---
title: "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"
year: 2014
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-amazing-spider-man-2"
fi1m_id: "the-amazing-spider-man-2"
imdb_id: "tt1872181"
tmdb_id: 102382
wikidata_id: "Q4254026"
fi1m_score: 54
critics_score: 55
critics_reviews: 22
published: "2026-10-05T13:17:54.423306+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-05T13:17:54.643827+00:00"
region: "MY"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Directed by Marc Webb · 2h 21m · Action, Adventure, Science Fiction

## Identity

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-amazing-spider-man-2
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** the-amazing-spider-man-2
- **IMDb ID:** tt1872181
- **TMDB ID:** 102382
- **Wikidata ID:** Q4254026
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1872181/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/102382, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4254026

**Fi1m score: 54** · Critics 55 from 22 reviews

*In a sentence:* Two actors in love, interrupted every twenty minutes by a blue man and a boardroom

> Marc Webb’s second Spider-Man film has a real romance at its centre and a committee’s worth of plot stacked around it. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone are a pleasure to watch; nearly everything built to launch a franchise around them is not.

## Synopsis

New York. Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is Spider-Man, swinging through Manhattan and stopping to look after the bystanders in his way, while trying to work out what he owes his girlfriend Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). Across town, Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx), a lonely Oscorp electrical engineer whom Spider-Man once saved from traffic, is ignored by everyone around him. Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan) comes home to inherit Oscorp from his dying father and a boardroom led by Donald Menken (Colm Feore) that wants him gone. Peter is also digging into why his parents, Richard (Campbell Scott) and Mary (Embeth Davidtz), left him with Aunt May (Sally Field) and never came back. Then Max, working late, falls into a tank of electric eels.

## Review

Two years after [*The Amazing Spider-Man*](https://film.one/film/the-amazing-spider-man) (2012), Marc Webb sends Peter Parker out of high school and into a film that wants to be five films at once. It is a love story between two clever teenagers. It is a mystery about Peter’s dead parents. It is the origin of a villain made of electricity, a boardroom drama at Oscorp, and the opening chapter of several sequels the studio had already announced. It runs 141 minutes and is good at exactly one of these things, and the other four keep walking in on it.

The one thing is Garfield and Stone. Their scenes together have the loose, overlapping rhythm of two people who like each other and have not decided what to do about it: a rooftop at dusk, a hopeless attempt to agree to be friends that collapses in a minute. Garfield plays Spider-Man as a talker, chattering at the criminals he is tying up and stopping to walk a bullied boy home, and Peter as a young man who is only fluent when the mask is on. Stone’s Gwen does the science, makes the decisions and is never once asked to stand still and be rescued. Sally Field, folding laundry and lying about a night job, gets more out of two scenes than most of the villains get out of twenty.

Jamie Foxx’s Max Dillon is the next best thing in it, for a while. He starts as a gap-toothed, combed-over nobody who fixes Oscorp’s wiring and is ignored in lifts, and Foxx plays the humiliation straight. When he comes out of the eel tank and wanders into Times Square, Dan Mindel lights his skin from the inside, so the veins glow and the blue arcs crawl up the advertising screens behind him, and the score Hans Zimmer put together with Pharrell Williams, Johnny Marr, Junkie XL and others fills with whispered voices telling him he has been lied to. For ten minutes we were properly caught, tense and sorry for him, watching a frightened man find out he can kill. Then he is packed off to an institute where Marton Csokas plays a doctor with a German accent and a drill, and the film forgets what it had.

The script is credited to Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Jeff Pinkner, with James Vanderbilt on the story, and it reads like a merger. Peter’s parents, Richard (Campbell Scott) and Mary (Embeth Davidtz), are given a backstory of their own that keeps interrupting the film without ever joining it. Paul Giamatti bellows in a Russian accent at the start and again at the end and is otherwise absent. Felicity Jones is billed as Felicia, Harry’s assistant, and given almost nothing to do. Dane DeHaan is good as Harry, pale and smoking and nursing a grievance that predates his arrival, and the credits list him as the Green Goblin; we will say no more about that.

