The famous upside-down kiss between Spider-Man and Mary Jane has endured for years, and fans still can’t get over it. The scene in which Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane Watson kisses Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker while he hangs upside down is unforgettable and romantic at the same time. What many fans may not realize is that filming that iconic scene wasn’t quite as idyllic as it appeared on screen.
No matter how many Spider-Man flicks have come and gone, the scene has never attempted to be replicated. Dunst played Peter’s love interest in all three of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy films, which were released between 2002 and 2007.
In a recent appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show, the actress, 41, disclosed that the kissing scene in Raimi’s 2002 flick was actually “miserable”.
Creating the Famous Spider-Man Upside-Down Kiss was Not Easy
With Tobey Maguire playing the title character, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man made its big-screen debut in 2002. The film’s special effects, Willem Dafoe’s evil transformation as Green Goblin and Maguire’s portrayal are a few of the reasons why fans still adore it.
But one scene in particular—the kiss between Maguire’s Spider-Man and Kirsten Dunst’s MJ—has endured in the memories of both fans and pop culture at large. Notwithstanding its romantic nature, the actress has acknowledged that filming it was a “miserable” experience.
The mother of two shared the following on The Jonathan Ross Show (via Independent) :
“I remember Sam Raimi giving me a book of famous kisses to be inspired but also he really wanted to make it special even though it was kind of miserable actually doing it. It was pouring with rain, freezing, Tobey couldn’t breathe so it was almost like I was resuscitating him.”
Although it is a disheartening revelation, Dunst’s dismal critique of the production of Spider-Man’s famous kissing scene is unlikely to change the minds of fans; the scene will definitely remain a favorite for some time to come.
But Kirsten Dunst Felt ‘Proud’ to be a part of The ‘Great Kiss’
Kirsten Dunst talked about the significance of her 22-year-ago kissing scene with Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man during an interview with W Magazine in 2022. In an honest admission, the actress said that she did not think the kiss was very memorable for a night out—especially since Maguire was having trouble breathing because water kept getting up her nose.
Nevertheless, looking back, she felt honored to have been involved, which she referred to as a great kiss:
“But the way it was presented to me, [Sam Raimi] gave me this book of famous kisses, so that made me realize how romantic and special Sam wanted this to be … Even though it wasn’t necessarily feeling that way with Tobey hanging upside down … I’m proud to be a part of that. It looked like a great kiss.”
Dunst continued by stating that she “just knew that Sam was going to do something special”—from his indie/cult classic background to casting Maguire and Willem Dafoe—and that the choice to be a part of this 2002 flick was “not at all” a big one.
Regardless of how long it has been since they last starred in a superhero film, actors are always asked if they would like to play their roles again. Dunst was also questioned earlier about her interest in starring in another comic book film. Her answer was insightful beyond measure. The actress shared with Marie Claire:
“Yes, because you get paid a lot of money, and I have two children, and I support my mother.”
Although the remark carries some humor, Dunst never wanted to be repeatedly cast in the same role or “capitalize” on her roles in Raimi’s Spider-Man films. She explained that rather than going to “do a bunch of romantic comedies”, she sought out roles that “spoke” to her, saying that she was “navigated by her heart”.
Despite the difficulties encountered while filming the kissing scene, her chemistry with Maguire’s Peter Parker eventually shone through, resulting in a cinematic classic.
Spider-Man is available on Disney+.
