- For the video game based on the film, see Spider-Man 3 (video game)
Spider-Man 3 is an action game loosely based on the Spider-Man 3 film and released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance. The Xbox 360, PC and PS3 versions were developed by Treyarch, while the other versions...
. For the soundtrack of the film, see Spider-Man 3: The Official SoundtrackMusic from and Inspired by Spider-Man 3 is a soundtrack album to Sam Raimi's 2007 film Spider-Man 3. It was released on May 1, 2007. A special edition version is available only on the soundtrack's official website. A digital edition of the album is also in the planning stages, with the release date...
.
Spider-Man 3 is a
2007The year 2007 in film saw many new films released worldwide, including several major mainstream sequels, prequels, and remakes as well as original films.-Top grossing films:...
superhero filmA superhero film, superhero movie, or superhero motion picture is an action, fantasy or science fiction film that is focused on the actions of one or more superheroes, individuals who usually possess superhuman abilities relative to a normal person...
written and directed by
Sam RaimiSamuel Marshall "Sam" Raimi is an American film director, producer, actor and writer. He is best known for directing cult horror films like the Evil Dead series and Drag Me To Hell as well as the blockbuster Spider-Man films.-Early life:Raimi, the fourth of five children, was born in Royal Oak,...
, with a
screenplayA screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. A play for television is known as a teleplay.- Format and style :...
by
Ivan RaimiIvan Raimi is an American screenwriter and doctor of osteopathic medicine.Ivan, the third of five children, was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, the son of Celia Barbara , who owned lingerie shops, and Leonard Ronald Raimi, who owned home furnishing stores. Ivan was raised in Conservative Judaism; his...
and Alvin Sargent. It is the third film in the
Spider-Man film franchiseThe Spider-Man film series consists of three superhero films based on the fictional Marvel Comics character of the same name, portrayed by Tobey Maguire...
based on the
fictionalA character is the representation of a person in a narrative or dramatic work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr through its Latin transcription character, the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its...
Marvel ComicsMarvel Publishing, Inc., a company doing business as Marvel Comics, produces American comic books and related media. It forms a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc....
character
Spider-ManSpider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer and editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
. The film stars
Tobey MaguireTobias Vincent "Tobey" Maguire is an American actor. He began his career in the 1980s, and has since become best known for his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the Spider-Man films.-Early life:...
,
Kirsten DunstKirsten Caroline Dunst is an American actress, model, and singer. She made her film debut in Oedipus Wrecks, a short film directed by Woody Allen for the anthology New York Stories . At the age of 12, Dunst gained widespread recognition playing the role of vampire Claudia in Interview with the...
,
James FrancoJames Edward Franco is an American actor, director, screenwriter, film producer, and artist. He began acting during the late 1990s, appearing on the short-lived television series Freaks and Geeks and starring in several teen films...
,
Thomas Haden ChurchThomas Haden Church is an American actor. After co-starring in the 1990s sitcom Wings, Church became well known for his film roles, including his Academy Award-nominated performance in Sideways and his role as the Sandman in Spider-Man 3.-Early life:Church, the fourth of six children, was born...
,
Topher GraceChristopher John "Topher" Grace is an American actor, best known for playing the lead role of Eric Forman on the Fox sitcom That '70s Show for seven of the show's eight seasons, and the villain Eddie Brock, Jr./Venom in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3.-Early life:Grace was born in New York City, New...
, and
Bryce Dallas HowardBryce Dallas Howard is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the films The Village, Manderlay, Lady in the Water, Spider-Man 3, Terminator Salvation and Eclipse.-Early life:...
.
The film begins with
Peter ParkerSpider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer and editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
basking in his success as Spider-Man, while
Mary Jane WatsonMary Jane Watson, often is shortened to MJ, is a fictional supporting character appearing, originally, in Marvel comic books and, later, in multiple spin-offs and dramatisations of the Spider-Man titles as the best friend, love interest, and, in some continuities, wife of Peter Parker, the alter...
continues her
BroadwayBroadway Theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, is the theatre associated with the 40 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York in Manhattan, New York City...
career.
Harry OsbornHarry Osborn is a fictional character, a supporting character of Spider-Man in the . In addition to being Peter Parker's best friend, Harry was the second Green Goblin and is the son of the first, Norman Osborn...
still seeks vengeance for his father's death, and an escaped convict,
Flint MarkoSandman is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #4 , created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko as an adversary for Spider-Man...
, falls into a
particle acceleratorA particle accelerator is a device that uses electric fields to propel ions or charged subatomic particles to high speeds and to contain them in well-defined beams. An ordinary CRT television set is a simple form of accelerator...
and is transformed into a shape-shifting sand manipulator. An
extraterrestrial symbioteA symbiote, in Marvel Comics' fictional universe, is a living, sentient, extraterrestrial organism that bonds with other living organisms in order to survive. Since it has no classifying name, it is referred to as a symbiote because of its symbiotic relationships. Often symbiotes are called "living...
crashes to Earth and bonds with Peter, influencing his behavior for the worse. When Parker abandons the symbiote, it finds refuge in
Eddie BrockEddie Brock is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer David Michelinie and artist Todd McFarlane, the character first appeared in Web of Spider-Man #18 ; Brock became one of Spider-Man's deadliest foes, and later an anti-hero, as the first...
, a rival photographer, causing Peter to face his greatest challenge.
Spider-Man 3 was commercially released in multiple countries on May 1, 2007, and released in the United States in both conventional and
IMAXIMAX is a motion picture film format and projection standard created by Canada's IMAX Corporation. The traditional version of IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
theaters on May 4, 2007, by
Columbia PicturesColumbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
. Although the film received generally mixed reviews from critics, in contrast to the previous two films' highly positive reviews, it stands as the most successful film in the series worldwide, Marvel's most successful film,
Sony Pictures Entertainment'sSony Pictures Entertainment, Inc. is the television and film production/distribution unit of Japanese multinational technology and media conglomerate Sony. Its group sales in 2007 has been reported to be of $8.58 billion.-History:...
highest grossing film to date, as well as the second highest-grossing superhero film behind
2008'sThe year 2008 in film saw many new films released worldwide, including several major mainstream sequels, prequels, and remakes as well as original films.-Top grossing films:...
The Dark KnightThe Dark Knight is a superhero crime thriller film directed and co-written by Christopher Nolan. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is part of Nolan's Batman film series and a sequel to 2005's Batman Begins. Christian Bale reprises the lead role...
.
Plot
Peter ParkerSpider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer and editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
has begun to feel secure in his life and plans to propose to
Mary JaneMary Jane Watson, often is shortened to MJ, is a fictional supporting character appearing, originally, in Marvel comic books and, later, in multiple spin-offs and dramatisations of the Spider-Man titles as the best friend, love interest, and, in some continuities, wife of Peter Parker, the alter...
. While Peter and Mary Jane are on a date, a small
meteoriteA meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives an impact with the Earth's surface. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
crashes nearby, and an extraterrestrial
symbioteA symbiote, in Marvel Comics' fictional universe, is a living, sentient, extraterrestrial organism that bonds with other living organisms in order to survive. Since it has no classifying name, it is referred to as a symbiote because of its symbiotic relationships. Often symbiotes are called "living...
attaches itself to Peter's
mopedMopeds are a type of low-powered motorcycle with pedals, designed to provide economical and relatively safe transport with minimal licensing requirements...
. Meanwhile, escaped convict
Flint MarkoSandman is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #4 , created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko as an adversary for Spider-Man...
falls into a
particle acceleratorA particle accelerator is a device that uses electric fields to propel ions or charged subatomic particles to high speeds and to contain them in well-defined beams. An ordinary CRT television set is a simple form of accelerator...
that fuses his body with the surrounding sand. The result allows him to shape shift at will, becoming the
SandmanSandman is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #4 , created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko as an adversary for Spider-Man...
. Peter's best friend,
Harry OsbornHarry Osborn is a fictional character, a supporting character of Spider-Man in the . In addition to being Peter Parker's best friend, Harry was the second Green Goblin and is the son of the first, Norman Osborn...
