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Director Sam Raimi recently took part in an AMA (ask me anything) on Reddit to promote the release of his upcoming horror flick Send Help. One user asked the filmmaker to share his biggest criticism of modern superhero movies. “That they don’t offer me more of them!” was Raimi’s response.
Sam Raimi Is One of the Best Superhero Movie Directors (but Will He Ever Make More?)
Raimi’s reply feels like it’s meant to be somewhat humorous, but there’s a great deal of truth to the sentiment behind it. Raimi is one of the most important figures for superhero movies in the 21st century, having spearheaded the original Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey Maguire. Those films continue to resonate with audiences today, and Raimi’s distinct vision for them is a main reason why. Released in an era where Fox’s X-Men was cracking jokes about yellow spandex, Raimi channeled his passion for the classic Spider-Man comics and fully embraced the sensibilities of the source material. He wasn’t afraid to lean into camp and humor while also treating Peter Parker’s personal journey with the proper amount of seriousness and respect.
More than 20 years after its release, a case can be made that Spider-Man 2 is still the best Marvel movie ever, as it perfectly encapsulates what makes its titular protagonist such a beloved character. Raimi always understood that his Spider-Man movies wouldn’t work unless the audience cared about Peter, so he made sure to emphasize the human element that made up the films’ emotional core. Even Spider-Man 3, by far the weakest of Raimi’s trilogy, carves out a compelling arc for Peter as he learns the importance of staying humble and takes responsibility for his mistakes.
