2002 finally saw the Marvel hero Spider-Man hit the big screen thanks to stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, and director Sam Raimi. The film was a massive box-office success and spawned a trilogy of movies featuring a host of classic villains for the webhead to battle.
With three films and a number of fights within them, it's only natural that some of these confrontations stand out more than others. Thanks to the unique abilities of the characters involved and the talents of numerous filmmakers behind the scenes, the original Spider-Man trilogy showcased some truly standout fights for fans to rank over the years.
10 Spider-Man: The First Battle Is Goofy But Fun
Spider-Man's first real test as a costumed adventurer came when the Green Goblin made his debut at the World Unity Fair and bombed several Oscorp members, putting civilians and also Mary Jane in peril. Peter Parker swiftly changed into his suit and swung into action to combat the villain.
The meeting was brief, with the Goblin easily blocking a hit from Spidey before kicking him back. The maniacal villain then took to his trusty glider and opened fire at the hero, but Spidey got the better of him and kicked the villain off the glider. The glider continued on its flight and caused an accident that required the hero to save a child and allow the Goblin to escape for a time.
9 Spider-Man 3: Sandman's Intro Was Something New
Sandman isn't the most complicated villain out there, so it's fitting that the first time he ran into the webbed-wonder, he was stealing money from an armored truck. After making quite the commotion, Flint Marko caught the attention of Spidey who swung into action with a cocky attitude.
The battle inside the truck was over and done with pretty quickly, as Spidey vastly underestimated the new bad guy on the scene and failed to injure him with any attack. In response, Sandman enlarged his fist and knocked Spidey clean out of the vehicle. The hero tried for round two but was quickly left behind as the truck overturned and Sandman escaped.
8 Spider-Man 3: The New Goblin Was Out For Blood
The first action scene from Spider-Man 3 was a personal one. Harry Osborn, now the New Goblin, sought revenge against his former friend as he blamed him for his father's death. This sequence stood out as Peter was out of his suit and wearing his civilian clothing for the first time in action.
The two enemies race through narrow alleyways, soar above the rooftops, and right back down to street level in a fast-paced and frantic battle. Peter did his best to avoid attacking Harry and instead tried to simply avoid his every move until his quick thinking scored Peter a victory.
7 Spider-Man 2: The Final Battle Had Huge Stakes
Spider-Man 2 is particularly noted for its memorable fight scenes, and strangely enough the last of them doesn't quite have the same impact as the others. That said, the conflict still has huge stakes and makes for a wonderful character moment for both the hero and tragic villain, Doctor Octopus.
As Doc Ock's fusion reactor grows in power and threatens to engulf the city, Spidey shows up on the scene to stop it, rescue Mary Jane, and finally take down his former mentor. The two battle like everything they have is on the line and the battle resolves itself when Doc Ock realizes the error of his ways and ultimately, saves the day himself.
6 Spider-Man 3: The Rematch With Sandman Is Brutal
In Spider-Man 3, Peter is infected with an alien symbiote that not only turns his suit black but also alters his personality to make him more aggressive and self-centered. This, coupled with the revelation that Flint Marko, the Sandman, was actually responsible for Uncle Ben's death sent Peter into a rage.
The black-suited Spider-Man tracked Sandman down into the subway systems beneath the city and hunted him like an animal before a violent brawl kicked off. Spidey wanted Marko dead, plain and simple, and went as far as shoving his face into a passing train to inflict any damage he could. Eventually, the villain would seemingly be killed in the sewers, pleasing the hero at the time.
5 Spider-Man: The Final Battle Was Surprisingly Violent
After saving Mary Jane and a group of kids from the Green Goblin's devious plan, Spider-Man found himself caught off-guard and thrown into an abandoned Smallbox Hospital near the Queensboro Bridge. His entry into the building was bad enough, but that was nothing compared to what followed.
The Goblin threw in a signature pumpkin bomb that greatly injured the hero, then he brutally beat him within an inch of his life. Blood and sweat splashed across the ground as Spider-Man struggled to contend with the determined villain, but as usual, the bad guy couldn't resist one last taunt that brought the hero back and led to Spidey's ultimate victory over the Goblin.
4 Spider-Man 2: The First Fight With Doc Ock Was A Doozy
Spider-Man's first encounter with Doctor Octopus was a standout moment in the series, as the new villain robbed a bank in order to pay for parts for his new fusion reactor. Peter just so happened to be in the same bank with Aunt May, and a daring battle ensued with May caught in the middle.
The fight went from within the bank to the streets and up to the roofs above, showcasing some incredible stunts and choreography. This gave viewers their first look at how dynamic and exciting a brawl between these two could be, and poor May got an up-close at the whole thing, too.
3 Spider-Man 3: Best Friends, Now Bitter Enemies
The last chapter in the trilogy wasn't short on fights, and this one was an especially dark moment for Peter. Along with his vengeful rematch with Sandman, Peter allowed the symbiote to influence him to go after Harry once more, and a deadly fight between the two took place within the Osborn mansion.
No costumes this time, but Peter's powers and enhanced aggression allowed him to make short work of Harry despite his numerous Goblin weapons and gear. After beating Harry to the ground, the two exchanged harsh words and Peter walked away victorious. Harry tried one last hurrah and threw a bomb at Peter, which he caught and threw back at his former friend without mercy.
2 Spider-Man 3: The Finale Was A Huge Spectacle
Spider-Man, New Goblin, Sandman, and the emergence of Venom all contributed to the final battle of Spider-Man 3 being the biggest of the franchise. As hundreds of onlookers watched from the streets below, and with Mary Jane caught in the middle of it all, the series went out with a bang as four superbeings threw down on a construction site.
Peter and Harry mended their broken friendship just in time as the villainous duo of Venom and Sandman pulled out all the stops to squash their foes. Massive stakes, larger-than-life characters, and a tragic outcome all meant this was Spider-Man's greatest struggle to date.
1 Spider-Man 2: The Train Fight Is Iconic
Spider-Man 2 features arguably the best fight sequence of the trilogy, and it's one that has been referenced in later Spider-Man media such as the Insomniac game series. The scene in question follows Doc Ock's capture of Mary Jane and the re-emergence of Peter's powers before he chases after the multi-armed menace.
Their fight leads them to land on top of a speeding train on an overground rail line. The action is chaotic and exhilarating to watch and is something that could only happen when these particular rivals are pitted against each other. It may not be the final fight of the film or have the scope of the series' final battle royale, but this scene has remained a firm fan-favorite for fans for very good reason.