, who seeks vengeance for his father's death, which he believes Peter caused, attacks him. During the scuffle, Harry injures his head and suffers from partial
amnesiaAmnesia is a memory condition in which memory is disturbed. In simple terms it is the loss of memory. The causes of amnesia are organic or functional. Organic causes include damage to the brain, through trauma or disease, or use of certain drugs. Functional causes are psychological factors, such...
, making him forget his
vendettaA feud is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often, through guilt by association, groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted or wronged by another...
.
Later, during a festival honoring Spider-Man for saving
Gwen StacyGwendolyn "Gwen" Stacy appears as a supporting character in Marvel Comics' Spider-Man series. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, she first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #31 ....
's life, Sandman attempts to rob an
armored carA common meaning of armored car is as an armored van or truck, used in transporting valuables, such as large quantities of money . They are equipped to resist attempts at robbery or hijacking....
, and overpowers Spider-Man. Gwen's father, police officer Captain Stacy, later informs Peter and
Aunt MayMay Reilly Parker-Jameson, commonly known as Aunt May, is a supporting character in Marvel Comics' Spider-Man series. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, she first appeared as May Parker in Amazing Fantasy #15 ....
that Marko is the one who killed
Ben ParkerBenjamin "Ben" Parker, usually called Uncle Ben, was a supporting character in the Marvel Universe’s Spider-Man stories. He was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko....
. A vengeful Peter waits for Marko to strike again. The symbiote bonds with his costume while he is asleep; Peter discovers that not only has his costume changed, but his powers have been enhanced as well. The black suit brings out the more vengeful, insensitive, and arrogant side of Peter's personality, exemplified by a near-lethal attack on Sandman during a battle.
The shift in Peter's personality alienates Mary Jane, whose career is floundering, and she finds solace with Harry. Harry recovers from his amnesia and, urged on by an apparition of his dead father, forces Mary Jane to break up with Peter. After Mary Jane leaves Peter, stating she is in love with another man, Harry meets him at a restaurant and claims to be the other man. Later, Peter finds him at the Osborn mansion. With the help of the black suit, Peter is victorious in a brutal fight, which leaves Harry's face disfigured. Influenced by the suit, Peter exposes and humiliates
Eddie BrockEddie Brock is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer David Michelinie and artist Todd McFarlane, the character first appeared in Web of Spider-Man #18 ; Brock became one of Spider-Man's deadliest foes, and later an anti-hero, as the first...
, a rival freelance photographer, who has sold fake pictures to
The Daily Bugle supposedly showing Spider-Man to be a criminal. Meanwhile, Sandman recovers from his injuries, and swears revenge on Spider-Man.
In an effort to make Mary Jane jealous, Peter brings Gwen to the nightclub where Mary Jane works. He gets into a fight with the club's bouncers and unintentionally shoves Mary Jane to the floor. Peter realizes the symbiote-suit is changing him for the worse. He runs out of the nightclub and goes to a church
bell towerA bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
to dispose of it. Initially he is unable to remove the suit, but the
soundSound is a travelling wave which is an oscillation of pressure transmitted through a solid, liquid, or gas, composed of frequencies within the range of hearing and of a level sufficiently strong to be heard, or the sensation stimulated in organs of hearing by such vibrations.- Perception of sound...
of the church bell weakens the symbiote, enabling Peter to break free. Eddie Brock is at the same church praying for Peter's death when the symbiote falls from the tower and takes over his body.
The newly-empowered EddieEddie Brock is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer David Michelinie and artist Todd McFarlane, the character first appeared in Web of Spider-Man #18 ; Brock became one of Spider-Man's deadliest foes, and later an anti-hero, as the first...
finds Sandman and suggests joining forces to destroy Spider-Man.
The pair put Mary Jane in a
taxicabA taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire, with a driver, for a single passenger, or small group of passengers, typically for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
and hang it from a gigantic symbiote web. Peter approaches Harry for help, but is turned down. However, Harry learns the truth about his father's death from his butler Bernard, and arrives in time to rescue Peter; they form an alliance against the two villains. As the fight progresses, Eddie attempts to impale Peter with Harry's glider, but Harry jumps in the way and is fatally wounded. Peter recalls how the church bell's toll weakened the symbiote, and frees Eddie from it by clanging several pipes together to make sonic vibrations. Peter throws a pumpkin bomb at the symbiote just as Eddie attempts to rebond with it, causing both to be destroyed in the resulting explosion.
After the battle, Marko recovers and tells Peter that he had no intention of killing Ben Parker, and that it was an accident born out of a desperate attempt to save his daughter's life. Peter forgives Marko, who dissipates and floats away to his daughter. Peter and Harry forgive each other before Harry dies with Mary Jane and Peter at his side. After Harry's funeral, Peter and Mary Jane begin to mend their relationship.
Cast and characters
- Tobey Maguire
Tobias Vincent "Tobey" Maguire is an American actor. He began his career in the 1980s, and has since become best known for his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the Spider-Man films.-Early life:...
as Peter Parker / Spider-ManSpider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer and editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
: A superhero, a brilliant physicsPhysics is a natural science; it is the study of matter and its motion through spacetime and all that derives from these, such as energy and force...
student at Columbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private university in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. Columbia's main campus lies in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, in New York City...
, and photographer for the Daily Bugle. As he grows arrogant with the city starting to embrace him for the first time in his career, an alien symbiote attaches itself to Peter's costume and influences his behavior for the worse. Maguire said he relished the opportunity to play a less timid Peter in this film.
- Kirsten Dunst
Kirsten Caroline Dunst is an American actress, model, and singer. She made her film debut in Oedipus Wrecks, a short film directed by Woody Allen for the anthology New York Stories . At the age of 12, Dunst gained widespread recognition playing the role of vampire Claudia in Interview with the...
as Mary Jane WatsonMary Jane Watson, often is shortened to MJ, is a fictional supporting character appearing, originally, in Marvel comic books and, later, in multiple spin-offs and dramatisations of the Spider-Man titles as the best friend, love interest, and, in some continuities, wife of Peter Parker, the alter...
: Peter Parker's girlfriend and a Broadway actress, whom he has loved since childhood. Mary Jane has a string of bad luck in the film, reminiscent of Peter's misfortune in Spider-Man 2, losing her job because of bad reviews and losing her boyfriend when the symbiote takes him over.
- James Franco
James Edward Franco is an American actor, director, screenwriter, film producer, and artist. He began acting during the late 1990s, appearing on the short-lived television series Freaks and Geeks and starring in several teen films...
as Harry Osborn / New GoblinHarry Osborn is a fictional character, a supporting character of Spider-Man in the . In addition to being Peter Parker's best friend, Harry was the second Green Goblin and is the son of the first, Norman Osborn...
: The son of Norman Osborn and Peter Parker's best friend, who believes Spider-Man murdered his father. After learning Peter is Spider-Man and that Norman was the Green Goblin, Harry becomes the New Goblin to battle his former friend directly.
- Rosemary Harris
Rosemary Ann Harris is an English actress and a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame.-Early life:Harris was born in Ashby, Suffolk, England, the daughter of Enid Maude Frances and Stafford Berkley Harris. Her grandmother was Romanian...
as May ParkerMay Reilly Parker-Jameson, commonly known as Aunt May, is a supporting character in Marvel Comics' Spider-Man series. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, she first appeared as May Parker in Amazing Fantasy #15 ....
: The aunt of Peter Parker and the widow of Ben Parker, Peter's uncle. She gives Peter her engagement ringIn Western tradition, an engagement ring is a ring worn by a person indicating his or her engagement to be married. Conventionally, the ring is presented as a betrothal gift by a man to his prospective bride while he proposes marriage or directly after she accepts his marriage proposal...
so he can propose to Mary Jane, and gives him lessons in forgiveness.
