Spider-Man (2002)
Coming Out at 1 May 2002 in theaters.
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Spider-Man is superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Directed by Sam Raimi from a screenplay by David Koepp, it is the first installment in the Spider-Man trilogy, and stars Tobey Maguire as the title character, alongside Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Cliff Robertson, and Rosemary Harris. The film centers on an outcast teen genius named Peter Parker, who develops spider-like superhuman abilities after being bitten by a genetically-altered spider. After his foster father/uncle is murdered by an armed felon, something for which he was partially responsible, a guilt-ridden Parker is later driven to use his new abilities for a nobler purpose, as the hero/vigilante Spider-Man, to atone for his uncle’s murder. The rest of the film focuses on Parker’s efforts to balance his personal life as he graduates from high school and becomes a freelance photographer, while also struggling with his studies, his friendship with his childhood best friend Harry Osborn, his growing feelings for his former high school crush Mary Jane Watson, and his dual life as Spider-Man.
After progress on the film stalled for nearly 25 years, it was licensed for a worldwide release by Columbia Pictures in 1999 after it acquired options from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on all previous scripts developed by Cannon Films, Carolco, and New Cannon. Exercising its option on just two elements from the multi-script acquisition (a different screenplay was written by James Cameron, Ted Newsom, John Brancato, Barney Cohen, and Joseph Goldman), Sony hired Koepp to create a working screenplay (credited as Cameron’s), and Koepp received sole credit in final billing. Directors Roland Emmerich, Ang Lee, Chris Columbus, Jan de Bont, M. Night Shyamalan, Tony Scott, and David Fincher were considered to direct the project before Raimi was hired as director in 2000. The Koepp script was rewritten by Scott Rosenberg during pre-production and received a dialogue polish from Alvin Sargent during production. Filming took place in Los Angeles and New York City from January 8 to June 30, 2001. Sony Pictures Imageworks handled the film’s visual effects.
On a school trip, high school senior Peter Parker visits a genetics laboratory with his friend Harry Osborn and his crush Mary Jane Watson. There Peter is bitten by a genetically engineered “super spider” and seemingly falls ill after returning home. Meanwhile, Harry’s scientist father Norman Osborn, owner of Oscorp, tries to secure an important military contract. He experiments on himself with an unstable performance-enhancing chemical and goes insane, killing his assistant.
The next morning, Peter finds he is no longer near-sighted and his body has metamorphosized into a more muscular physique. At school, he finds his body can produce webs, and his quickened reflexes let him avoid injury during a confrontation with bully Flash Thompson. Peter discovers he has developed superhuman speed and strength, the ability to stick to surfaces, and a heightened ability to sense danger.
Director: Sam Raimi
Writers: Stan Lee (Marvel comic book), Steve Ditko (Marvel comic book), David Koepp
Stars: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, James Franco, Cliff Robertson, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons
Cast:
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. Mendell Stromm |
Michael Papajohn | ► | Carjacker |
K.K. Dodds | ► | Simkins |
Ted Raimi | ► | Hoffman |
Bruce Campbell | ► | Ring Announcer |
Elizabeth Banks | ► | Betty Brant |
John Paxton | ► | Houseman |
Tim DeZarn | ► | Philip Watson |
Taylor Gilbert | ► | Madeline Watson |
Randy Savage | ► | Bone Saw McGraw |
Larry Joshua | ► | Wrestling Promoter |
Timothy Patrick Quill | ► | Wrestling Arena Guard |
Lisa Danielle | ► | Bone-ette |
Natalie T. Yeo | ► | Bone-ette |
Erica D. Porter | ► | Bone-ette |
Kristen Davidson | ► | Bone-ette |
Jason Padgett | ► | Flash’s Crony |
Shan Omar Huey | ► | Teacher |
Sally Levi | ► | Girl on Bus |
Evan Arnold | ► | Doctor |
Jill Sayre | ► | Nurse |
Jim Ward | ► | Project Coordinator |
David Holcomb | ► | Test Pilot |
Octavia Spencer | ► | Check-In Girl |
Brad Grunberg | ► | Heckler |
Shane Habberstad | ► | Little Billy |
Deborah Wakeham | ► | Billy’s Mom |
Rachael Bruce | ► | Times Square Child |
Mackenzie Bryce | ► | Times Square Child |
Julia Barry | ► | Times Square Child |
Macy Gray | ► | Self |
Myk Watford | ► | Cop at Fire |
Bill Calvert | ► | Fireman |
Sylva Kelegian | ► | Mother at Fire |
Kristen Marie Holly | ► | Young Lady at Fire |
Ajay Mehta | ► | Cabbie |
Peter Appel | ► | Cabbie |
Scott Spiegel | ► | Marine Cop |
Matt Smith | ► | Cop at Carjacking |
Sara Ramirez | ► | Cop at Carjacking |
Lucy Lawless | ► | Punk Rock Girl |
Jayce Bartok | ► | Subway Guitarist |
Maribel González | ► | Lady Dogwalker |
Amy Bouril | ► | Office Lady |
Joseph D’Onofrio | ► | Opinionated Cop |
Jim Norton | ► | Surly Truck Driver |
Corey Mendell Parker | ► | Chaperone in Tram |
Ashley Edner | ► | Girl in Tram |
William Joseph Firth | ► | Boy in Tram |
Alex Black | ► | Boy in Tram |
Laura Gray | ► | Tram Group Mother |
Joe Virzi | ► | New Yorker on Bridge |
Michael Edward Thomas | ► | New Yorker on Bridge |
Jeanie Fox | ► | New Yorker on Bridge |
Robert Kerman | ► | Tugboat Captain |
Josscy Vallazza Aartsen | ► | College Student |
Stephanie ‘Stevvi’ Alexander | ► | Singer |
John P. Anthony | ► | Parent |
Ari Averbach | ► | Dancer |
Joni Avery | ► | Cop |
Rick Avery | ► | Cop |
Peter Aylward | ► | Colonel |
Margaret Baker | ► | Punk #2 |
Amy Beth Bennett | ► | Jewelry Thief #2 |
Brian Bennett | ► | Doorman |
Camille Bennett | ► | High School Student |
Greg Beville | ► | Wrestling Fan |
Andy Bray | ► | Boy Carrying Tray in Cafeteria |
Jophery C. Brown | ► | Chef |
Jacob Chambers | ► | Cop |
Jillian Clare | ► | Crying Girl in Tram |
Ty Copeman | ► | Car and Driver |
Chris Coppola | ► | Kyle |
Alex Couey | ► | Running Extra |
Cody Cundiff | ► | World Unity Day Attendee |
Una Damon | ► | Lab Tour Guide |
Chandra De Alessandro | ► | Cop |
Mark De Alessandro | ► | Cop |
Michael Patrick Dobkins | ► | Wrestiling Fan |
Patrick Coleman Duncan | ► | Oscorp Lab Technician |
Marcus Edward | ► | Screaming Fan at Wrestling Match |
R.C. Everbeck | ► | Eddie Brock |
Dane Farwell | ► | Man at a Street |
Steven D. Fernandez | ► | Kid in Falling Cable Car |
James Furlong | ► | Wrestling fan |
Peter Genovese | ► | Fleeing World Unity Day Patron |
Marcus Gorman | ► | Man in Street |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia