The Amazing Spider-Man (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Amazing Spider-Man |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Marc Webb |
| Produced by |
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| Screenplay by |
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| Story by | James Vanderbilt |
| Starring |
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| Music by | James Horner |
| Cinematography | John Schwartzman |
| Editing by |
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| Studio |
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| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing |
| Release date(s) | June 13, 2012 (Tokyo) July 3, 2012 (United States) |
| Running time | 136 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $200–230 million |
| Money made | $758 million |
The Amazing Spider-Man is a 2012 American superhero film. It is based on the famous Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. The movie shares its name with the character's longest-running comic book series.
This film was made by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Entertainment. It was distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. It is the fourth Spider-Man movie shown in theaters. This movie was a reboot of the series. This means it started the story over again. It followed the first three Spider-Man films by Sam Raimi. The Amazing Spider-Man was the first of two films in its own series.
The movie was directed by Marc Webb. The story was written by James Vanderbilt. The screenplay was written by Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent, and Steve Kloves. The film stars Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker / Spider-Man. It also features Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen, and Sally Field. In the movie, Peter Parker deals with being a high school student. He also faces big problems as his secret superhero self, Spider-Man.
Work on the film began after Spider-Man 4 was canceled in 2010. This ended director Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film series. That series starred Tobey Maguire as the hero. Columbia Pictures decided to restart the story with a new cast and crew. James Vanderbilt stayed on to write the new Spider-Man film. Alvin Sargent and Steve Kloves also helped with the script.
During the early stages, the main actors were chosen in 2010. New designs were made for Spider-Man. For example, he used artificial web-shooters, like in the comics. Filming began in December 2010 in Los Angeles. It then moved to New York City. The movie used special RED Epic cameras for filming. After filming, the movie went into post-production in April 2011. Special effects companies helped create the 3D images and CGI effects.
Sony Pictures promoted the film with a website. They released many previews and started a viral marketing campaign. A video game was also made. The film first showed in Tokyo on June 30, 2012. It was released in the United States on July 3. This was ten years after the first Spider-Man movie. It was shown in 2D, 3D, IMAX 3D, and 4DX formats.
Critics mostly liked the movie. They praised Andrew Garfield's acting as Spider-Man. They also liked the connection between Emma Stone and Garfield. The visual effects and music were also praised. However, some parts of the story received criticism. The film made a lot of money, earning $758 million worldwide. It became the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2012. A sequel, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, came out in 2014. Garfield and Ifans later played their characters again in the MCU film Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). That movie explored the idea of the multiverse. It connected the Raimi and Webb Spider-Man films.
Contents
The Story of Spider-Man
A young Peter Parker finds that his father's study has been broken into. Peter's parents quickly gather secret documents. They take Peter to his Aunt May and Uncle Ben's house. Then, they mysteriously leave.
Years later, Peter is a teenager at Midtown Science High School. He is very smart but often feels awkward. He is also sometimes picked on by bullies. Peter has a crush on Gwen Stacy, who likes him too.
Peter learns that his father was friends with Dr. Curt Connors. Dr. Connors is a scientist at Oscorp. He works on cross-species genetics. Peter sneaks into Oscorp. There, a genetically changed spider bites him. Soon, he finds he has spider-like powers. These include super strength, sharp senses, and the ability to stick to walls.
Peter studies his father's old papers. He visits Connors, who has lost his right arm. Peter tells Connors he is Richard's son. He gives Connors his father's "decay rate algorithm." This is a missing piece for Connors' experiments to regrow limbs.
At home, Peter and Ben argue. Peter leaves. While looking for Peter, Ben tries to stop a thief. Peter had let this thief escape earlier. Ben is shot and dies in Peter's arms. Peter uses his new powers to find criminals who look like the killer. He creates a mask and a suit to hide his identity. He also builds mechanical web-shooters for his wrists.
At dinner with Gwen's family, Peter learns her father is police captain George Stacy. Captain Stacy does not like the new hero, Spider-Man.
Peter eventually tells Gwen his secret identity. They share a kiss. Connors has success using lizard DNA on lab rats. His boss, Rajit Ratha, demands that Connors start human trials right away. Connors refuses because it is too risky. Ratha fires Connors. He plans to test the serum at a hospital.
A desperate Connors tries the formula on himself. He passes out. When he wakes up, his missing arm has grown back. He learns Ratha is going to the hospital. Connors goes to stop him. By the time he reaches the Williamsburg Bridge, he has turned into a violent human-like reptile. Peter, now called Spider-Man, saves people on the bridge from Connors' attack.
After a fight in the sewers, the Lizard finds Spider-Man's camera. He learns Spider-Man's real identity. The Lizard then attacks Peter at his school. The police start a city-wide hunt for both Spider-Man and the Lizard. They corner Spider-Man. Captain Stacy finds out Spider-Man is Peter. He lets Peter go to stop the Lizard.
The Lizard plans to turn everyone in the city into reptilian creatures like himself. He wants to do this by releasing a chemical cloud from Oscorp's tower. Gwen creates an antidote. Peter spreads it, turning Connors and his victims back to normal. But the Lizard badly hurts Captain Stacy. Before he dies, Captain Stacy asks Peter to stay away from Gwen to keep her safe. Peter tries to do this at first. But seeing they are both unhappy, he hints to Gwen that he might see her as Spider-Man. Spider-Man is now seen as a hero.
Later, Connors is in prison. He talks to a mysterious man in the shadows. The man asks if Peter knows the truth about his father. Connors says he does not know. He demands that Peter be left alone. The man then disappears.
Meet the Characters
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- Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker / Spider-Man:
Peter is a smart but shy teenager. He is trying to find his place in life. His parents died when he was a child. A special spider bites him at Oscorp, giving him amazing powers. After his uncle is killed, Peter becomes the masked hero "Spider-Man." He uses his powers and special "web-shooters" to fight crime. He first hunts his uncle's killer. Later, he must stop the dangerous "Lizard." Andrew Garfield said he felt a strong connection to Peter Parker.- Max Charles plays a young Peter Parker.
- Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy:
Gwen is a smart and friendly high school student. She is Peter's classmate and love interest. She is also a top intern at Oscorp. Emma Stone kept her natural blonde hair for the role. She learned a lot about Gwen Stacy from the comic books. - Rhys Ifans as Dr. Curt Connors / Lizard:
Dr. Connors is a top scientist at Oscorp. He used to work with Peter's father, Richard Parker. He tries to create a serum to regrow limbs. But something goes wrong. He turns into a large reptilian monster. Rhys Ifans wore a special suit for the CGI effects. He wanted to play the monster himself. - Denis Leary as George Stacy:
He is Gwen's father and a police captain. He hunts Spider-Man because he doesn't trust him. He also hunts the Lizard for causing chaos. Denis Leary didn't know much about Spider-Man comics. He was more of a Batman fan. - Campbell Scott as Richard Parker:
Peter's father, who has passed away. He was a scientist at Oscorp. His research involved spider venom. One of his spiders bit Peter, giving him powers. - Irrfan Khan as Rajit Ratha:
He is an executive at Oscorp. He is Connors' boss. Irrfan Khan said his sons were very excited about him taking this "important role." - Martin Sheen as Ben Parker:
He is Peter's uncle and Richard's brother. He acts like a father figure to Peter. Martin Sheen saw his character as guiding Peter through his teenage changes. - Sally Field as May Parker:
She is Ben Parker's wife and Peter's aunt. Sally Field took the role to honor her friend, producer Laura Ziskin. Laura Ziskin had worked with Sally Field before.
Chris Zylka plays Flash Thompson. Flash is a high school bully and basketball captain. He often picks on Peter. Embeth Davidtz plays Peter's mother, Mary Parker. Leif Gantvoort plays the burglar who kills Uncle Ben. C. Thomas Howell plays "Jack's Father," a man Spider-Man saves on the bridge.
Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee has a special appearance, as he did in other Spider-Man films. He plays a librarian who is too busy listening to music to notice a big fight. Michael Massee plays the mysterious man who talks to Connors in prison. This scene is shown after the movie credits. Director Marc Webb said this man's identity was meant to be a mystery. In The Amazing Spider-Man 2, he was revealed as Gustav Fiers.
Making the Movie
Starting the Project
After Spider-Man 3 (2007), Sony Pictures planned a fourth film. But on January 11, 2010, they announced a new plan. They would restart the series with a new cast and crew. This was because the story for Spider-Man 4 wasn't strong enough. The producers felt the main Spider-Man story was about a boy growing into a man. They wanted to tell that story again.
Days after this announcement, Marc Webb was chosen to direct the new film. His previous movie was 500 Days of Summer. Webb said he was unsure at first because of the earlier movies. But he realized it was a great chance. He explained that he wasn't trying to "take over" from Sam Raimi. Instead, he wanted to add new ideas and stories to the Spider-Man world. He saw Spider-Man as being like James Bond, with many stories to tell. He said this film was "not a remake" but a "different universe and a different story."
