Today marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the premiere of Spider-Man 2. The film is the second of eight theatrical releases to focus on the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, a direct sequel to the massively successful 2002 film, and the middle entry of the original trilogy. Set two years after the first film, it follows Peter Parker as he continues his double life, deals with the gradual loss of his powers, watches his love Mary Jane Watson become engaged to another man, stands against the wrath of his best friend's anger at the supposed murder of his father, and the growing threat of Doctor Octopus.
The film was a massive success with audiences and critics. The film was the third highest grossing film of the year, behind only the conclusions of The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars prequel trilogies. It broke numerous box office records that took years to be topped. The film was nominated for numerous awards, including three Academy Awards and winning one. It continues to be considered one of the greatest superhero films ever made. It also spawned a critically acclaimed and influential video game based on the film. The success led to a third live-action film that concluded the series as a trilogy.
The film credits Stan Lee and Steve Ditko with creating the characters. Lee and Kevin Feige served as executive producers while Avi Arad produced. It features the talents of J. K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson, Phil LaMarr as a train passenger, and Lee in one of his famous cameos as a man saving a woman from falling debris.