- J. K. Simmons
Jonathan Kimble "J. K." Simmons is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Dr. Emil Skoda in various series of the Law & Order universe, Neo-Nazi Vernon Schillinger in the HBO prison drama Oz, and his role as J...
as J. Jonah JamesonJ. Jonah Jameson is a fictional supporting character featured in various Marvel Comics, most prominently the Spider-Man title...
: The aggressive chief of The Daily Bugle. He has particular dislike towards Spider-Man, whom he considers a criminal.
- Dylan Baker
Dylan Baker is an American actor, known for playing supporting roles in both major studio and independent films.-Early life:...
as Dr. Curt ConnorsThe Lizard is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe and enemy of Spider-Man. The Lizard first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #6 , and was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko....
: A college physics professor under whom Peter Parker studies. He examines a piece of the symbiote and tells Peter it "amplifies characteristics of its host... especially aggression."
- Willem Dafoe
William "Willem" Dafoe is an American film and stage actor, and a founding member of the experimental theatre company The Wooster Group...
as Norman Osborn / Green GoblinThe Green Goblin is a name shared by several fictional supervillains that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. The original and current Green Goblin, Norman Osborn,...
: The hallucination of Harry Osborn's late wicked father returns to encourage his son to destroy Spider-Man.
- Cliff Robertson
Clifford Parker "Cliff" Robertson III is an American actor with a film and television career that spans half of a century. Robertson won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the movie Charly...
as Ben Parker: Peter Parker's deceased uncle.
- Bill Nunn
-Early life:Nunn was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of William G. Nunn, Jr., a well-known journalist and editor at the Pittsburgh Courier, as well as an NFL scout. Nunn's paternal grandfather was the first African American football player at George Westinghouse High School. Nunn attended...
as Joseph "Robbie" Robertson: A longtime employee at The Daily Bugle.
- Michael Papajohn
Michael Papajohn is an American actor, stuntman and former college baseball player for the LSU Tigers baseball team.-Early life:...
as Dennis CarradineThe Burglar, also known as Carradine, is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe, left unnamed in most of his appearances. He is best known as the first criminal faced by Spider-Man, and as the killer of Ben Parker. The burglar first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 .The burglar's first name...
: The carjacker who was believed to have murdered Uncle Ben.
- Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks is an American actress whose TV and film appearances include Scrubs, the Spider-Man films, The Uninvited, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, W., Zack And Miri Make A Porno, and Role Models.-Early life and education:Banks was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as the oldest of four children of...
as Betty BrantBetty Brant is a fictional character that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Betty Brant first appears in Amazing Spider-Man #4 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko....
: Receptionist at The Daily Bugle for J. Jonah Jameson.
In addition to these reprisals,
Spider-Man 3 introduces:
| "Villains with a conscience have this sad realization of who they are, and the monster they've become — there's a sense of regret. So at the end of these movies there's a dramatic resonance that really stays with the audience." |
| —Thomas Haden Church on Sandman |
- Thomas Haden Church
Thomas Haden Church is an American actor. After co-starring in the 1990s sitcom Wings, Church became well known for his film roles, including his Academy Award-nominated performance in Sideways and his role as the Sandman in Spider-Man 3.-Early life:Church, the fourth of six children, was born...
as Flint Marko / SandmanSandman is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #4 , created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko as an adversary for Spider-Man...
: A small-time thug who has a wife and sick daughter, for whom he steals money to help get the treatment to cure her. He transforms into the Sandman following a freak accident, and incurs Peter's wrath when Peter learns he was his Uncle Ben's true killer. Church was approached for Sandman because of his award-winning performance in the film SidewaysSideways is a 2004 American comedy-drama film written by Jim Taylor and Alexander Payne and directed by Payne. Adapted from Rex Pickett's 2004 novel, Sideways follows two forty-something men, portrayed by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, who take a week-long road trip to the wine country of...
, and accepted the role despite the lack of a script at the time. The film's Sandman possesses sympathy similarly exhibited by Lon ChaneyLon Chaney , nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema. He is best remembered for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and afflicted characters, and his...
in his portrayals of misunderstood creatures, as well as Frankenstein's monsterFrankenstein's monster is a character that first appeared in Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. In the novel, the creature has no name—a symbol of his parentlessness and lack of human sense of self and identity. He does call himself, when speaking to his creator, Victor...
, the GolemIn Jewish folklore, a golem is an animated being created entirely from inanimate matter. In modern Hebrew the word golem literally means "cocoon", but can also mean "fool", "silly", or even "stupid". The name appears to derive from the word gelem , which means "raw material"...
, and Andy SerkisAndrew C. G. "Andy" Serkis is an English actor, director and author.-Early life:Serkis was born and brought up in Ruislip Manor, Middlesex. His mother was English and his father was an Iraqi-born gynaecologist of Armenian descent...
's portrayals of GollumGollum is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He was first introduced in the author's fantasy novel The Hobbit, and later became an important supporting character in its sequel, The Lord of the Rings....
and King KongKing Kong is a fictional movie monster that has appeared in several films since 1933. These include the groundbreaking 1933 film King Kong, the film remakes of 1976 and 2005, as well as various sequels...
. Church worked out for sixteen months to improve his physique for the role, gaining 28 pounds of muscle and losing ten pounds of fat.
- Topher Grace
Christopher John "Topher" Grace is an American actor, best known for playing the lead role of Eric Forman on the Fox sitcom That '70s Show for seven of the show's eight seasons, and the villain Eddie Brock, Jr./Venom in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3.-Early life:Grace was born in New York City, New...
as Eddie Brock, Jr. / VenomEddie Brock is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer David Michelinie and artist Todd McFarlane, the character first appeared in Web of Spider-Man #18 ; Brock became one of Spider-Man's deadliest foes, and later an anti-hero, as the first...
: Peter's rival at the Daily Bugle. He is exposed by Peter for creating a fake incriminating image of Spider-Man, and leaps at the opportunity to exact his revenge when he bonds with the symbiote. Grace had impressed the producers with his performance in the film In Good CompanyIn Good Company is a 2004 comedy-drama film written and directed by Paul Weitz, the co-director of About a Boy. The film stars Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, Scarlett Johansson, Marg Helgenberger, Clark Gregg, Selma Blair, and David Paymer.-Plot:...
. A big comic bookA comic book is a magazine made up of narrative artwork, often accompanied by dialog and often including brief descriptive prose...
fan who read the first Venom stories as a boy, Grace spent six months working out to prepare for the role, gaining twenty-four pounds of muscle. He approached the character as someone under the influence, similar to an alcoholic or drug addict, and interpreted him as having a bad childhood, which is the key difference between him and Peter. Grace found his costume unpleasant, as it had to be constantly smeared to give a liquid-like feel. The costume took an hour to put on, though prostheticsProsthetic makeup is the process of using prosthetic sculpting, molding and casting techniques to create advanced cosmetic effects. Prosthetic makeup was revolutionized by Dick Smith in such films as Little Big Man.-Leaders:...
took four hours to apply. Grace also wore fangs, which bruised his gums.
- Bryce Dallas Howard
Bryce Dallas Howard is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the films The Village, Manderlay, Lady in the Water, Spider-Man 3, Terminator Salvation and Eclipse.-Early life:...
as Gwen StacyGwendolyn "Gwen" Stacy appears as a supporting character in Marvel Comics' Spider-Man series. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, she first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #31 ....
: Peter's lab partner. He asks her out to embarrass Mary Jane when possessed by the symbiote. Howard said the challenge of playing the role was in reminding many fans of the good-natured character who was Peter's first love in the comics, yet was "the other woman" in the film. Howard strived to create a sense that Gwen could potentially be a future girlfriend for him, and that, "I was not acting like some kind of man-stealing tart." Howard performed many of her stunts, unaware of the fact she was several months pregnant.
- James Cromwell
James Oliver Cromwell is an American film and television actor. He has been nominated for an Oscar, three Emmy Awards, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards during his career.-Early years:...
as Captain George Stacy: Gwen's father and a New York City Police Captain.
Spider-Man co-creator
Stan LeeStan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
has a cameo in
Spider-Man 3, as he did in the previous Spider-Man films, which he referred to as his "best cameo". Actor
Bruce CampbellBruce Lorne Campbell is an American actor, producer, writer and director.He is best known for doing work with Sam Raimi, such as his starring role as Ash in the Evil Dead trilogy of horror-slapstick movies and cameos in all Spider-Man films...
, who had cameo roles as a
wrestling ringA wrestling ring is the ring stage in which professional wrestlers wrestle.-Configuration and construction:The configuration and construction of the "traditional" ring is very similar to that of a boxing ring, though the wrestling version has three ring ropes...
announcer in
Spider-Man and as a rude usher in
Spider-Man 2, returns in
Spider-Man 3 with a new cameo as a French
maître d'The maître d’ in a suitably staffed restaurant or hotel is the person in charge of assigning customers to tables in the establishment and dividing the dining area into areas of responsibility for the various servers on duty...
. Originally his character, who helps Peter try to propose, was much more antagonistic. Composer
Christopher YoungChristopher Young is an award-winning American music composer for film and television. Many of his works were for horror movies, including Hellraiser, Tales from the Hood, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge Urban Legend and Drag Me to Hell...
appears in the film as a pianist at Mary Jane's theater when she is fired, while producer
Grant CurtisGrant Curtis is a film producer, who has worked with director Sam Raimi on The Gift and the Spider-Man films. He grew up in the rural Missouri town of Warrensburg. Curtis received a Masters Degree in Mass Communication in 1997 from the University of Central Missouri , formerly CMSU...
cameoed as the driver of an armored car that Sandman attacks. Comedian
Dean EdwardsDean Edwards is a stand-up comedian and actor. Born in The Bronx, New York, he is a veteran of the United States National Guard. He developed a reputation for working clean and taught classes in stand-up comedy technique....
cameoed as one of the newspaper readers who badmouth Spider-Man.
Development
| "The most important thing Peter right now has to learn is that this whole concept of him as the avenger or him as the hero, he wears this red and blue outfit, with each criminal he brings to justice he's trying to pay down this debt of guilt he feels about the death of Uncle Ben. He considers himself a hero and a sinless person versus these villains that he nabs. We felt it would be a great thing for him to learn a little less black and white view of life and that he's not above these people." |
| — Sam Raimi |
In March 2004, with
Spider-Man 2Spider-Man 2 is a 2004 American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi, written by Alvin Sargent and developed by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Michael Chabon. It is the second film in the Spider-Man film franchise based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man...
being released the coming June,
Marvel StudiosMarvel Studios is an American television and motion picture studio based in Beverly Hills, California.-Background:Marvel Studios was formed in the late 1990s following Revlon CEO Ronald Perelman's acquisition of parent company Marvel Entertainment...
had begun developing
Spider-Man 3 for a release in 2007. By the release of
Spider-Man 2, a release date for
Spider-Man 3 had been set for May 2, 2007 before production on the sequel had begun. The date was later changed to May 4, 2007. In January 2005, Sony Pictures Entertainment completed a seven-figure deal with
screenwriterScreenwriters or scenarists or scriptwriters are people in a film crew who write/create the screenplays from which films and television programs are made....
Alvin SargentAlvin Sargent is an American screenwriter.-Early life:Sargent graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1945...
, who had penned
Spider-Man 2, to work on
Spider-Man 3 with an option to write a fourth film.
Immediately after Spider-Man 2s release,
Ivan RaimiIvan Raimi is an American screenwriter and doctor of osteopathic medicine.Ivan, the third of five children, was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, the son of Celia Barbara , who owned lingerie shops, and Leonard Ronald Raimi, who owned home furnishing stores. Ivan was raised in Conservative Judaism; his...
wrote a treatment over two months, with Sam Raimi deciding to use the film to explore Peter learning that he is not a sinless vigilante, and that there also can be humanity in those he considers criminals.
Harry OsbornHarry Osborn is a fictional character, a supporting character of Spider-Man in the . In addition to being Peter Parker's best friend, Harry was the second Green Goblin and is the son of the first, Norman Osborn...
was brought back as Raimi wanted to conclude his storyline. Raimi felt that Harry would not follow his father's legacy, but be instead "somewhere between."
SandmanSandman is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #4 , created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko as an adversary for Spider-Man...
was introduced as an antagonist, as Raimi found him a visually fascinating character. While Sandman is a petty criminal in the comics, the screenwriters created a background of the character being
Uncle BenBenjamin "Ben" Parker, usually called Uncle Ben, was a supporting character in the Marvel Universe’s Spider-Man stories. He was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko....
's killer to increase Peter's guilt over his death and challenge his simplistic perception of the event. Overall, Raimi described the film as being about Peter, Mary Jane, Harry, and the Sandman, with Peter's journey being one of
forgivenessForgiveness is typically defined as the process of concluding resentment, indignation or anger as a result of a perceived offense, difference or mistake, and/or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution. The Oxford English Dictionary defines forgiveness as 'to grant free pardon and to give up all...
.
Raimi wanted another villain, and
Ben KingsleySir Ben Kingsley, CBE is an English actor. He has won four major motion picture acting awards, receiving Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards throughout his career...
was involved in negotiations to play the
VultureThe Vulture is the name of three comic book supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. The first Vulture is an elderly enemy of Spider-Man created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in The Amazing Spider-Man #2 .-Early life and criminal career:...
before the character was cut. Producer
Avi AradAvi Arad is an Israeli-American businessman. He became the CEO of the company Toy Biz in the 1990s, and soon afterward became the chief creative officer of Marvel Entertainment, a Marvel director, and chairman, CEO and the founder of Marvel Studios....
convinced Raimi to include Venom, a character whose perceived "lack of humanity" had initially been criticized by Sam Raimi. Venom's alter-ego, Eddie Brock, already had a minor role in the script. Arad told the director that Venom had a strong
fan baseA fan, aficionado, or supporter is someone who has an intense, occasionally overwhelming liking and enthusiasm for a sporting club, person , group of persons, company, product, activity, work of art, idea, or trend. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
, so Raimi included the character to please them, and even began to appreciate the character himself. The film's version of the character is an
amalgamationAmalgamation or amalgam, when used to refer to a fictional character or place, refers to one that was created by combining, or is perceived to be a combination, of several other previously existing characters or locations...
of Venom stories. Eddie Brock, Jr., the human part of Venom, serves as a mirror to Peter Parker, with both characters having similar jobs and romantic interests. Brock's actions as a journalist in Spider-Man 3 also represent contemporary themes of
paparazziPaparazzi is a plural term for photographers who take unstaged and/or candid photographs of celebrities caught unaware. Paparazzi take photos of celebrities at moments when the subjects do not expect to be photographed, such as when they shop, walk through a city, eat at a restaurant, or swim or...
and
tabloid journalismA tabloid is an industry term for a smaller newspaper format per spread; to a weekly or semi-weekly alternative newspaper that focuses on local-interest stories and entertainment, often distributed free of charge ; or to a newspaper that tends to sensationalize and emphasize or exaggerate or...
. The producers also suggested adding rival love interest
Gwen StacyGwendolyn "Gwen" Stacy appears as a supporting character in Marvel Comics' Spider-Man series. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, she first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #31 ....
, filling in an "other girl" type that Raimi already created. With so many additions, Sargent soon found his script so complex that he considered splitting it into two films, but abandoned the idea when he could not create a successful intermediate climax.
Filming
Camera crews spent ten days from November 5, 2005 to November 18, 2005, to film sequences that would involve intense
visual effectsVisual effects are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shoot...
so
Sony Pictures ImageworksSony Pictures Imageworks, Inc. is an Academy Award-winning, state-of-the-art visual effects and character animation company headquartered in Culver City, California, USA....
could begin work on the shots early in the project. The same steps had been taken for Spider-Man 2
to begin producing visual effects early for sequences involving the villain Doctor OctopusDoctor Octopus is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. A highly intelligent mad scientist, Doctor Octopus is one of the greatest enemies of Spider-Man who is portrayed as a stocky, myopic man who utilizes four powerful, mechanical appendages, and is...
