The year 2002 really didn't disappoint when it came to big Hollywood blockbusters, with the likes of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy also kickstarted that year, with Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3 then following in 2004 and 2007 respectively.
Many of the characters have become somewhat iconic in the years since it hit the big screen. However, only a few characters managed to leave a memorable impression on the audience. But which ones are they?
Uncle Ben
Just like in the comics, Maguire's Peter Parker is raised by his Uncle Ben and Aunt May. The former appears in the first movie but is tragically killed off, with his death then triggering our protagonist into embracing his new powers and keeping the citizens of New York safe from harm.
While Ben is only in the first installment, barring a brief cameo in the third, his presence lingers over all three movies. He's frequently referenced and inspires Peter into standing up for what's right, no matter how tough things are. Without him, there may have never been Spider-Man.
Venom
Spider-Man 3 is an enjoyable movie but pales in comparison when it comes to the other entries in the franchise. And one thing that lets it down is its decision to include too many villains. There's New Goblin and Sandman, played by James Franco and Thomas Hayden Church, and there's also Venom, who was portrayed by Topher Grace.
He's arguably the weakest villain in the trilogy, yet is still a tough antagonist. Unlike villains in other franchises, he's effective, too, killing off Harry Osborn and terrifying Mary Jane Watson. The CGI is impressive and his introduction definitely upped the stakes further.
Sandman
Also appearing in Spider-Man 3, Sandman is revealed to be Uncle Ben's true killer - instead of Denis Caradine. That is a major flaw given it recons, something that's already been out in the open for five years by this point. But Sandman is a conflicted and surprisingly deep bad guy.
The twist at the end that he didn't actually mean to kill Ben is poignant and the fact he survives suggests Church was primed to reprise his role in the future. He's probably the best of the villains featured in the movie, even if his backstory feels a little weak.
Norman Osborn
For the first Spider-Man movie, Sony knew they needed a top actor and a top villain. And they got both in the form of Willem Dafoe, who gives a menacing performance as the Green Goblin.
Norman is a tricky foe for Peter to beat and ends up defeating himself, dying via his own Goblin glider. Death doesn't stop him from causing yet more chaos, however, with Dafoe's character later encouraging son Harry Osborn into donning the suit and following in his footsteps. Like Maguire, he's another who has been rumored to appear in No Way Home when it hits theatres later this year.
Otto Octavius
Even in a day and age where superhero movies release with increasing regularity, Spider-Man 2 still stands up there with the very best the genre has to offer. Part of the reason for that is Alfred Molina's epic performance as Otto Octavius, a humane scientist who descends into villainy when his reputation is destroyed, his wife dies and four mechanical arms take control of him.
Otto oozes menace throughout the title, acting as a more-than-adequate opponent for Peter. Molina has already confirmed he will be back for No Way Home and that's certainly been enough to get fans' spider-sense tingling, with many greatly anticipating his return.
Aunt May
The first actor to play Aunt May in a live-action Spider-Man movie is Rosemary Harris, who shows the character to be warm, kind and the perfect role model for Peter. She's everything you would want from a guardian and it's genuinely devastating seeing May struggle financially after Ben's death and when Peter reveals he could have prevented that tragic incident from happening.
May gets involved in the action, too, more than holding her own against Octavius. There was always a sense she knew Peter was the one saving the citizens of New York every day but, unfortunately, that was never confirmed. It did, though, make scenes between the two characters particularly captivating to watch.
Harry Osborn
Missing out on a place on the podium positions for this list is James Franco's Harry Osborn. Sure, his outfit as the New Goblin is questionable - as well as the decision to give him amnesia in Spider-Man 3. But Franco's Harry has a complex arc over the three movies and his turbulent relationship with Peter means there's always an edge to their scenes together.
Harry struggled during the first movie, losing Mary Jane's love and also seeing his father seemingly favoring his best friend over him prior to his death. He's all fired up in the sequel and, in the third, he finally goes down the villain route. Eventually, he's redeemed but he sadly dies at the end of Spider-Man 3, being impaled by Venom in a death reminiscent of his father's in the 2002 film.
J. Jonah Jameson
Taking home the bronze medal is JK Simmons' J. Jonah Jameson. In the comics, he's a character who absolutely can't stand Spider-Man - often smearing his name and encouraging the citizens of New York to snub him. And Simmons gives a hateful performance as the Daily Bugle editor, adding comedy to the trilogy along the way.
Simmons has been in many movies over the years but it's Jameson where he's at his very best. His return in the post-credits scene of Far From Home was a welcome surprise and it will be intriguing to see what the future holds now he's back in the fold.
Mary Jane Watson
Kirsten Dunst landed the role of Mary Jane Watson for the Raimi trilogy and instantly elevated the character, making her even more famous than she was previously. Her problematic relationship with Peter dominates all three movies but that's no bad thing, especially with both Dunst and Maguire's acting and chemistry is so strong.
What ultimately stops her from ranking higher is the fact she's easily captured in every single installment. Gwen Stacy and MJ are stronger female protagonists in Spider-Man: Far From Home, with Dunst's often in need of rescuing. Fortunately, it seems like Sony learned from their mistake and made better decisions going forward.
Peter Parker
Of course, Peter Parker was always going to come top of this list. Maguire may be goofy at times in Spider-Man 3 but that shouldn't detract from the fact he gives a stellar showing as the web-slinger in all three titles, becoming the stuff of Hollywood legend in the process.
While his return hasn't been officially confirmed just yet, it's definitely a good idea. Peter's arc was never entirely closed, with Spider-Man 3 leaving his relationship with Mary Jane on a cliffhanger. So it would be great to give him, and the fans, some much-needed closure.
