Spider-Man 2

Right now you can watch Spider-Man 2 in Australia on Foxtel Now, and in the US on Netflix and Disney Plus — and it goes further with its ideas than most genre entertainment bothers to. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Tobey Maguire — the performance elevates material that could easily tip into self-seriousness. Put it on tonight on Foxtel Now and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Spider-Man 2 is worth clearing space for. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Spider-Man 2 through its more ambitious moments. Peter Parker is going through a major identity crisis. Burned out from being Spider-Man, he decides to shelve his superhero alter ego, which leaves the city suffering in the wake of carnage left by the evil Doc Ock. In the meantime, Parker still can't act on his feelings for Mary Jane Watson, a girl he's loved since childhood. The human element stays intact thanks to Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, who anchor every scene. It was released in 2004. The rules of Spider-Man 2's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Sci-fi fans who want ideas alongside the spectacle will find Spider-Man 2 genuinely rewarding. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Tobey Maguire's performance is the anchor the more ambitious moments need. The world-building pays off in ways you will not anticipate on a first watch.