.
Principal photographythumb|300px|Film production on location in [[Newark, New Jersey]].Principal photography is the phase of film production in which the movie is actually shot, as distinct from pre-production and post-production....
for Spider-Man 3 began on January 16, 2006 and wrapped in July 2006 after over a hundred days of filming. The team filmed in Los Angeles until May 19, 2006. In spring 2006, film
location managerThe Location Manager is responsible for the finding and securing locations to be used and coordinating the logistics involved for the production to successfully complete its necessary work...
Peter Martorano brought camera crews to Cleveland, due to the Cleveland Film Commission offering production space at the city's
convention centerA convention center, in American English, is an exhibition hall, or conference center, that is designed to hold a convention. In British English very large venues suitable for major trade shows are known as exhibition centres while the term "convention centre" is sometimes used for intermediate...
at no cost. In Cleveland, they shot the battle between Spider-Man and Sandman in the armored car. Afterwards, the team moved to Manhattan, where filming took place from May 26, 2006 until July 1, 2006. Shooting placed a strain on Raimi, who often had to move between several units to complete the picture. Shooting was also difficult for cinematographer Bill Pope, as the symbiote Spider-Man, Venom, and the New Goblin were costumed in black during
fight scenesStage combat is a specialized technique in theatre designed to create the illusion of physical combat without causing harm to the performers. It is employed in live stage plays as well as operatic and ballet productions. The term is also used informally to describe fight choreography for other...
taking place at night.
After August, pick-ups were conducted as Raimi sought to film more action scenes. The film then wrapped in October, although in the following month, additional
special effectThe illusions used in the film, television, theater, or entertainment industries to simulate the imagined events in a story are traditionally called special effects ....
s shots were taken to finalize the production. At the start of 2007, there were further pick-up shots regarding the resolution of Sandman's story, amounting to four different versions.
Effects
John DykstraJohn Charles Dykstra, A.S.C. is a two-time Academy Award-winning special effects supervisor and pioneer in the development of the use of computers in film making...
, who won the
Academy Award for Visual EffectsThe Academy Award for Visual Effects is an Oscar given to one film each year that shows highest achievement in visual effects.The category was called Best Special Effects when it was created in 1939. In 1963, the category was split into two: Best Special Visual Effects and Best Sound Effects...
for his work on
Spider-Man 2Spider-Man 2 is a 2004 American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi, written by Alvin Sargent and developed by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Michael Chabon. It is the second film in the Spider-Man film franchise based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man...
, declined to work on the third film as visual effects supervisor. Dykstra's colleague, Scott Stokdyk, took his place as supervisor, leading two hundred programmers at Sony Pictures Imageworks. This group designed specific computer programComputer programs are instructions for a computer. A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program's instructions in a central processor. The program has an executable form that the computer can use directly to execute the instructions...
s that did not exist when Spider-Man 3 began production, creating nine hundred visual effects shots.
In addition to the innovative visual effects for the film, Stokdyk created a miniature of a skyscraper section at 1:16 scale with
New DealThe New Deal was the name that United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave to his complex package of economic programs 1933-36 with the goals of what historians call the 3 Rs, of giving Relief to the unemployed and badly hurt farmers, Reform of business and financial practices, and promoting...
Studios' Ian Hunter and David Sanger. Stokdyk chose to design the miniature instead of using
computer-generated imageryComputer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
so damage done to the building could be portrayed realistically and timely without guesswork involving
computer modelsA computer simulation, a computer model, or a computational model is a computer program, or network of computers, that attempts to simulate an abstract model of a particular system...
. In addition, to Sony Imageworks, CafeFX provided visual effects for the crane disaster scene when Spider-Man rescues Gwen Stacy, as well as shots in the climactic battle.
To understand the effects of sand for the Sandman, experiments were done with twelve types of sand, such as splashing, launching it at stuntmen, and pouring it over ledges. The results were mimicked on the computer to create the visual effects for Sandman. For scenes involving visual effects, Thomas Haden Church was super-imposed onto the screen, where computer-generated imagery was then applied. With sand as a possible hazard in scenes that buried actors, ground-up corncobs were used as a substitute instead. Because of its resemblance to the substance, sand from
ArizonaThe State of Arizona is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. The capital and largest city is Phoenix. The second largest city is Tucson, followed in size by the four Phoenix metropolitan area cities of Mesa, Glendale, Chandler, and Scottsdale.Arizona was the 48th and...
was used as the model for the CG sand. In a fight where Spider-Man punches through Sandman's chest,
amputeeAmputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for such problems...
martial arts expert
Baxter HumbyBaxter Humby was born in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1974. Known as "The One Armed Bandit" because he has no right hand. It was amputated at birth, just below his elbow, after becoming entangled with the umbilical cord. -Kickboxing:...
took Tobey Maguire's place in filming the scene. Humby, whose right hand was amputated at birth, helped deliver the intended effect of punching through Sandman's chest.
Whereas the symbiote suit worn in the comics by Spider-Man was a plain black affair with a large white spider on the front and back, the design was changed for the film to become a black version of Spider-Man's traditional costume, complete with webbing motif. As a consequence of this, the suit
Topher GraceChristopher John "Topher" Grace is an American actor, best known for playing the lead role of Eric Forman on the Fox sitcom That '70s Show for seven of the show's eight seasons, and the villain Eddie Brock, Jr./Venom in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3.-Early life:Grace was born in New York City, New...
wore as Venom also bore the webbing motif; as producer
Grant CurtisGrant Curtis is a film producer, who has worked with director Sam Raimi on The Gift and the Spider-Man films. He grew up in the rural Missouri town of Warrensburg. Curtis received a Masters Degree in Mass Communication in 1997 from the University of Central Missouri , formerly CMSU...
noted, "it’s the Spider-Man suit, but twisted and mangled in its own right." Additionally, the motif gave a sense of life to the symbiote, giving it the appearance of gripping onto the character's body. When animating the symbiote, Raimi did not want it to resemble a spider or an octopus, and to give it a sense of character. The CG model is made of many separate strands. When animating Venom himself, animators observed footage of
big catThe term big cat - which is not a biological classification - is used informally to distinguish the larger cat species from smaller ones. One definition of "big cat" includes the four members of the genus Panthera: the tiger, lion, jaguar, and leopard. Members of this genus are the only cats able...
s such as
lionThe Lion is one of four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
s and
cheetahThe cheetah is an atypical member of the cat family that is unique in its speed, while lacking climbing abilities. The species is the only living member of the genus Acinonyx...
s for the character's agile movements.
Music
Originally,
Danny ElfmanDaniel Robert "Danny" Elfman is an American musician, best known for composing music for television and movies, and leading the rock band Oingo Boingo as singer/songwriter from 1976 until its breakup in 1995. He is a frequent collaborator with long-time friend Tim Burton, and has scored all but...
, the composer for the previous installments, did not plan to return for the third installment of Spider-Man
because of difficulties with director Sam Raimi. Elfman said that he had a "miserable experience" working with Raimi on Spider-Man 2
and could not comfortably adapt his music. Christopher YoungChristopher Young is an award-winning American music composer for film and television. Many of his works were for horror movies, including Hellraiser, Tales from the Hood, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge Urban Legend and Drag Me to Hell...
was then announced to score Spider-Man 3
in Elfman's absence. In December 2006, however, producer Grant Curtis announced that Elfman had begun collaborating with Christopher Young on the music for Spider-Man 3.
