Spider-Man 2
Objectively the greatest Spider-Man movie ever made.
The only step down from the first is Doc Ock (he’s still an iconic villain, perfect for this story).
Spider-Man’s (2002) biggest strength is the four characters of Peter, Spidy, Norman, and Goblin and how they all seamlessly move the plot forward and interact with one another to create conflict and drama.
Spider-Man 2 is a story that is 99% focused on Peter Parker learning how to balance his double life.
Peter knows he has responsibilities, which is why he ends the first movie with friend-zoning MJ. Spider-Man 2 isn’t a story of how Peter learns to balance all his responsibilities. It doesn’t end with him having his life together. It’s a story of how he learns he can’t be both Spider-Man and Peter Parker.
This is a story of a man growing into a hero. Learning to be honest with himself and the people around him, learning that takes more strength than a simple radioactive spider bite gives him, and learning that he’s willing to give it all up to save MJ, Octavius, and the entire city.
The pinnacle of his arc is the train scene. It’s the culmination of honesty, strength, nobility, and sacrifice Peter needs. It’s a contrast to his life without Spider-Man.
When Pete gives up Spider-Man people get hurt. The city suffers. His life gets better but the city loses someone who truly inspired them. Someone who teaches them to be courageous and self-sacrificing. On the train Peter sees what his aunt told him in person. He sees a city inspired to be heroic even in the face of sure defeat.
Spider-Man is the ultimate sacrifice Peter makes. Because being Spider-Man means Peter has to be stronger. It means Peter will be hurt and attacked and fail and his loved ones will be in danger and he won’t make it to class sometimes or keep a job or always get the girl and he’ll probably die sooner than if he just gave the hero thing up.
If Spider-Man can take on all of that just to simply bring out the hero in all of us, to inspire a whole city, to inspire just one boy named Henry, then what a pride to die with.