After decades trying to get a cinematic adaptation of the character off the ground, Sam Raimi's Spider-Man was one of the most highly-anticipated blockbusters in history by the time it was finally released in theatres. Thankfully, the movie did not disappoint. Raimi's love for the character is apparent and the director brings a classical, almost pulpy, feel to the proceedings. Balancing action with emotion and humour with heart, the big-screen debut of Spider-Man is anchored by charming performances from Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, and never loses sight of the characters despite featuring some massive set-pieces laced with cutting-edge CGI. Although at times there are some cheesy moments and the movie can flirt with the overly saccharine, as well as Willem Dafoe's turn as Norman Osborn being almost as over-the-top as his ridiculous costume, Spider-Man serves as an impressive launch pad for the franchise. As one of the most enduring characters in popular culture, the big-screen debut of Spider-Man was guaranteed to be a massive hit. The numbers certainly didn't disappoint as the movie smashed the domestic opening weekend record with a colossal $114.8m, and crossed $400m in the US on its way to a worldwide total of $821.7m.