Spider-Man 2 (2004)

About Spider-Man™ 2

Directed by Sam Raimi, "Spider-Man 2" follows the continuing journey of Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) as he grapples with his dual life as a college student and a superhero. The film takes a deep dive into Peter's struggle as he ponders over the heavy cost of his superhero alter-ego on his personal life. His world further complicates when Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) becomes the villainous Doc Ock after an experiment goes haywire.

Making / Production

"Spider-Man 2" was directed by Sam Raimi and produced by Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad. The screenplay was written by Alvin Sargent from a story by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Michael Chabon. The film was shot across several locations in Los Angeles and New York City.

Actors

• Tobey Maguire returns as Peter Parker / Spider-Man. His nuanced performance beautifully captures Peter's struggle and determination.
• Kirsten Dunst portrays Mary Jane Watson, Peter's love interest who fiercely maintains her individuality and pursues her dreams.
• Alfred Molina delivers a spectacular performance as the villain Dr. Otto Octavius / Doc Ock, infusing the character with both menace and sympathy.
• James Franco as Harry Osborn undergoes a dark transformation, obsessed with avenging his father's death.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film grossed over $783 million worldwide, making it the second highest-grossing film in 2004.
• Alfred Molina, who played Doc Ock, had his costume's tentacles controlled by four different puppeteers.
• Michael Chabon, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, contributed to the film's story.

Awards

"Spider-Man 2" won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and was also nominated in two other categories. The film also received several other awards and nominations, including three at the British Academy Film Awards.

Quotes

• "With great power comes great responsibility."
• "I believe there's a hero in all of us."
• "Somebody has to stop him, and that somebody is Spider-man."

Music, Soundtrack

• "Spider-Man 2 Main Title" - Danny Elfman
• "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" - B.J. Thomas
• "Vindicated" - Dashboard Confessional