Young, who had composed some of the score for the second film, kept the themes for Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, and he composed new themes for Sandman, Venom, and the love story. Sandman's theme uses "two
contrabassThe contrabass saxophone is the lowest-pitched extant member of the saxophone family proper. It is extremely large and heavy , and is pitched in the key of E, one octave below the baritone...
saxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bored transposing musical instrument considered a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and are played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by Adolphe Sax in 1841...
s, two
contrabassThe contrabass clarinet is the largest member of the clarinet family that has ever been in regular production or significant use. Modern contrabass clarinets are pitched in BB, sounding two octaves lower than the common B soprano clarinet and one octave lower than the B bass clarinet...
clarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet...
s, two
contrabass bassoonsThe contrabassoon also known as the double bassoon is a larger version of the bassoon sounding an octave lower. Its technique is similar to its smaller cousin, with a few notable differences.-The contrabassoon compared to the bassoon:...
and eight very low French horns" to sound "low, aggressive and heavy". Young described Venom's theme as "Vicious, my instructions on that one were that he’s the devil personified. His theme is much more demonic sounding." Venom's theme uses eight French horns. Raimi approved the new themes during their first performance, but rejected the initial music to the birth of Sandman, finding it too monstrous and not tragic enough. Young had to recompose much of his score at a later stage, as the producers felt there weren't enough themes from the previous films. Ultimately, new themes for the love story, Aunt May, and Mary Jane were dropped.
Reception
Spider-Man 3
had its world premiere in Tokyo, officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and is located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. The twenty-three special wards of Tokyo, each governed as a city, cover the area that was once the city of Tokyo in the eastern part of the prefecture, totaling over 8 million people....
on April 16, 2007, which garnered positive reaction from Japanese viewers. The film held its UK premiere on April 23, 2007 at the Odeon Leicester SquareThe Odeon Leicester Square is a cinema which occupies the centre of the eastern side of Leicester Square, London, dominating the square with its huge black polished granite facade and high tower displaying its name. Blue neon outlines the exterior of the building at night. It was built to be the...
, and the U.S. premiere took place at the Tribeca Film FestivalThe Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff in a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Manhattan....
in QueensQueens is the largest in area, the second-largest in population, and the easternmost of the Five Boroughs which form New York City. The Borough of Queens' boundaries are identical to those of the County of Queens , a subdivision of the State of New York in the Northeastern United States.Located on...
on April 30, 2007.
Spider-Man 3
was commercially released in sixteen territories on May 1, 2007. The film was released in Japan on May 1, 2007, three days prior to the American commercial release, to coincide with Japan's Golden Week, also known as or, is a Japanese term applied to the period containing the following public holidays:* April 29**, until 1988**, from 1989 until 2006**, from 2007* May 3*** May 4**, from 1985 until 2006**, from 2007* May 5...
. Spider-Man 3
was also released in China on May 3, 2007 to circumvent market growth of pirated copiesCopyright infringement of audio-visual works, often referred to as piracy or dilamicico, occurs when unauthorized copies are made of music, movies and similar works. Incidence of copyright infringement has grown dramatically since the late 1970s, as technology has facilitated the unauthorized...
of the film. The studio's release of a film in China before its domestic release was a first for Sony Pictures Releasing International. By May 6, 2007, Spider-Man 3
opened in 107 countries around the world.
The film was commercially released in the United States on May 4, 2007 in a North American record total of 4,253 theaters, including fifty-three IMAXIMAX is a motion picture film format and projection standard created by Canada's IMAX Corporation. The traditional version of IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
theaters. The record number of theaters was later beaten by Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
, which was released in 4,362 theaters in the United States—109 more than Spider-Man 3
. Tracking data a month before the U.S. release reflected over 90% awareness and over 20% first choice among moviegoers, statistics that estimated an opening weekend of over $100 million for Spider-Man 3
. Online tickets for Spider-Man 3
were reported on April 23, 2007 to have been purchased at a faster rate—three times at Movietickets.com and four times at FandangoFandango is a corporation in the United States that sells movie tickets over the telephone and Internet, enabling customers to ensure ticket availability and avoid lines at the movie theater.-Services:...
—than online ticket sales for Spider-Man 2Spider-Man 2 is a 2004 American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi, written by Alvin Sargent and developed by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Michael Chabon. It is the second film in the Spider-Man film franchise based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man...
. On May 2, 2007, Fandango reported the sales rate as six times greater than the rate for Spider-Man 2
. The strong ticket sales caused theaters to add 3:00 AM showings following the May 4, 2007 midnight showing to accommodate the demand.
The FX channel signed a five-year deal for the television rights to Spider-Man 3, which they began airing in 2009. The price was based on the film's box office performance, with an option for three opportunities for Sony to sell the rights to one or more other broadcast networks.
Marketing
In
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
, the hometown of Spider-Man's
fictional universeA fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements which differ from the real world. It may be called, variously, a fictional realm, world or universe...
,
tourist attractionA tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
s arranged events and exhibits on April 30, 2007 to lead up to the release of Spider-Man 3. The unique campaign include a spider exhibit at the
American Museum of Natural HistoryThe American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York, USA, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
, workshops on baby spider plants at the
New York Botanical GardenThe New York Botanical Garden is one of the premier botanical gardens in the United States, located in the Bronx in New York City. It spans some of Bronx Park and is home to some of the world's leading plant laboratories...
, Green Goblin mask-making workshop at the
Children's Museum of ManhattanThe Children’s Museum of Manhattan was founded by Bette Korman, under the name GAME , in 1973. With New York City in a deep fiscal crisis, and school art, music, and cultural programs eliminated, a loosely organized, group of artists and educators set up a basement storefront to serve Harlem and...
, and a
scavenger huntA scavenger hunt is a game in which individuals or teams seek to gather a number of specific items—usually not by purchase—or perform tasks as given by a list...
and a bug show at
Central Park ZooThe Central Park Zoo is located in Central Park in New York City and run by the Wildlife Conservation Society.- Areas :Trellised, vine-clad, glass-roofed pergolas link the three major exhibit areas—tropic, temperate and arctic— housed in discreet new buildings, of brick trimmed with granite, masked...
.
HasbroHasbro is a U.S.-based, multinational toy and boardgame company. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States. The majority of its products, however, are manufactured overseas.-History:In 1923, two brothers—Henry...
, which holds the license for Marvel characters, released several toys to
tie-inA tie-in is an authorized product based on a media property a company is releasing, such as a movie or video/DVD, computer game, video game, television program/television series, board game, web site, role-playing game or literary property...
with the film. They include a deluxe spinning web blaster, along with several lines of
action figureAn action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon from various movie, comic book, video game, or television program characters. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys...
s aimed at both children and collectors. Toys of the
Green GoblinThe Green Goblin is a name shared by several fictional supervillains that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. The original and current Green Goblin, Norman Osborn,...
and
Doctor OctopusDoctor Octopus is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. A highly intelligent mad scientist, Doctor Octopus is one of the greatest enemies of Spider-Man who is portrayed as a stocky, myopic man who utilizes four powerful, mechanical appendages, and is...
from the first two films have been re-released to match the smaller scale of the new figures, as have been toys of the
LizardThe Lizard is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe and enemy of Spider-Man. The Lizard first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #6 , and was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko....
, the
ScorpionMacDonald "Mac" Gargan is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He originally appeared as the villain Scorpion, and then bonded with the Venom symbiote to become the third incarnation of Venom...
,
Kraven the HunterKraven the Hunter is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #15 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko....
, and
RhinoThe Rhino is a supervillain in the Marvel Universe. He is also a frequent adversary of Spider-Man and occasionally the Hulk. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Romita, Sr., he first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #41 .As part of a Soviet super soldier program, a superstrong polymer...
in a style reminiscent of the films.
Techno SourceTechno Source concentrates primarily in the handheld electronic game and TV Game markets selling electronic toys, games and learning aids.Based in Hong Kong with United States offices in New York City, Techno Source is a privately owned company founded in 2000 by two toy industry veterans, Wayne...
created interactive toys, including a "hand-held Battle Tronics device that straps to the inside of a player's wrist and mimics Spidey's web-slinging motions". Japanese Medicom Toy Corporation produced
collectibleA collectable or collectible is typically a manufactured item designed for people to collect. In this respect, they are distinguishable from other subjects of collections, which may also include natural objects and objects manufactured for purposes other than collecting...
s, which Sideshow Collectibles distributed in the U.S.
