan Baker
Mr. Ditkovich   Elya Baskin
Ursula Ditkovich   Mageina Tovah
Mr. Aziz   Aasif Mandvi  
Eddie Brock Jr. / Venom*** Mentioned only   Topher Grace
Flint Marko / Sandman   Thomas Haden Church
Gwen Stacy Mentioned only   Bryce Dallas Howard
Captain George Stacy Mentioned only   James Cromwell
Emma Marko   Theresa Russell
Penny Marko   Perla Haney-Jardine
Stan Lee Cameo only

Reception

Box office performance

The three Spider-Man films set new opening day records in the United States in their theatrical debuts.[39] The films are at the top of the domestic rankings of films based on Marvel comics, with Spider-Man ranking first, Spider-Man 2 ranking second, and Spider-Man 3 ranking third.[40] Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man 3 are also domestically ranked second, third and fourth for all superhero films, with the third film ranking second worldwide for superhero films (behind The Dark Knight).[41] In the United States, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man 3 are respectively the most successful films produced by Sony/Columbia.[42]

Film Release date Revenue Rank Budget Reference
United States Foreign Worldwide All time domestic All time worldwide
Spider-Man May 3, 2002 $403,706,375 $418,002,176 $821,708,551 #8
#34(A) 		#21 $139,000,000 [43]
Spider-Man 2 June 30, 2004 $373,585,825 $410,180,516 $783,766,341 #12
#52(A) 		#28 $200,000,000 [44]
Spider-Man 3 May 4, 2007 $336,530,303 $554,341,323 $890,871,626 #17
#94(A) 		#14 $258,000,000 [45]
Total $1,113,822,503 $1,382,524,015 $2,496,346,518 $597,000,000
List indicator(s)
  • (A) indicates the adjusted totals based on current ticket prices (calculated by Box Office Mojo).

Critical reaction

David Ansen of Newsweek enjoyed Spider-Man as a fun film to watch, though he considered Spider-Man 2 to be "a little too self-important for its own good". Ansen saw Spider-Man 3 as a return to form, finding it "the most grandiose chapter and the nuttiest".[46] Tom Charity of CNN appreciated the films' "solidly redemptive moral convictions", also noting the vast improvement of the visual effects from the first film to the third. While he saw the second film's Doc Ock as the "most engaging" villain, he applauded the third film's Sandman as "a triumph of CGI wizardry".[47] Richard Corliss of Time enjoyed the action of the films and thought that they did better than most action movies by "rethinking the characters, the franchise and the genre".[48]

Colin Covert of the Star Tribune praised Spider-Man as a "superb debut" of the superhero as well as Spider-Man 2 as a "superior sequel" for filmgoers who are fans "of spectacle and of story". Covert expressed disappointment in Spider-Man 3 as too ambitious with the multiple storylines leaving one "feeling overstuffed yet shortchanged".[49] Manohla Dargis of The New York Times enjoyed the humor of the first two films, but found it missing in the third installment. Dargis also noted, "The bittersweet paradox of this franchise is that while the stories have grown progressively less interesting the special effects have improved tremendously."[50] Robert Denerstein of the Rocky Mountain News ranked the films from his favorite to his least favorite: Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man, and Spider-Man 3. While Denerstein missed the presence of Alfred Molina as Doc Ock from the second film, he found the third film – despite being "bigger, though not necessarily better" – to have a "satisfying conclusion".[51]

Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic Yahoo! Movies
Overall Cream of the Crop
Spider-Man 90% (209 reviews)[52] 85% (34 reviews)[53] 73% (37 reviews)[54] B+ (12 reviews)[55]
Spider-Man 2 94% (231 reviews)[56] 95% (42 reviews)[57] 83% (41 reviews)[58] A- (13 reviews)[59]
Spider-Man 3 62% (236 reviews)[60] 43% (42 reviews)[61] 59% (40 reviews)[62] B- (14 reviews)[63]

Home media release

All three films were released on DVD, the first two being released exclusively as two-disc sets, with the third film being released in both single and two-disc editions. All three films were later packaged in a "Motion Picture DVD Trilogy" boxed set.

