Spider-Man 2, 2004
Director
Cast
visit the film locations
New York: Flights: JFK Airport
Columbia University
New York Public Library
Roosevelt Island Tramway running from Second Avenue, between East 59th and East 60th Streets, alongside the Queensborough Bridge, to Roosevelt Island in the East River
Los Angeles: Flights: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, 900 Exposition Boulevard, downtown (tel: 213.763.DINO)
Chicago: Flights: O'Hare International Airport
Travel: Chicago Transit Authority
Travel: Chicago Transit Authority Downtown Map
Trivia
The Roosevelt Island Tramway is seen also in City Slickers and in Sylvester Stallone actioner Nighthawks. Roosevelt Island itself was a location for both The Exorcist and The Heretic: Exorcist II.
Spider-Man 2 film location: Peter Parker loses his pizza delivery job: Joe's Pizza, 233 Bleecker Street, Greenwich Village, New York
As with the original Spider-Man, the filming locations are a mix of New York (where it’s set) and Los Angeles (where it’s easier to film) – and even a bit of Chicago. After the success of the first film, the budget allowed for a little more filming in the real Big Apple.
There’s Columbia University again (where Peter Parker bumps into Dr Connors), and Aunt May’s house in Woodhaven, Queens. Harry Osborn’s place is still a mix of Tudor City, Manhattan, and the Greystone Mansion, Beverly Hills (and studio sets).
After a late delivery, Parker is sacked from his job delivering pizzas for Joe’s Pizza, 233 Bleecker Street at Carmine Street in the West Village, New York.
Spider-Man 2 film location: Doc Ock's laboratory: 32 Second Avenue, East Village, New York
The laboratory, in which Dr Octavius (Alfred Molina) disastrously demonstrates his fusion project and ends up with a permanent set of tentacles, is the old Second Avenue Courthouse building, now the Anthology Film Archive, 32 Second Avenue at Second Street in the East Village. Fittingly, it’s a centre for the preservation and exhibition of film and video.
Spider-Man 2 film location: The ‘Science Library benefit’: Rose Center for Earth and Space, 81st Street, Central Park West, New York
Photograph: Nils Reucker
The ‘Science Library benefit’, at which everything seems to go pear-shaped for Peter as MJ announces her engagement and Harry turns ugly, is held at the Rose Center for Earth and Space, 81st Street at Central Park West, part of the American Museum of Natural History, housing the Hayden Planetarium (seen in Woody Allen’s Manhattan).
In Los Angeles, the interior of the theatre, where Parker tries unsuccessfully to catch Mary Jane’s performance in The Importance of Being Earnest (the elaborate exterior is a set), is the somewhat plainer Ivar Theatre, 1605 North Ivar Avenue in Hollywood.
Spider-Man 2 film location: Doc Ock robs the ‘New York’ bank: 650 Spring Street, downtown Los Angeles
The bank robbed by Doc Ock, as Aunt May tries to get a loan, is 650 Spring Street (seen in David Fincher’s Se7en, Marathon Man and The Mask among many other films). But when Spidey rescues May from Ock’s clutches, he gently deposits her in front of City Hall, City Hall Park, Broadway at Park Row in Lower Manhattan.
The ‘New York’ el, (the elevated railway) was demolished in the 30s and 40s, so the runaway train sequence had to be filmed in Chicago, on the Chicago Loop 'L' , on Wabash Avenue between Madison and Monroe.
Spider-Man 2 film location: Peter Parker’s apartment: 187 Chrystie Street, Lower East Side, New York
Down on the Lower East Side, you can see Peter Parker’s apartment, where he spends most of his time avoiding the landlord. It’s 187 Chrystie Street, opposite Sara D Roosevelt Park.
Spider-Man 2 film location: Mary Jane is due to get married: Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive, Morningside Heights, New York
Photograph: Nils Reucker
The church, where Mary Jane is due to get married, is Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive between 120th & 122nd Streets, up in Morningside Heights, north of Columbia University.
• Many thanks to Nils Reucker for help with this section.
