Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy ended fourteen years ago with the release of 2007's Spider-Man 3; however, its legacy is more present in pop culture than ever. The recent release of Spider-Man: No Way Home prompted fans to revisit, and in some cases, rediscover Raimi's take on the web crawler. To the surprise of absolutely no one, the movies more than hold up.
Indeed, the first Spider-Man trilogy is a timeless tale of heroism in the face of struggle, resting comfortably on Raimi's unique directorial vision. Plenty of scenes in these three movies have become iconic, but some are so good that they keep getting better over time, cementing the trilogy's place in cinematic history.
J. Jonah Jameson's Softer Side - Spider-Man
Played to perfection by Oscar winner J.K. Simmons, J. Jonah Jameson is Peter's loud boss who comic book fans know very well. He has an all-consuming hatred for Spider-Man, but also a soft side that comes out in the most unexpected circumstances. For example, when the Green Goblin bursts into his office demanding to know more about Peter, Jonah protects him, despite the very real danger that Goblin poses.
It could be easy to discard Simmons' portrayal as cartoonish or over-the-top. However, the veteran actor always grounds Jonah's choices in actual human feelings of anger, hatred, or greed. This scene proves how complex a character Jonah is, and fans keep revisiting it to find new layers in this hilariously flawed character.
Spider-Man Gets Rid Of The Venom Symbiote - Spider-Man 3
The much-derided Spider-Man 3 hasn't aged particularly well. Today, many fans think of it as overstuffed and corny, a severe letdown compared to the nearly perfect first two movies. However, some scenes are excellent, including Peter's internal fight with the Venom symbiote atop a church belltower.
Realizing how dangerous and powerful the Venom symbiote is, Peter decides to take action. He uses the symbiote's vulnerability to sound to his favor and rings the bell, weakening it enough to rid himself of it for good. It's an epic and intense scene that showcases Tobey Maguire's acting skills while accurately portraying how invasive and powerful the Venom symbiote is (something that not even the Venom movies have succeeded in doing).
Upside-Down Kiss - Spider-Man
The upside-down kiss in Spider-Man ranks as one of the most iconic in film history. It has everything that makes a cinematic kiss unforgettable: rain, action, and a pair of leads with intense and very obvious chemistry.
Raimi would use this same setting--Peter rescuing Mary Jane from the bad guys-- to the point of nausea in later films, but at that point, it was still fresh enough. The MCU does many things right, but romance isn't one of them, which only makes a moment of genuine passion like this one all the more iconic.
Aunt May's Speech - Spider-Man 2
When it comes to Aunt Mays, Rosemary Harris remains undefeated. The Oscar-nominated actress was the emotional center of the Rami films, providing a gentle, supportive, and encouraging presence in Peter's often terrible life. Harris got to display her considerable acting chops during her monologue to Peter in Spider-Man 2, a scene that still ranks as one of the most heartfelt in any superhero movie.
Aunt May offers kind and wise words to Peter, reminding him about the nature of true heroism. The exchange is subtle, gentle, and stunningly effective, and a perfect reminder of how emotionally rich comic book movies can be.
Spider-Man's First Battle With Doc Ock - Spider-Man 2
In the pantheon of great comic book villains, Doctor Octopus has a place of honor. Played to perfection by a never-better Alfred Molina, Ock's standing as Spider-Man's archenemy solidified thanks to his role in Spider-Man 2. The character has a plethora of unforgettable moments, but his first fight against Spider-Man is one for the ages.
Ock and Spidey fight inside a bank, then on the streets, then atop a building. Even Aunt May gets caught in the mess and becomes Ock's hostage. The scene is action-packed, dynamic, and showcases all the best attributes of both the hero and the villain. The VFX also holds up, making the sequence all the more impressive.
Doc Ock's Awakening - Spider-Man 2
Sam Raimi's trilogy stands out for successfully mixing genres, at times including them out of the blue for very specific reasons. Case in point, Doctor Octopus' awakening at the hospital, which seems straight out of a B horror movie.
And yet, it works. The cheesy jokes, overly-dramatic performances, and rushed close-ups enhance the scene and make it distinctively, aggressively Raimi. The director understands horror more than most people, and he finds a seamless way to blend it with the superhero genre. Indeed, Doctor Octopus would be a horrifying creature to witness, and this scene is the perfect representation of that feeling.
Spider-Man's First Battle With Green Goblin - Spider-Man
Has there ever been an actor better suited for a role than Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin? The actor devoured every scene in Spider-Man, taking an already iconic villain and making him even better. Dafoe's Green Goblin is infinitely quotable and utterly unforgettable, the perfect first villain for the web crawler.
Appropriately, their first encounter has become part of pop culture. Taking place in the middle of a massive party, the fight fully leans on the comic book aspects of a superhero movie, creating a battle scene that seems straight out of the page. It does feature the first of many Mary Jane damsel-in-distress moments, but it's still a great sequence that keeps getting better with every new viewing.
"With Great Power..." - Spider-Man
The Raimi Trilogy is full of memorable quotes. However, none is more iconic than "With great power comes great responsibility." Delivered by Cliff Robertson as Uncle Ben, the line came to represent Spider-Man as a whole, a verbal representation of the character's essence.
The scene has a latent air of tragedy around it, considering it's the last time Peter and Uncle Ben will be together. However, it's also the best representation of their relationship and Spider-Man's identity as a hero. Uncle Ben was a regular man trying to teach a valuable lesson to his nephew. He didn't know about Peter's powers but understood the importance of empathy. At the end of the day, Spider-Man is only a kid, despite all the super abilities. Uncle Ben's advice can apply to almost every person in the world, giving it a universal quality that makes it timeless.
Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head Sequence - Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2 is the perfect superhero sequel. It marks a turning point for Peter Parker, who, tired of leading two lives, decides to abandon his superhero identity and adopt a civilian identity. The sequence, accompanied by B. J. Thomas' classic, "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head," has become iconic in its own right, thanks to Raimi's distinctive choices.
The scene is cheesy in all the best possible ways and perfectly acted by a Tobey Maguire who's fully aware of the kind of movie he's making. However, the brilliance of the sequence relies on Raimi's understanding of the beauty in the mundane. Peter is no longer swinging through skyscrapers but walking down the street, eating hot dogs, and attending class. Looking back at it, the scene becomes absurdly nostalgic, an ode to the highs and lows of everyday life.
Spider-Man Saves The Train - Spider-Man 2
The train sequence is arguably the most iconic scene in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy. It starts with an intense and top-tier fight between Spidey and Ock before becoming a race against time to save a train full of screaming passengers. The whole thing ends with Peter saving the day but losing his mask, thus revealing his identity to the train's passengers.
Spider-Man's secret identity is crucial for the character, so seeing him exposed before a crowd is already epic. However, the people's reaction is even better, as they agree to keep his secret from the rest of the world. The scene is the ideal summarization of Raimi's unabashedly optimistic approach to the superhero genre and a near-perfect action sequence that will surely stand the test of time.