Spider-Man 3 is the only Spider-Man film to be released individually on the high definition Blu-ray format. The first two films are available on Blu-ray, but only as part of a boxed set with the third film called Spider-Man: The High Definition Trilogy.

All three films are available in the U.S. iTunes store.

References

  1. ^ Michael A. Hiltzik (1998-09-29). "Spidey's Movie Mess". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
  2. ^ "Roger Corman Interview". M. J. Simpson. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
  3. ^ a b c d Ronald Grover (2002-04-15). "Unraveling Spider-Man's Tangled Web". Business Week. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
  4. ^ a b c d Michael A. Hiltzik (2002-03-24). "Untangling the Web". Los Angeles Times Magazine. Cite error: The named reference "Hiltzik" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c d Edward Gross (2002). Spider-Man Confidential. Hyperion. Cite error: The named reference "Gross" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Patrick Daniel O’Neill (1990). "Screenwriter Ted Newsom". Fictioneer Books Ltd. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help); Text "Comics Interview Magazine #85" ignored (help)
  7. ^ a b Jankiewicz, Pat (2002). "Scott Leva, the Man Who Was Almost Spider-Man". Starlog/Comics Scene Presents Spider-Man. 1 (1): 62–64. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  8. ^ Sheldon Teitelbaum (1987). "Spider-Man - The Movie: For Cannon Films it was a web too far". Cinefantastique. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  9. ^ "21stCenturyAd1989". Variety. 1989-05-05. p. 11. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  10. ^ David Hughes. The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Never Made ISBN1-55652-449-8
  11. ^ a b Steve Ryfle (May/June 2002). "Spider-Man's Tangled Web". CS Publications. {{cite magazine}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help); Text "Creative Screenwriting magazine" ignored (help)
  12. ^ Dan Hagen (1990). "Publisher Stan Lee Speaks". Fictioneer Books Ltd. journal=David Anthony Kraft's Comics Interview Magazine. {{cite news}}: Missing pipe in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ Archer, Steven (1993). Willis O’Brien, Special Effects Genius. McFarland & Co. p. 177. ISBN 0-89950-833-2.
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  20. ^ a b Michael A. Hiltzik (2002-03-24). "Untangling the Web". Los Angeles Times Magazine.
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  23. ^ Securities and Exchange Commission (1995-04-15). "Securities and Exchange Commission document 1-09264". settlement. SEC. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
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  27. ^ dg (2006-11-29). "Kevin McClory (1926-2006)". MI6, Home of James Bond. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  28. ^ Cite error: The named reference reboot was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  29. ^ "'(500) Days of Summer' director Marc Webb to helm next 'Spider-Man' film". The Associated Press. MetroNews Toronto. January 19, 2010. {{cite web}}: Text "January 22, 2010" ignored (help)
  30. ^ Fleming, Mike (January 13, 2010). "Will Sony Spin Spidey Reboot With Webb?". Deadline Hollywood. {{cite web}}: Text "January 20, 2010" ignored (help)
  31. ^ Sciretta, Peter (January 19, 2010). "Marc Webb To Direct New Spider-Man Trilogy!?". Slashfilm. {{cite web}}: Text "January 20, 2010" ignored (help)
  32. ^ Paul Fischer (2007-07-24). "Exclusive Interview: Avi Arad for "Bratz"". Dark Horizons. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
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  34. ^ [1] Stan Lee in Venom
  35. ^ Venom Movie is Moving Forward
  36. ^ Gary Ross to Write and Potentially Direct 'Spider-Man' Spinoff 'Venom'
  37. ^ Venom as an anti-hero
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  50. ^ Robert Denerstein (2007-05-04). "Denerstein: Spidey sense and sensibility". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
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