As one of the first major film adaptations of the beloved comic book superhero Spider-Man, Sam Raimi had a lot to live up to. It’s been more than 20 years since the release of the first movie in the trilogy, but it still hasn’t lost its importance. Playing the character of Peter Parker, Tobey Maguire marked a really significant shift in popular media by effectively starting the Spider-Man franchise. Indeed, the franchise had two more successors in later years: one played by Andrew Garfield, and the more recent by Tom Holland.
Each version of Spider-Man has managed to bring something completely different to the table, while also introducing amazing versions of familiar supporting characters. From Aunt May to Mary Jane Watson, which characters are the best in Raimi’s trilogy? Let's take a look.
8 Harry Osborn
What would a superhero do without having a best friend to rely on? Well, in Peter and Harry's case, it's always been a little bit more complicated than that. Portrayed by James Franco, Harry Osborn was born into a wealthy family of the rich industrialist Norman Osborn. The tension and competition have always been high between the two best friends due to Norman's favoritism of Peter. Harry has dedicated his whole life to pleasing his father, but his efforts weren't enough. Despite the obvious downplay of his intelligence, due to his father's sudden death, Harry took over the Oscorp at the age of 18. He was knowledgeable in the science division, given how he helped oversee Dr. Octavius' work and knew how it could benefit the company. Despite the hate he nurtured for Spider-Man, he still sacrificed his life for his best friend.
7 J. Jonah Jameson
It's impossible to not crack a smile when the Daily Bugle editor-in-chief J. Jonah Jameson appears on our screens. Portrayed by J. K. Simmons, the comic character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man issue #1. Jameson is known to carry a profound distaste for Spider-Man, seeing the superhero as an unlawful vigilante rather than someone who helps out the public. His aversion towards Spider-Man turns into a smear campaign to catch the superhero in a contentious act to prove his villainy. When he hires Peter as a freelance photographer for the campaign, his efforts backfire. The audience was more than happy to see Simmons reprise his role in the MCU, where he exposes Spider-Man's true identity. Going in Spider-Man 4, Simmons is confident we haven't seen the last of him.
6 Otto Octavius
Considered to be one of the most iconic tragic villains in superhero films, Otto Octavius a.k.a Doc Ock, first appeared in Spider-Man 2, portrayed by Alfred Molina. The character is first introduced as a nuclear physicist and a mentor of Peter. Sponsored by Harry himself, Octavius' research into fusion power takes a dark twist when powerful robotic tentacle arms equipped with artificial intelligence fuse to his body. They grow a mind of their own and start controlling him. Despite his horrendous actions, the villain was driven by a mere urge to succeed with his life work experiment, and is therefore very redeemable. It's proved before his death in Spider-Man 2, but also during his appearance in No Way Home, where he gets cured and helps Peter (Holland) to contain the other villains.
5 Ben Parker
"Remember, with great power comes great responsibility." If you don't recognize the most important line in the entire Spider-Man franchise, then you're probably not a fan. The words were first spoken by none other than Ben Parker, a.k.a Uncle Ben, the paternal figure of Peter Parker. An electrician by trade, Uncle Ben was married to his wife May for 50 years before he died a violent death. Although he appears alive only in the first movie, his character left a lasting impact on the fictional world. We see Peter treating him with annoyance, but it doesn't stop Ben from being patient with him and teaching him life lessons. Sadly, he gets shot by a carjacker, right after having an intense fight with his nephew.
4 May Parker
Peter wouldn't be the same man without his Uncle and Aunt May providing a caring environment for him while growing up in the absence of his parents. As a widowed housewife, May was forced to deal with her husband's death and take care of the expenses, which later prompted her to sell the house. Despite her calm nature, she's a woman of strong determination and wisdom. Following her husband's steps, she provided reasonable judgment for Peter when he thought about quitting being Spider-Man. She also gave helpful advice with Peter's decision to propose to Mary Jane.
3 Mary Jane
Public opinion on Kirsten Dunst's Mary Jane stays split to this day. While some often see her only for the "damsel in distress" characterization, others say she has provided grounding presence for Peter throughout Raimi's Spider-Man movies. Mary Jane has always been part of the popular cliques due to her beauty. That said, she never used her social position to belittle others; she instead used her looks to succeed as an actress and a model. Despite her toxic upbringing, she's managed to stay positive, loyal, and cheerful.
2 Norman Osborn
Also known by his villainous alternate identity, the Green Goblin, Norman Osborn is a wealthy industrialist and the main antagonist in the first Spider-Man movie. To prove his science work worthy, Osborn decides to inject himself with a serum that helps him develop superhuman strength and a crazed alternate personality. Willem Dafoe's excellent portrayal cemented him as one of the most iconic villains in superhero films. The villain becomes determined to destroy Spider-Man, not knowing it's his beloved Peter Parker, a boy he appeared to admire more than his own son. He returned as the perfect villain for Holland's Peter Parker character about 20 years later.
1 Peter Parker
There are plenty of cases when the main character of a franchise was disliked by its fans, but this is certainly not the case. A high school student when we first meet him, Peter gains superhuman abilities after receiving a bite from an experimental spider. He then becomes the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, who battles many foes throughout Raim's trilogy. In addition to being extremely intelligent, Maguire's Spider-Man carried a calming aura of a superhero who wants nothing more than to guide, sympathize with, and encourage others. He would do anything to save his loved ones and make sure they're safe. Although he went through quite the turbulent period in the third movie, No Way Home depicted him as the perfect older brother.