Pietro Scalia and Joshua Raymond Lee are asked to cut between all of these strands and so none of them builds. Mark Friedberg designs Oscorp as a tower of glass and white panels, as cold as the people in it, and Deborah Lynn Scott gives the suit bigger eyes and a brighter red, so that in Mindel’s daylight swinging sequences Spider-Man looks like a comic panel moving through a real city. Those sequences are the film at its most confident, and there are not enough of them.

By the third climax we were checking how much was left, and then we were annoyed with the film for making us do it. The romance we cared about had been shelved for a fight we had already seen, and the ending is arranged so that the next instalment will have somewhere to start.

Sam Raimi’s [*Spider-Man 2*](https://film.one/film/spider-man-2) (2004) had one villain, one problem and a hero who wanted to quit, and it is still the standard. Webb made *(500) Days of Summer* (2009) and knows how two people talk when they are in love; this film is at its best whenever it lets him do that and at its worst whenever it remembers it is a franchise. Watch it for Garfield and Stone, and for the blue man in Times Square. When the boardroom comes back, make tea.

*Fi1m score 54, published 5 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews lean mixed rather than hostile: a handful of critics are won over, a larger group is lukewarm, and a sizeable minority is bored. Almost everyone agrees on where the film’s heart is. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone are praised again and again for the ease and warmth of their scenes together, and several reviews say the romance is the only part of the film that works without strain. Garfield’s loose, physical Spider-Man and Dane DeHaan’s Harry Osborn also draw repeated approval, as do the web-swinging sequences.

The complaints are just as consistent. Most critics find the script overstuffed, with too many villains, too much franchise groundwork and a running time the story cannot fill. The spread is wide: The Guardian finds it lively and charming, while The New Yorker dismisses it outright, mocking its confused priorities. Notably, even the warmest reviews concede the crowding, and Slant, among the sceptics, singles out the Osborn storyline as the one thing holding it together.

## Straight answers

**Is The Amazing Spider-Man 2 worth watching?**

*The Amazing Spider-Man 2* is worth watching for Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, whose romance is the one thing in it that works, and we scored it 54. Around them sit a parents mystery, a boardroom drama and several sequel set-ups that keep interrupting, and at 141 minutes it wears out its welcome.

**How long is The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and what is it rated?**

*The Amazing Spider-Man 2* runs 2h 21m. It is an action and adventure film.

**Where can I watch The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in Malaysia?**

*The Amazing Spider-Man 2* is streaming on Netflix in Malaysia, and it is also available to rent from Apple TV from RM 9.90. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does The Amazing Spider-Man 2 compare to Spider-Man 2?**

*The Amazing Spider-Man 2* is the weaker film, and Sam Raimi's [*Spider-Man 2*](https://film.one/film/spider-man-2) is still the standard. Raimi's film has one villain, one problem and a hero who wants to quit; Webb's has a real romance between Garfield and Stone and a committee's worth of plot stacked around it. Watch Webb's for the couple, Raimi's for the whole film.

**What should I watch after The Amazing Spider-Man 2?**

After *The Amazing Spider-Man 2*, try [*Spider-Man 2*](https://film.one/film/spider-man-2) (2004, Fi1m 85): One villain, one problem, and the hero wanting to quit; still the standard. Then [*Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse*](https://film.one/film/spider-man-into-the-spider-verse) (2018, Fi1m 87): Several Spider-Men and a crowded plot that somehow never loses the boy at its centre.

