Sam Raimi Finally Addresses That Notorious Dance Scene From Spider-Man 3
In the age of social media, films can have entirely unexpected second lives in the form of memes, endlessly shared and recontextualized, sometimes by people who haven't even seen the original film in question. Sam Raimi, the pulp horror auteur behind the "Evil Dead" films and "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," ought to be pretty familiar with this phenomenon, particularly with regards to his own "Spider-Man 3" from 2007.
Even if you've never watched "Spider-Man 3," you've almost certainly seen a sequence from it if you spend any time at all online. That scene, of course, is a strange musical interlude featuring Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) boogying it up in black clothing and menacing bangs. It's not the sort of thing you would normally expect to see in a superhero movie, and for that reason, among others, it's become one of the most famous parts of a somewhat infamous film. And now, Raimi has finally given some insight into his intentions with the scene.
The director is delighted that people find Peter Parker's dance moves hilarious
This should probably go without saying, but Sam Raimi, known for his offbeat sense of humor and horror movies and thrillers that arguably have more laughs than some mainstream comedies, intended Peter Parker's cutting loose — Broadway-style — to be funny. During a recent Fandom interview to promote "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," Raimi was asked about the scene, and its perpetual popularity across social media. "It's hysterical to watch that stuff," said the filmmaker.
Raimi elaborated more on the sequence, saying, "we meant it to be funny, actually. It was Peter Parker's version — this lame kid — of what it must be like to be his evil self. But he's so whipped. He's so out of it that that's his take on it."
The palpable dorkiness on display isn't something that slipped into a $300 million franchise tentpole by accident — it's an intentional part of the film's humor. But Raimi admits that the scene "didn't go over well" with audiences.
Now, though, people seem more willing to appreciate the gag in its intended spirit — that of silly fun. And that's something that definitely seems to please Raimi. "I'm glad people find it funny! We wanted it to be fun," he says.