Choosing the Actors
In May 2010, many actors were considered for the lead role of Spider-Man. These included Jamie Bell, Alden Ehrenreich, and Andrew Garfield. On July 1, 2010, Andrew Garfield was confirmed for the role. Director Webb knew Garfield was the right choice when he saw him act a simple scene. Garfield said he pretended he was auditioning for a short film to relax.
Sony also looked for an actor to play young Peter Parker. Webb wanted to show Peter's origin from childhood.
It was first thought that both Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy would be in the film. But later, only Gwen Stacy was confirmed. In August 2010, actresses like Lily Collins and Emma Stone were considered for Gwen. On October 5, 2010, Emma Stone was chosen. Webb said the strong connection between Stone and Garfield made her the clear choice. This connection also led to their real-life romance.
On October 11, 2010, Rhys Ifans was confirmed as the villain. Two days later, his character was revealed to be Dr. Curt Connors, who becomes The Lizard. Producer Avi Arad said The Lizard was his favorite Spider-Man villain.
In November, Martin Sheen was chosen as Uncle Ben. Sally Field was in talks to play Aunt May. Denis Leary was chosen as George Stacy. In December 2010, Campbell Scott was in talks to play Peter's father.
Designing the Look
Webb felt it was important to create a new look for Spider-Man. One big change from the earlier movies was that Spider-Man would build his own artificial web-shooters. This is how it happens in the comic books. Costume Designer Kym Barrett worked with Webb to make the costume look more real. The new suit had gold eye lenses and a special pattern. The web-shooters looked like they were made from wristwatch parts.
In February 2011, the first official image of Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man was shown. It displayed his new costume and web-shooters. Some people wondered if a young man could really build such devices. Others liked that the suit was different but still classic. Webb explained that the web-shooters showed Peter's intelligence. He wanted the costume to look like something Peter Parker could make himself.
The design for The Lizard also caused some talk. Many compared it to other characters, not just the comics. Webb said there were different versions of The Lizard in the comics. He wanted the movie version to show Rhys Ifans' human emotions. He wanted the Lizard to have a face and feelings.
Filming the Action
Filming started on December 6, 2010, in Los Angeles. The movie was filmed over 90 days. This included two weeks in New York City. Most of the filming happened in and around Los Angeles.
Some scenes were filmed in New York City. The Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House was used for the outside of the police headquarters. An apartment building on West 81st Street was used for Gwen Stacy's home. A street in Brooklyn was used for Ben and May Parker's neighborhood. A web-swinging scene took place in Harlem.
The film was the first Hollywood movie to use RED Epic cameras. It was shot in 3D. The cinematographer, John Schwartzman, said these cameras made 3D filming possible. Webb wanted small cameras that could move very fast. This helped capture Spider-Man's quick movements.
In April 2011, Emma Stone said that filming was done. Post-production began in May. Some extra filming happened in New York City and Los Angeles later in 2011.
Amazing Stunts
Webb wanted the stunts to feel more real. This was a challenge for a superhero character. The stunt team included the Armstrong family, Vic and Andy. Andy Armstrong was the stunt coordinator. Vic was the second unit director.
To figure out how Spider-Man should swing, Andy filmed an Olympic Games gymnast. He noticed that in computer-generated swings, the speed is often constant. But a real gymnast speeds up and slows down. Vic felt Spider-Man's moves were like Tarzan's.
While filming in New York City, they swung a person through traffic. They built large rigs, hundreds of feet long. These rigs helped create the web-swinging effects. They required months of practice and design. Andrew Garfield was also involved in some of the stunts.
Special Effects
The company 3ality Technica helped with the 3D equipment. This film was one of the first to use their special wireless rig. This helped avoid converting 2D film to 3D later. Webb wanted a new 3D experience. He wanted viewers to feel what Peter Parker felt when jumping over buildings.
Sony Pictures Imageworks helped with the digital effects. They improved the sewer and high school battle scenes. They used comic books as a guide for Spider-Man's poses. They also brought The Lizard to life. They studied lizard biology to make his muscles look real. A large man stood in for The Lizard during filming. The computer-generated Lizard replaced him later. The creators combined Rhys Ifans' acting with the Lizard's design. Ifans used motion capture for the Lizard's speaking parts.
Movie Music
James Horner created the music for the film. Director Webb said Horner's music was "spectacular." Webb wanted the music to feel big but also personal. The film also includes the Coldplay song "'Til Kingdom Come." Critics liked how Horner mixed electronic sounds with the main music. They felt the piano music showed Peter Parker's relationships.