### Reviews we read (22)

- **The Guardian**, Xan Brooks (80/100, inferred): Brooks finds the sequel lively and charming enough to win over even a jaded viewer. He particularly praises Andrew Garfield’s casting and the endearingly amateur feel of Spider-Man’s crime-fighting. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/apr/09/amazing-spiderman-2-review)
- **Empire**, Kim Newman (75/100, inferred): Newman finds this a satisfying, emotionally engaging sequel, despite some tonal awkwardness and overly broad gags. He particularly praises Emma Stone’s nuanced, active Gwen Stacy and the film’s emphasis on Spider-Man protecting bystanders. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/amazing-spider-man-2-review/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Leslie Felperin (75/100, inferred): Felperin finds the sequel more emotionally satisfying than its predecessor, despite its crowded villains and subplots. She especially praises the fizzy chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, which gives the central romance its spark. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/amazing-spider-man-2-film-694460/)
- **Variety**, Guy Lodge (70/100, inferred): Lodge finds the sequel redundant and overlong but ultimately enjoyable, carried by its sound and fury. He especially praises the playful chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, while noting Dane DeHaan’s performance as a reason to anticipate the next installment. [Read](https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-the-amazing-spider-man-2-1201154134/)
- **Screen Daily**, Mark Adams (68/100, inferred): Adams calls it an enjoyable adventure romp, though it can feel unwieldy. The standfirst’s main reservation is the film’s lack of coherence and manageability. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/the-amazing-spider-man-2/5070552.article)
- **The AV Club**, A.A. Dowd (C+): Dowd finds the sequel overstuffed and uneven, with too many plots and villains crowding out the drama. He praises the energy of the action and the convincing romantic scenes between Garfield and Stone. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-amazing-spider-man-2-suffers-from-an-excess-of-plot-1798180312)
- **Radio Times**, Stella Papamichael (3/5): The review is mixed, reflected in its three-out-of-five rating, and finds the sequel uneven. It singles out Dane DeHaan’s performance as Harry Osborn and Spider-Man’s Times Square encounter with Electro for praise. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ljlgci/the-amazing-spiderman-2/)
- **Time Out**, Tom Huddleston (3/5): Huddleston gives the film 3/5, suggesting a qualified response. The available text singles out Spider-Man’s appeal as a relatable high-school outsider, but gives no specific assessment of the film’s execution. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-amazing-spider-man-2)
- **Total Film**, Emma Dibdin (3/5): The review finds the sequel bright and likable despite tonal shifts and a clumsy, overstuffed script. It particularly praises the chemistry and performances of Garfield, Stone, and DeHaan. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-amazing-spider-man-2-review/)
- **Slant Magazine**, Chris Cabin (2/4): Cabin finds the film overstuffed and unfocused, with its backstory and detours overwhelming the narrative. He singles out Harry and Norman Osborn’s storyline as the film’s primary saving grace. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-amazing-spider-man-2/)
- **Little White Lies**, Chris Blohm (4/2/2): The review finds the film erratic, dull and poorly focused, with a threadbare narrative. It praises Marc Webb’s dynamic action sequences but says the script undermines his visual style. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-amazing-spider-man-2)
- **Evening Standard**, The Standard (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the film too long and awkwardly divided between exciting action and tiresome romance. Garfield’s athletic, vulnerable portrayal is singled out as a strength. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-amazing-spiderman-2-movie-review-andrew-garfield-zips-around-like-a-true-superhero-9265351.html)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Betsy Sharkey (35/100, inferred): Sharkey finds the sequel occasionally satisfying but ultimately weighed down by its tangled story and overabundance of villains. She praises Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, whose performances and romantic chemistry give the film its heart. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-amazing-spider-man-2-review-story.html)
- **Vulture**, David Edelstein (30/100, inferred): Edelstein finds the film bloated and often boring, despite saying it hits its marks. He praises the vivid Electro effects and Emma Stone’s charm, while criticizing the convoluted, rhythmless plotting. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2014/05/movie-review-the-amazing-spider-man-2.html)
- **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (25/100, inferred): Lane delivers a sharply dismissive verdict, mocking the film’s confused priorities and overstuffed story. He particularly complains that its pileup of unsubtle villains blurs the story’s focus. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/05/05/trouble-calls)
- **HeyUGuys**, Stefan Pape (4/5): The critic finds the sequel an entertaining, successful blockbuster, despite its weak structure and rushed ending. He praises the performances, especially the natural chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-amazing-spider-man-2-review/)
- **The Playlist** (64/100, inferred): The URL identifies this as a review, but the page content is blocked. Its verdict and any specifically praised or criticized element cannot be verified. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-the-amazing-spider-man-2-starring-andrew-garfield-emma-stone-jamie-foxx-dane-dehaan-20140408/)
- **Den of Geek**, Simon Brew (3/5): Brew finds the film a welcome step forward, though its overloaded story leaves it frustrating and short of its potential. He praises the action and the strong chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-amazing-spider-man-2-review-3/)
- **Digital Spy**, Simon Reynolds (60/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel entertaining but uneven, weighed down by franchise setup and unresolved storylines. Garfield’s performance is singled out for holding the film together, while Stone’s chemistry with him helps compensate for thin writing. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a563365/the-amazing-spider-man-2-review-andrew-garfield-leads-uneven-sequel/)
- **Paste**, Michael Burgin (4.6/10): Burgin finds the film a badly scripted, overstuffed disappointment that repeatedly sidelines Spider-Man. He praises the energetic web-swinging sequences and Garfield’s performance as Spider-Man, while faulting the plot and several exaggerated character portrayals. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/the-amazing/the-amazing-spider-man-2)
- **Eye for Film**, David Graham (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel overstuffed and too familiar, with its long runtime and crowded villains undermining it. They praise the adult relationship between Peter and Gwen, along with Emma Stone’s performance. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-amazing-spider-man-2-2014-film-review-by-david-graham)
- **The Wrap** (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel overstuffed and underwhelming, with corporate franchise setup crowding out coherent storytelling. Garfield and Stone’s warm, funny chemistry is a highlight, but it cannot compensate for the villains, clichés, and excessive climaxes. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/amazing-spider-man-2-review-stuffed-underwhelming/)

