Spider-Man 2

Directed by Sam Raimi and written by Alvin Sargent from a story conceived by Michael Chabon and the writing team of Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, the film was produced by Columbia Pictures in association with Marvel Enterprises and Laura Ziskin Productions, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing.

It is the second installment in Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy and the sequel to Spider-Man (2002). The film stars Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker / Spider-Man, alongside Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris, and Donna Murphy.

Set two years after the events of Spider-Man, the film finds Peter Parker struggling to stop scientist Dr.

Otto Octavius from recreating the dangerous experiment that killed his wife and left him neurologically fused to mechanical tentacles, while also dealing with an existential crisis between his dual identities that appears to be stripping him of his powers.

Principal photography began in April 2003 in New York City and also took place in Los Angeles. Reshoots took place later that year and concluded in December. Danny Elfman returned to compose the score.

Spider-Man 2 premiered at the Mann Village Theater in Los Angeles on June 25, 2004, and was released in both conventional and IMAX theaters on June 30.

It received acclaim from critics, who praised its emotional weight and visual effects, as well as Maguire and Molina’s performances and Raimi’s direction, and grossed $788 million worldwide, making it the third-highest-grossing film of the year.

It was selected by the American Film Institute as one of the top 10 films of 2004.

The film won Best Visual Effects at the 77th Academy Awards, and was also nominated for Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing; it also received five awards at the Saturn Awards, including Best Fantasy Film and Best Director.

The film is widely regarded as one of the greatest superhero films ever made, and serves as a blueprint for future movies in the genre. Its success led to Spider-Man 3 (2007).

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) explored the concept of the multiverse to connect the previous Spider-Man films to the MCU, with Maguire and Molina reprising their roles.

He finds himself suffering temporary but recurring losses of his powers, often in life-threatening situations.

Harry, who is now head of Oscorp’s genetic and scientific research division, is sponsoring a fusion power project by nuclear scientist Otto Octavius, who befriends and mentors Peter.

While handling hazardous materials, Octavius wears a harness of powerful mechanical tentacles with artificial intelligence. The next day, Octavius and his wife Rosie host a public demonstration of the harness that Peter and Harry attend.

However, a power spike causes the fusion reactor to destabilize. Octavius refuses to shut down the reactor, which goes critical, killing Rosie and burning the inhibitor chip blocking the arms from his nervous system.

As Spider-Man, Peter manages to shut the experiment down. At a hospital, doctors prepare to surgically remove Octavius’ harness.

Without the inhibitor chip, the tentacles have become sentient and defend themselves by attacking and slaughtering the doctors. Afterward, Octavius takes refuge at a harbor.

Now corrupted by the arms’ AI, he decides to re-try his experiment and robs a bank to fund it. The Daily Bugle dubs the scientist “Doctor Octopus”. Mary Jane becomes engaged to astronaut John Jameson, the son of Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson.

Peter suffers an emotional breakdown over his inability to balance his life, with the stress stripping him of his powers as a result. He quits being Spider-Man, returns to his normal life, and attempts to reconcile with Mary Jane.

He also finally confesses to Aunt May the truth about Uncle Ben’s death. Aunt May forgives him, but the rise in the city’s crime rates worries Peter.

Requiring the isotope tritium to fuel his reactor, Octavius visits Harry to demand it, threatening to kill him if he does not comply. Harry agrees in exchange for Spider-Man, whom he still believes is responsible for his father’s death.

He tells Octavius to seek Peter, whom Harry believes is friends with Spider-Man, but tells him to not hurt Peter. Octavius locates Peter, tells him to find Spider-Man, and captures Mary Jane.

Her endangerment leads to Peter’s powers returning, and he goes after Octavius as Spider-Man. As they battle, they fall onto a New York City Subway train. Octavius sabotages it and leaves Peter to save the runaway train.

After multiple attempts, he does so just before the train plunges into New York Harbor, but at a great physical toll. Octavius captures the now-weakened Peter and delivers him to Harry.

Harry prepares to kill Spider-Man, only to be shocked to see Peter under the mask. Peter convinces Harry to put their conflict aside for Mary Jane’s sake, and direct him to Octavius’ lair.

They battle again as the nuclear reaction starts threatening the city. Peter reveals his identity and persuades Octavius to let his dream go for the greater good.

Octavius commands the tentacles to obey him and sacrifices himself to destroy the experiment. Mary Jane sees Peter’s true identity, which he says is why they cannot be together.

Meanwhile, Harry is visited by a vision of his father in a mirror, pleading for Harry to avenge his death, but Harry refuses to hurt Peter.

Out of frustration, Harry shatters the mirror, inadvertently revealing a secret room containing his father’s Green Goblin equipment. On her wedding day, Mary Jane abandons John at the altar and runs to Peter’s apartment in her wedding dress.

After they kiss, they hear police sirens, and Mary Jane encourages him to go help as Spider-Man.