Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kids will be dazzled, but the story falls short of No. 2.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Spider-Man 3
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 36 parent reviews
Based on 184 kid reviews
Kids say that the movie has a mix of intense action, moments of humor, and significant violence, featuring multiple villains and a darker story arc for the protagonist. While it contains some memorable scenes and messages about responsibility and forgiveness, many viewers feel it falls short compared to the earlier films in the series due to its overstuffed plot and lack of coherence.
- intense action
- mixed reviews
- dark story
- multiple villains
- overstuffed plot
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In SPIDER-MAN 3, Peter (Tobey Maguire) and Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) are finally together, and things seem idyllic until Harry (James Franco) attacks Spider-Man in an impressive airborne fight. Harry is nearly felled; when he regains consciousness, he can't remember that Peter is his archenemy. But Spidey's problems are far from over. Parasitic black ooze attaches itself to Peter and creates a black Spider-Man suit that exaggerates the webcrawler's aggressiveness, hostility, and even attraction to the opposite sex. His ego swells and he flirts with smitten classmate Gwen (Bryce Dallas Howard) to make MJ jealous. Peter's newly discovered dark side drives Mary Jane away and inspires self-absorbed Daily Bugle photographer Eddie Brock (Topher Grace) to capture Spidey's bad behavior on camera. When the steroid-like goo lands on Eddie, he transforms into Venom, the film's second super-nemesis. The third villain this time around is prison escapee Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church), who morphs into the Sandman in a technically remarkable scene. Sandman, unlike Venom, has a heart. He just wants money to save his sick little girl -- if only Spidey would get out of his way. An alliance between Sandman and Venom leads to a climactic four-way battle scene set along the Manhattan skyline.
Is It Any Good?
People who see superhero movies just for thrills and chills will find plenty of reasons to love this sequel. But fans seeking Spider-Man 2's unforgettable combination of action, story, and heart will be disappointed in the franchise's third installment.
There's now no doubt that Spider-Man 2's emotional depth must have been prolific author/comic-book lover Michael Chabon's contribution to the screenplay. The latest script -- co-written by director Sam Raimi, his brother Ivan Raimi, and Alvin Sargent -- just doesn't match its predecessor's level of excitement and romance. But while the action is striking, with all the sand blowing, web flinging, and characters flying, all the CGI wonders can't save Spider-Man 3's overlong, underdeveloped story from falling a bit short of super.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the Spider-Man movie series. Which of these larger-than-life films do you consider the best? What's more important in superhero movies -- the action or the story?
Families can also discuss the movie's major themes: character transformation, revenge, and redemption. Which characters experience the biggest changes? Do they change for better or for worse? How can you tell?
How does seeking revenge prove futile for both Harry and Peter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 3, 2007
- On DVD or streaming : October 30, 2007
- Cast : James Franco , Kirsten Dunst , Tobey Maguire
- Director : Sam Raimi
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Tristar
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Superheroes , Adventures , Book Characters , STEM
- Run time : 140 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sequences of intense action violence.
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate