Stan Lee Picked His Favorite Superhero Movie and It Was Not What Fans Expected
Before the era of multibillion-dollar franchises, superhero cinema was often viewed by major studios as either a financial risk or a campy novelty. While comic books had deep roots in pop culture, the early live-action interpretations, such as the 1960s Batman, frequently leaned into hollow parody that failed to resonate as serious drama on the big screen.
The tide began to turn with Richard Donner’s Superman, which demonstrated that these characters could carry significant emotional weight and cinematic power. However, the path was far from smooth.
As evidenced by a lackluster Captain America film in the 1990s and the critical failure of the over-the-top Batman & Robin. The genre seemed to be losing its steam once again until horror visionary Sam Raimi entered the fray with a lifelong passion for the wall-crawler.
Raimi’s 2002 Spider-Man became a massive cultural phenomenon, successfully blending intense action with a sincere, grounded performance by Tobey Maguire. Stan Lee later shared on social media that he considered this film his personal favorite because it was the first to achieve such monumental success. Its triumph effectively paved the way for the modern blockbuster era, proving that audiences were hungry for high-quality comic book adaptations.
Maguire’s portrayal of Peter Parker also helped solidify a beloved tradition within the Marvel Universe. During a chaotic battle with the Green Goblin, a brief moment shows Stan Lee saving a bystander from falling debris—a cameo that would become a staple of nearly every Marvel film until his passing. These appearances served as a bridge between the legendary creator and the cinematic world he inspired.
As of this year, both Raimi and Maguire remain major figures in the industry, often finding their names at the center of fan speculation. Sam Raimi has just released his newest directorial effort, the survival horror film Send Help, which hit theaters on January 30. Starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, the film follows an employee and her boss who must survive on a deserted island after a plane crash, marking Raimi’s return to his darker, suspenseful roots.
While promoting the film, Raimi has faced a barrage of questions regarding a potential Spider-Man 4. In recent interviews this February, he expressed that while the children would likely enjoy seeing Tobey return, he doesn’t want to interfere with the current success of Tom Holland’s version in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite these mixed signals, rumors persist that Maguire may suit up again for a massive multiverse clash in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release later this year.
Maguire himself has stayed busy as both an actor and a producer, with his production company Material Pictures working on several unannounced independent projects. He was seen in the star-studded 1920s drama Babylon. Between these dramatic pursuits and the persistent call for his return to the web-lines, Maguire’s legacy as the first modern Spider-Man remains as strong as ever.
Do you think Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire should finally team up for a fourth solo Spider-Man film, or is their story better left as it is? Share your thoughts in the comments!