Spider-Man Fans Debate Whether the Tobey Maguire Movie Is a Thanksgiving Classic

Summary

• The debate over whether Spider-Man is a Thanksgiving movie has resurfaced, with fans pointing to a Thanksgiving dinner scene and a parade balloon scene as evidence.
• The popularity of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, released over 20 years ago, remains strong, and Tobey Maguire’s portrayal of the iconic hero is still beloved by fans.
• Willem Dafoe’s performance as the Green Goblin in the film is widely regarded as one of the greatest portrayals of a comic book villain, demonstrating his ability to switch characters seamlessly.

When it comes to fan debates about where a movie should sit in relation to annual holidays, the argument over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie will always be top of the list. However, it is that time of year again when another contender steps forward into the arena of holiday appropriate movie discussions in the form of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man and its position as a Thanksgiving movie.

spider-man

Release Date May 1, 2002

Director Sam Raimi

Cast Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Cliff Robertson, Rosemary Harris

Rating PG-13

Runtime 121

Genres Action, Fantasy

While there are some offerings from the current MCU canon that have specific links to certain times of year, such as Hawkeye and Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special being set at Christmas, the Tobey Maguire-starring big screen introduction to Marvel’s most iconic hero has become the subject of debate once more online as U.S. fans celebrate Thanksgiving, with one key scene in the film capturing the essence of the holiday.

About an hour and a half into the film, there is a scene set around a Thanksgiving dinner at Harry Osborn’s apartment. This gathering sees major characters like MJ, Aunt May, Peter Parker, Norman Osborn, and Harry Osborn come together for a holiday meal. MJ is setting the table, Aunt May is pulling a home-cooked turkey from the oven, and Peter arrives late with cranberry sauce, joking about his struggle to acquire it. However, the festive atmosphere is undercut by the tension between Peter and Norman, who have just fought as Spider-Man and the Green Goblin.

Another argument for Spider-Man being recognized as a must-watch Thanksgiving movie is that the film features a scene set among parade balloons, which many fans have interpreted as being based on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This, combined with the Thanksgiving dinner scene, has given many fans enough of a connection to the public holiday to declare it an unquestionable addition to other Thanksgiving movies and TV specials.

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Related:Spider-Man: No Way Home Nearly Ventured Into Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Worlds

Spider-Man Is Still A Huge Marvel Favorite Any Time of Year.

Sony Pictures Releasing

While this kind of friendly back and forth is commonplace on social media, one thing that is beyond doubt is the popularity of the first theatrically released outing of Spider-Man, and its cast. Despite now being over 20 years old, the Raimi-directed film is not only one of the most-loved superhero movies of all time, but also one of Raimi’s biggest hits as a director.

Of course, that kind of love does not only extend to the movie itself, but the people who made the film what it is by taking on some iconic roles. Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man continues to be a fan-favorite casting, and his return to the role in Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021 stands as a testament to that fact. Fans have been calling for Maguire’s return to the franchise for decades, and the wait finally paid off when the actor teamed up with Tom Holland and fellow former Spider-Man Andrew Garfield, to take on a host of Marvel villains from across the multiverse.

Spider-Man 3 / Spider-Man: No Way Home

Release Date December 17, 2021

Director Jon Watts

Cast Angourie Rice, Tom Holland, Zendaya Coleman, Marisa Tomei, J.K. Simmons, Benedict Cumberbatch, Willem Dafoe, Jamie Foxx, Alfred Molina, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield

Rating PG-13

Runtime 2hr 28min

Genres Superhero, Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Also returning in No Way Home was Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn aka Green Goblin. Just like his on screen adversary, Dafoe’s performance as Green Goblin still stands as one of the greatest and most iconic portrayals of not only a Marvel Comics villain, but of any comic book villain. With his ability to switch characters with ease, and without the use of any kind of CGI effects, Dafoe’s embodiment of the Goblin will never get old.

So whether you think Spider-Man is one to watch with a belly full of turkey or not, there is still never a bad time to watch the movie and remind yourself of one of Marvel’s greatest hits.

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