10 Best Spider-Man 2 Moments
8. Bank Fight
Corrupted by the mechanical arms’ artificial intelligence, Doctor Octopus robs a bank to fund his next attempt at his fusion reactor experiment. Conveniently, Peter Parker and Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) are at the same bank. Things quickly go awry, leading to Spider-Man having his first encounter with the sinister villain.
As the film’s first major action set-piece, it is an intense fight for various reasons. Aunt May’s involvement adds to the drama and the pressure, Spider-Man’s powers are failing at this point in the story, and the film has already established that Doc Ock is a force to be reckoned with. Director Sam Raimi often blends genres in his films, and the bank scene demonstrates his ability to mix drama with action. Furthermore, the scene boasts some spectacular special effects, a dramatic score from Danny Elfman, and some of the most stylised fighting in a superhero blockbuster to date.
The bank fight encapsulates Spider-Man’s appeal. It combines Peter Parker and Spider-Man’s worlds to create an intense sequence. Likewise, the drama is elevated by Sam Raimi’s bold and exhilarating filmmaking style.
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7. Burning Building
After quitting crime-fighting, Peter Parker has been trying to live an ordinary life. However, he is concerned about the rising crime rates, and is beginning to doubt if he’s made the right choice. Echoing a scene from the first film (2002), a building is burning at the end of the street, where he overhears onlookers say there’s a child stuck on the second floor. Peter rushes in to save them, despite his lack of spider-powers. He manages to rescue the child but feels guilty upon learning there was someone else trapped who never survived.
Above all, this scene valiantly highlights Peter’s character, reflecting his nobility, determination, and bravery. It signifies that he’s a hero regardless of whether he’s Spider-Man or not. He could not look the other way, feeling that he still had a responsibility to help. In fact, he demonstrates this by instinctively reaching to pull his shirt and reveal his costume, only to realise he’s not wearing it. His sense of responsibility is further exemplified during the aftermath, when he feels guilty because he could not save everyone. If he had not quit being Spider-Man, perhaps he could have also rescued the other person.
Most remember Spider-Man’s encounter with the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) inside of a burning building from the first film. This scene from Spider-Man 2 is equally effective on an emotional and narrative level. It understands what makes Peter Parker a friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man by exploring the weight (and consequences) of Peter’s choice to quit being a superhero.
6. Peter Confesses
Peter Parker decides to tell Aunt May the truth about Uncle Ben’s (Cliff Robertson) death, and how he is indirectly responsible. Following Peter’s confession, Aunt May silently leaves the room.
Peter’s confession is one of the most poignant and human moments in the entire trilogy. Leaning into the film’s theme of responsibility, it highlights Peter’s guilt and bravery, offering substantial growth for his character arc in the process. Moreover, the scene demonstrates Maguire and Harris’ exceptional acting abilities. Maguire convincingly makes Peter’s confession feel like the toughest thing he has ever done, and Harris’ quiet but overwhelmed reaction is heartbreaking to watch. To top it off, “Uncle Ben was killed that night… for being the only one who did the right thing,” remains one of the film’s greatest lines.
What sets Spider-Man 2 apart from other superhero films is its willingness to let character moments like this linger. As a result, they are just as engaging as the exhilarating fight scenes, and they add a humanistic quality to the film.
