New York City

How you do keep a high-flying, web-slinging superhero grounded and relatable? You put him in New York City, that's how.

Setting Spider-Man's adventures against a big-city backdrop makes them feel realistic. Everybody's familiar with New York; whether you've lived there, visited there, or just seen it portrayed on screens big and small, you know what this booming metropolis is like: the template for the American urban center, from its skyscrapers and hustle to its traffic and opinionated, outspoken construction workers.

Most of the comic-book industry's founders—guys like Spider-Man's creators Steve Ditko and Stan Lee—were based in New York, too. They drew inspiration from the world around them: things like those skyscrapers we just mentioned, dark and potentially dangerous alleys, low-level street crime, brightly lit marquees, and the overall buzz of living in the City That Never Sleeps.

Setting Spider-Man on, say, Mars or in some mythical city of clouds or a fictional island where spiders are revered as gods would drastically change our perception of the character. Setting him in good, ol' New York City puts the American Dream in the film's DNA.

It suggests that anything can happen to anyone there—a nerdy high school wimp can become a brave, beloved superhero, for example. The big city is where people go to make it, well, big. The film's setting embodies the American idea that hard work pays off and, as the Green Goblin finds out, a strong community is unstoppable.

We Heart NY

After the attacks of September 11th, 2001, the film's New York setting took on a whole new level of poignancy. All Americans were New Yorkers in the wake of the tragedy that went down in Lower Manhattan as the world watched. Spidey's hometown was the epicenter of American unity and resolve…and it left the filmmakers with a bit of a conundrum.

Although Spider-Man wasn't released until May 3rd, 2002, it was already being advertised in the summer of 2001 with teaser trailers and posters that flaunted the film's New York setting—including the twin towers of the World Trade Center. After the attacks, those clips and posters were quickly recalled in deference to the victims and their loved ones.

Two additional scenes featuring the film's New York setting were added to the film as well. First, a scene was added to Spider-Man and the Green Goblin's battle at the Queensboro Bridge, a real bridge that crosses the East River and connects Manhattan to Queens, i.e., Peter Parker's neighborhood. This new scene features New Yorkers hurling trash and insults at the Green Goblin, letting him know that if he messes with one New Yorker, he messes with all New Yorkers.

The second additional scene was the pre-credits button where Spider-Man swings through New York and ultimately lands in front of an enormous American flag. Putting Spider-Man in front of the Stars and Stripes to close the film wasn't exactly subtle, but subtlety is kind of overrated in times of crazy-big strife, isn't it?

That patriotic final shot, coming just eight months after the September 11th attacks, resonated with American audiences more than any deranged rich dude in a goblin costume every could.

Spider-Man's patriotic pose, high above the fray, said you can't keep a good spider—or city—down.