## Details

- **Director:** Marc Webb
- **Director:** Marc Webb
- **Screenplay:** Alex Kurtzman, Jeff Pinkner, Roberto Orci
- **Story:** James Vanderbilt, Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Jeff Pinkner
- **Cinematography:** Dan Mindel
- **Editor:** Pietro Scalia, Joshua Raymond Lee
- **Music:** Junkie XL, Johnny Marr, Hans Zimmer, Pharrell Williams, Steve Mazzaro, Mike Einziger, Andrew Kawczynski
- **Production design:** Mark Friedberg
- **Costume design:** Deborah Lynn Scott
- **Producer:** Matt Tolmach, Avi Arad
- **Cast:** Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man / Peter Parker; Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy; Jamie Foxx as Electro / Max Dillon; Dane DeHaan as Green Goblin / Harry Osborn; Colm Feore as Donald Menken; Felicity Jones as Felicia; Paul Giamatti as Aleksei Sytsevich; Sally Field as Aunt May
- **Runtime:** 2h 21m
- **First release (Spain):** 16 April 2014
- **Genres:** Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
- **Budget:** $200 million
- **Box office:** $717 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlM2CWNTQ84

## Where to watch in Malaysia

- Netflix: streaming
- Apple TV: rent RM 9.90, hd
- Apple TV: buy RM 24.90, hd

*Checked 2026-10-05.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, AZ, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie 2015: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Spider-Man 2* (2004), Fi1m 85: One villain, one problem, and the hero wanting to quit; still the standard. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-2.md)
- *(500) Days of Summer* (2009): Webb’s first film, where the two people talking is the whole point.
- *Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse* (2018), Fi1m 87: Several Spider-Men and a crowded plot that somehow never loses the boy at its centre. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-into-the-spider-verse.md)
- *Chronicle* (2012): Dane DeHaan again, as a lonely teenager whose new powers go the wrong way.
- *Superman* (1978): The daylight, the city, and a courtship conducted mid-air; the template for all of this.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-amazing-spider-man-2