Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2 Image
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Metascore
83 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 41 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 465 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Alfred Molina, Kirsten Dunst, Tobey maguire
  • Summary: In the second installment in the Spider-Man series, based on the classic Marvel Comics hero, Tobey Maguire returns as the mild-mannered Peter Parker, who is juggling the delicate balance of his dual life as a college student and a superhuman crime fighter. The entertaining adventure escalates and Spider-Man's life becomes even more complicated when he confronts a new nemesis, the brilliant Otto Octavius, (Molina) who has been reincarnated as the maniacal and multi-tentacled "Doc Ock." (Sony)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 41
  3. Negative: 0 out of 41
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    It's a real movie, full-blooded and smart, with qualities even for those who have no idea who Stan Lee is. It's a superhero movie for people who don't go to superhero movies, and for those who do, it's the one they've been yearning for.
  2. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Rene Rodriguez
    100
    A masterpiece of pop filmmaking -- a fantastic, exuberant entertainment that manages to be both sleek and substantial without being patronizing.
  3. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    80
    The rare sequel that actually improves on the original, this robust entertainment's intelligence and emotional impact belie conventional wisdom that summer movie spectaculars are by nature brainless nonsense and only a stupid snob would complain about their cynical insubstantiality.
  4. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Rick Kisonak
    60
    A silly comic book movie with provocative psychological overtones. Or a provocative character study with silly comic book overtones. Take your pick. Either way, it's hardly the cinematic milestone it's widely hailed as being.

See all 41 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 179 out of 218
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 218
  3. Negative: 26 out of 218
  1. Tall_But_Short
    9
    Spider-Man 2 is some of the most fun I have had during a movie. It is much more than a comic book movie and the character development in this movie is just great. I cared much more for the characters in this movie than Spider-Man (2002). The action sequences are brilliant in this movie, especially the train battle between our friendly-neighborhood Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus. Mary Jane is a forceful character in this movie though and by that, I mean, we are forced to like her as a character. She wasn't nearly as charming as Emma Stone was in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) but this still is and will be, at least for a while i believe, the first movie which pops into my head when I think of "Spider-Man."… Expand
  2. dharma
    8
    Many consider this as the best super hero film of all time. But I feel that it is inferior to the first Spider-Man. It has a slow mid point; joke sequences went a little bit too long. But it has one of the best super hero fight of all time.… Expand
  3. Ravens1294
    7
    A really good film, but I do think it's overrated. It has a nice plot and a good villain that will test Spider Man out. It was a good sequel to the good Spider Man.… Expand
  4. David
    4
    I guess you have to be a Spidey fan in order to love this movie. Still, I don't see how anyone can defend the horrible performances from James Franco or Kirsten Dunst. I guess if you're the kind of person who doesn't mind an awful line like "go get em tiger", you will love this movie. I mean I can identify with Peter Parker. Like Doc Ock says I am also "smart, but lazy". I also have no idea how to talk to women. I should love this movie, but I can't look past the fact that it is not very well done. And stop talking about the special effects. They don't make a movie great. Especially when that movie rips off Superman II. If this movie had won Oscars, it would have been the most overrated movie of all time.… Expand

See all 218 User Reviews

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