Reviews
The film has received generally mixed reviews from critics. On the
movie reviewFilm criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films, individually and collectively. In general, this can be divided into journalistic criticism that appears regularly in newspapers, and other popular, mass-media outlets and academic criticism by film scholars that is informed by film theory and...
aggregator site
Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films. The name derives from the historical cliché of throwing tomatoes and other produce at stage performers if a performance was particularly bad.- History :...
, Spider-Man 3
has a 62% "fresh" approval rating based on 234 reviews, with a 43% approval rating based on 42 reviews from major news outlets. On MetacriticMetacritic is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, Spider-Man 3
has received a 59% rating based on 40 reviews. On Yahoo! MoviesYahoo! Movies, provided by the Yahoo! network, is home to a large collection of information on movies, past and new releases, trailers and clips, box office information, and showtimes and movie theater information. Yahoo! Movies also includes red carpet photos, actor galleries, and production stills...
, Spider-Man 3 is graded a B- among 14 film critics. In an early, positive review, posted April 25, 2007, Roger Friedman of
Fox NewsThe Fox News Channel , commonly referred to as Fox or Fox News, is a major American cable news and satellite channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation. As of April 2009, it is available to 102 million households in the U.S...
called the film a "4 star opera", noting that while long, there was plenty of humor and action. Andy Khouri of
Comic Book ResourcesComic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
praised the film as "easily the most complex and deftly orchestrated superhero epic ever filmed [...] despite the enormous amount of characters, action and
sci-fiScience fiction is a genre of fiction. It differs from fantasy in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically-established or scientifically-postulated laws of nature...
superhero plot going on in this film, Spider-Man 3
never feels weighted down, tedious or boring." Jonathan RossJonathan Ross may refer to:* Jonathan Ross , English television and radio personality* Jonathan Ross , United States Senator, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court* Jonathon Ross , former Australian rules footballer...
, a big fan of the comic books, felt the film was the best of the trilogy. Richard CorlissRichard Nelson Corliss is a writer for Time magazine who focuses on movies, with the occasional article on music or sports. Corliss is the former editor-in-chief of Film Comment...
of TimeTime is an American newsmagazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong. As of 2009, Time no longer publishes a Canadian advertiser edition...
commended the filmmakers for their ability to "dramatize feelings of angst and personal betrayal worthy of an Ingmar BergmanErnst Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. His influential body of work often dealt with themes such as bleakness and despair, as well as comedy and hope, in his cinematic exploration of the human condition...
film, and then to dress them up in gaudy comic-book colors". Wesley MorrisWesley Morris is a film critic at Boston Globe. Before that he wrote for the San Francisco Examiner, and later at the San Francisco Chronicle. He also wrote for and edited the Culture section for Student.Com....
of the The Boston GlobeThe Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993. Its chief print rival is the Boston Herald....
, who gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, wrote that it was a well made, fresh film, but would leave the viewer "overfulfilled". Jonathan Dean of Total FilmTotal Film, published by Future Publishing, is the United Kingdom's second best-selling film magazine. It offers film and DVD news, reviews, and features...
felt the film's complex plot helped the film's pacing, in that, "it rarely feels disjointed or loose [...] Spider-Man cements its shelf-life." Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books and popular culture. Unlike celebrity-focused publications US Weekly, People, and In Touch Weekly, EWs primary concentration is on entertainment...
named the Sandman as the eighth best computer-generated film character.
John Hartl of MSNBCMSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States and available in both the US and Canada. Its name is a combination of "MSN" and "NBC"....
gave Spider-Man 3
a good review, but stated that it has some flaws such as having "too many storylines". His opinion is echoed by Houston Chronicle'sThe Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA. As of March 2008, it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
Amy Biancolli who complained that "the script is busy with so many supporting characters and plot detours that the series' charming idiosyncrasy is sometimes lost in the noise." Jack Matthews of New York Daily NewsThe Daily News of New York City is the fifth most-widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 632,595, as of June 13, 2009. The first U.S. daily printed in tabloid form, it was founded in 1919, and as of 2007 is owned and run by Mortimer Zuckerman...
thought the film was too devoted to the "quiet conversations" of Peter and Mary Jane, but that fans would not be disappointed by the action. Among less enthusiastic reviewers, Sean Burns of Philadelphia WeeklyPhiladelphia Weekly , is an award-winning alternative newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, published every Wednesday.The paper was founded in 1971 as a sister publication to the South Philadelphia Press. In 1995, the paper became Philadelphia Weekly...
felt that the director "substituted scope and scale for the warmth and wit that made those two previous pictures so memorable." Manohla DargisManohla Dargis is a film critic for The New York Times. She was formerly a film writer at The Village Voice, the film critic for the Los Angeles Times, and the editor of the film section at LA Weekly...
of The New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded in 1851 and published in New York City. The largest metropolitan newspaper in the United States, "The Gray Lady"—named for its staid appearance and style—is regarded as a national newspaper of record...
deplored the film's pacing as "mostly just plods" and a lack of humor. Richard RoeperRichard Roeper is an American journalist and film critic for The Chicago Sun Times. He also co-hosted the television series At the Movies with Roger Ebert from 2000–2008.-Early life:...
of the Chicago Sun-TimesThe Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is owned by the Sun-Times Media Group, which filed for bankruptcy protection on March 31, 2009.-History:...
gave the film only 2 out of 4 stars, feeling, "for every slam-bang action sequence, there are far too many sluggish scenes." David EdelsteinDavid Edelstein is the chief film critic for New York Magazine, as well as the film critic for NPR's Fresh Air and CBS Sunday Morning. He lives in Brooklyn, New York....
of New York Magazine misses the "centrifugal threat" of
Alfred Molina'sAlfred Molina is an English-American actor. He first came to public attention in the UK for his joint lead role with Gary Oldman in the 1987 film Prick Up Your Ears...
character, adding that "the three villains here don’t add up to one Doc Ock."
James BerardinelliJames Berardinelli is an American online film critic.-Biography:Berardinelli was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and spent his early childhood in Morristown. At the age of nine, he moved to Cherry Hill. He attended the University of Pennsylvania from 1985 through 1990, obtaining both a BS and...
felt director Sam Raimi "overreached his grasp" by allowing so many villains, specifically saying, "Venom is one bad guy too many."
Roger EbertRoger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter.He is known for his film review column and for two television programs Sneak Previews and Siskel & Ebert at the Movies, which he co-hosted for a combined 23 years with Gene Siskel...
thought Church never expressed how Sandman felt about his new powers, something Molina, as Doc Ock in Spider-Man 2
, did "with a vengeance"; he claimed the film was "a mess," with too many villains, subplots, romantic misunderstandings, conversations and "street crowds looking high into the air and shouting 'oooh!' this way, then swiveling and shouting 'aaah!' that way." The New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry published by Condé Nast Publications...
's
Anthony LaneAnthony Lane has been a film reviewer for The New Yorker magazine since 1993.-Personal life:Lane is unmarried, but lives with the British tabloid columnist/writer Allison Pearson They reside in Cambridge....
, who gave Spider-Man 2Spider-Man 2 is a 2004 American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi, written by Alvin Sargent and developed by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Michael Chabon. It is the second film in the Spider-Man film franchise based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man...
a favorable review, summarized the film as a "shambles" which "makes the rules up as it goes along."
Box office performance
On its international opening day on May 1, 2007 in 16 territories, Spider-Man 3
grossed $29.2 million, an 86% increase from the intake of Spider-Man 2
on its first day of release. In 10 of the 16 territories, Spider-Man 3
set new opening day records. In Asian territories, the film surpassed the opening-day record of Spider-Man 2
in Japan and South Korea. Spider-Man 3
also set opening-day records in Hong KongHong Kong , officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a highly autonomous territory of the People's Republic of China, facing Guangdong to the north and the South China Sea to the east, west and south...
, ThailandThe Kingdom of Thailand is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia.It is bordered to the north by Laos and Burma, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Burma...
, MalaysiaMalaysia is a country in Southeast Asia that consists of thirteen states and three Federal Territories, with a total landmass of . The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. The population stands at over 28 million inhabitants...
, SingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island city-state located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, lying north of the equator, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of Indonesia's Riau Islands. At , Singapore is a microstate and the smallest nation in Southeast...
, TaiwanTaiwan , also known as Formosa , is the largest island of the Republic of China in East Asia. Taiwan is located east of the Taiwan Strait, off the southeastern coast of mainland China...
, and the PhilippinesThe Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean....
. In India, where the film was released in English, Hindi, TamilTamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in India, Sri Lanka and Singapore. Tamil is also spoken by significant minorities in Malaysia, Mauritius and Réunion as well as emigrant communities around the world...
, TeluguTelugu is a Dravidian language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is the official language of Andhra Pradesh, one of the largest states of India. It is also one of the twenty-two scheduled languages of the Republic of India and was conferred the status of a Classical language by the Government...
, and BhojpuriBhojpuri is a regional language spoken in parts of north-central and eastern India. It is spoken in the western part of state of Bihar, the northwestern part of Jharkhand, and the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, as well as an adjoining area of southern plains of Nepal. Bhojpuri is also spoken...
, the film grossed $4.66 million over the opening weekend, breaking the record set by Casino RoyaleCasino Royale is the twenty-first film in the James Bond series; it was directed by Martin Campbell and the first to star Daniel Craig as MI6 agent James Bond. Based on the 1953 novel of the same name by Ian Fleming, it was adapted by screenwriters Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Paul Haggis...
in 2006 ($3.63 million). In Europe, the film broke Italy's opening-day record set by 2006's The Da Vinci CodeThe Da Vinci Code is a 2006 film directed by Ron Howard, which is based on the bestselling 2003 novel The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. It was one of the most anticipated films of 2006, and was previewed at the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2006...
. In Germany, the film surpassed the opening day gross of Spider-Man 2
. In France, Spider-Man 3
broke the opening day record set by Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the SithStar Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is a 2005 space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the sixth film released in the Star Wars saga and the third in terms of the series' internal chronology. It completes the entire Star Wars story.The film takes place three years after...
in 2005. The film broke the opening weekend records in 29 countries, while reaching at least the number one position in all 107 countries that it opened, which brought its international total to $231 million.
Spider-Man 3
set a then record $59,841,919 take for its opening day in the United States, breaking Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's ChestPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is a adventure film of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, the sequel to the film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and the first film from Walt Disney Pictures to feature the current logo...
's $55.8 million record. The film also took the worldwide opening day record with $117 million. The U.S. opening day take includes a record $10 million in Thursday midnight showings. Spider-Man 3
broke Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chests all-time weekend debut by grossing $151,116,516 from an ultrawide release of 4,252 theaters (about 10,000 screens) for an average of about $35,540 per theater. The film also set a new worldwide record for opening weekend, with a final total of $382 million. As of December 3, 2007, the total gross in America was $336,530,303, making it the highest-grossing film of 2007 in the U.S., however that also stands as the lowest domestic tally in the franchise, while the worldwide total was $890,871,626. It is the third highest-grossing film worldwide in 2007 behind
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and
Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a fantasy adventure film, based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. Directed by David Yates, produced by David Heyman's company Heyday Films, and written by Michael Goldenberg, it is the fifth film in the popular Harry Potter film series....
and
13th of all time.
The film's IMAX screenings reached $20 million in 30 days, faster than any other 2D film remastered in the format.
Home video
Spider-Man 3 was released on Region 4 DVD in Australia on September 18, 2007. For Region 2 in the United Kingdom, the film was released on October 15, 2007.
Spider-Man 3 was released on DVD in Region 1 territories on October 30, 2007. The film is available in one-disc and two-disc editions, on both standard and Blu-ray formats, as well as packages with the previous films and a PSP release.
Sam RaimiSamuel Marshall "Sam" Raimi is an American film director, producer, actor and writer. He is best known for directing cult horror films like the Evil Dead series and Drag Me To Hell as well as the blockbuster Spider-Man films.-Early life:Raimi, the fourth of five children, was born in Royal Oak,...
,
Tobey MaguireTobias Vincent "Tobey" Maguire is an American actor. He began his career in the 1980s, and has since become best known for his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the Spider-Man films.-Early life:...
,
Kirsten DunstKirsten Caroline Dunst is an American actress, model, and singer. She made her film debut in Oedipus Wrecks, a short film directed by Woody Allen for the anthology New York Stories . At the age of 12, Dunst gained widespread recognition playing the role of vampire Claudia in Interview with the...
,
James FrancoJames Edward Franco is an American actor, director, screenwriter, film producer, and artist. He began acting during the late 1990s, appearing on the short-lived television series Freaks and Geeks and starring in several teen films...
,
Thomas Haden ChurchThomas Haden Church is an American actor. After co-starring in the 1990s sitcom Wings, Church became well known for his film roles, including his Academy Award-nominated performance in Sideways and his role as the Sandman in Spider-Man 3.-Early life:Church, the fourth of six children, was born...
,
Topher GraceChristopher John "Topher" Grace is an American actor, best known for playing the lead role of Eric Forman on the Fox sitcom That '70s Show for seven of the show's eight seasons, and the villain Eddie Brock, Jr./Venom in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3.-Early life:Grace was born in New York City, New...
,
Bryce Dallas HowardBryce Dallas Howard is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the films The Village, Manderlay, Lady in the Water, Spider-Man 3, Terminator Salvation and Eclipse.-Early life:...
,
Laura Ziskin-Early life and career:Ziskin grew up in the San Fernando Valley in California, in a Jewish American family. She is a 1973 graduate of the University of Southern California USC School of Cinematic Arts. After graduation, Ziskin started out writing for game shows and then became the personal...
,
Avi AradAvi Arad is an Israeli-American businessman. He became the CEO of the company Toy Biz in the 1990s, and soon afterward became the chief creative officer of Marvel Entertainment, a Marvel director, and chairman, CEO and the founder of Marvel Studios....
, and
Grant CurtisGrant Curtis is a film producer, who has worked with director Sam Raimi on The Gift and the Spider-Man films. He grew up in the rural Missouri town of Warrensburg. Curtis received a Masters Degree in Mass Communication in 1997 from the University of Central Missouri , formerly CMSU...
are among those who contributed to the
audio commentariesOn disc-based video formats, an audio commentary is an additional audio track consisting of a lecture or comments by one or more speakers, that plays in real time with video...
.
Sony announced plans to create "one of the largest" marketing campaigns in Hollywood for the October 30, 2007 release of the DVD. Beginning with a partnership with Papa Johns, Sony printed close to 8.5 billion impressions for pizza boxes, television, radio, and online ads. Sony also worked with
PringlesPringles is a brand of potato snack produced by Procter & Gamble. Pringles are sold in over 30 countries and have yearly sales of over $1 billion.- Beginnings :...
Potato Crisp,
Blu-TackBlu-Tack is a versatile, reusable putty-like pressure-sensitive adhesive. The original version of the product was blue, but many colours are now available. It is based on a formulation consisting of synthetic rubber, polymers, oil, and inorganic fillers....
, Jolly Time Pop Corn, and
NutellaNutella is the brand name of a hazelnut-based sweet spread registered by the Italian company Ferrero at the end of 1963. The recipe was developed from an earlier Ferrero's spread released in 1949. Nutella is now marketed in over 75 countries across the globe....
. Sony's Vice President of marketing, Jennifer Anderson, stated the studio spend approximately 15% to 25% of its marketing budget on digital ad campaigns; from this, Papa Johns sent text messages to mobile phones with ads. Anderson stated that there would be three sweepstakes held for consumers, where they would be able to win prizes from Sony and its promotional partners.
In the United States, the film grossed more than $121 million on DVD sales in 18 weeks. It also grossed more than $43.76 million on DVD/Home Video Rentals in 11 weeks. However, the DVD sales results of this film did not meet industry expectations.
External links
Official
Reviews
Other
- Spider-Man 3 at Cinema and Science
Cinema and Science is a European educational project of the Austrian physicist Heinz Oberhummer. It is funded by the European Commissionand was awarded of being a star project...