Promoting the Film
Cool Merchandise
Many toys and items were made for the film. These included Spider-Man and Lizard PEZ dispensers. Mega Brands made construction sets. Diamond Select Toys and Hasbro made action figures. Other companies also made figures. OPI Products released The Amazing Spider-Man nail polish. Trading cards were also available.
Restaurants like Carl's Jr. and Hardee's helped promote the film. They sold a new burger called "The Amazing Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger." This was advertised with film-themed commercials. Stan Lee helped promote it. Kids' meals also offered Spider-Man toys.
Other companies like Big Cola, Kellogg's, and Keebler also had marketing campaigns. Sony launched a new augmented reality app for the film. This app let fans collect items from their favorite superhero. Twizzlers challenged fans to build a virtual web to unlock prizes.
Sneak Peeks
A first trailer was shown at San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2011. It was also shown before the film Captain America: The First Avenger. Some people felt it looked like the video game Mirror's Edge. Webb said the CGI in the trailer was still being worked on.
A special screening of the film was held in 13 cities around the world in February 2012. A second trailer was shown in 3D. This trailer then appeared online. Critics felt the dialogue and action worked well together. The action scenes looked "polished and slick." The screening also included an eight-and-a-half-minute extended trailer.
A third official trailer came out on May 3, 2012. It was shown before The Avengers. This trailer showed a more complete version of The Lizard. People liked the connection between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. They felt Garfield showed a new side of Peter Parker.
A TV trailer showed a "4 minute Super Preview" on NBC. This preview showed Spider-Man saving a boy near a bridge. Fans and writers loved this scene.
Online Fun
The main online marketing website was revealed in the second trailer. The official Twitter account started a scavenger hunt. They posted clues with locations in major US cities. Fans found hidden items, like a backpack. These clues led to other websites. One website showed how to build a web-shooter.
A Daily Bugle website was created. It showed Denis Leary as George Stacy. He complained about Spider-Man and asked people to email the police if they saw him. This site also showed fan-made Spider-Man scenes.
Another website for Oscorp Industries was available. It had puzzles that showed documents and videos about Dr. Connors. It also showed letters from Peter's parents. This online campaign was very detailed.
Releasing the Film
In Theaters
Sony announced that the film would be released on July 3, 2012. In some countries, release dates were moved to June to boost early sales. Premieres took place in Tokyo, Japan, on June 13. The film was rated PG-13.
At Home
The Amazing Spider-Man was released on Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD, and digital download on November 9, 2012. These releases included a long behind-the-scenes documentary. They also had special features like "The Oscorp Archives." The discs had audio commentary from the director and producers. Deleted scenes showed more of Peter and Connors' relationship.
The film quickly became a top seller when it was released for home viewing. It was later included in "The Spider-Man Legacy Collection" of five Spider-Man films. In April 2021, Sony made a deal with Disney. This allowed past Spider-Man films to stream on Hulu and Disney+. The Amazing Spider-Man became available on Disney+ on April 21, 2023.
What Happened Next
The comic book website Newsarama listed The Amazing Spider-Man as one of the top 10 comic-book films. Mark Hughes of Forbes ranked it as the seventh greatest superhero film.
Scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center talked about the film. They used it to explain their work on spider silks. They are researching how spider silk might help human regeneration.
In 2020, a special suit from the film was added to the video game Marvel's Spider-Man for the PlayStation 5. It was called the "Amazing Suit."
Other Media
A video game was announced at the 2011 New York Comic Con. It was developed by Beenox. The game was released on June 26, 2012, for many platforms. The game's story takes place after the movie. Sony and Gameloft also made an official mobile game.
A comic book series called The Amazing Spider-Man: The Movie was released. It came out in June. The soundtrack album for the film was released on the same day as the movie.
Sequels and Spin-offs
The Amazing Spider-Man was planned to be the first of at least three films. The sequel, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, was released on May 2, 2014. Sony also announced plans for two more sequels. They also planned spin-off films. These would feature villains like the Sinister Six and Venom.
Spider-Man in the MCU
In February 2015, Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios announced that Spider-Man would join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The character first appeared in Captain America: Civil War (2016). Sony released Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017. This film was produced by Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal. Sony continues to own and distribute the Spider-Man films. Marvel Studios also looks for ways to bring other MCU characters into future Spider-Man movies.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) brought back Andrew Garfield and Rhys Ifans. They played their roles as Peter Parker / Spider-Man and Dr. Curt Connors / Lizard. Both characters were transported to the MCU in that film.
See also
In Spanish: The Amazing Spider-Man (película) para niños
