All along, it wasn't that film studios had no interest in superhero movies—they just weren't particularly interested.
Superhero movies, like other genres, didn't stand out, nor were they ignored. They overlapped with sci-fi, action, and adventure films, but they never highlighted their own unique value.
In reality, film studios don't care about genres or themes; they only care about profit:
Whatever makes money, they'll produce. Whatever genre is popular, they'll favor.
This is why, in film history, Westerns and musicals both had their golden eras, with a surge in both quantity and quality. But as they peaked, they declined, never to reclaim their former glory.
Superhero movies are no different.
The box office failure of "Batman & Robin" in 1997 led Warner Bros. to shelve its DC Comics adaptations, and other studios couldn't see the advantage of superhero films over other genres. Naturally, superhero movies didn't receive any special treatment.
With other superhero movies unable to secure investment, they shifted into low-budget B-movie territory, where they unexpectedly carved out a niche.
But now, with the box office triumph of "Spider-Man," other studios are getting restless, turning their attention back to the superhero genre. After all, it's a treasure trove of intellectual property, with endless possibilities for adaptations—
Who knows? The next "Spider-Man" might be sitting in their desk drawer.
That's how the market always works.
"Spider-Man," despite Sony Pictures' limited promotional efforts and apparent lack of confidence in the overseas market, still succeeded. The lead cast, headed by Anson, didn't even travel to major markets like the UK, France, or Germany to promote the film. Despite the original comic's lesser influence compared to DC's big three, the movie still flourished internationally, bringing countless good news.
After consistently topping the weekend box office in over 50 countries and regions, and showing incredible staying power, "Spider-Man" grossed $670 million overseas, breaking the $600 million mark, just like in North America—another pleasant surprise.
In pure numbers, the international performance of "Spider-Man" might seem a bit less impressive. By 2002, three other films had already crossed the $700 million mark overseas:
"Titanic," "Jurassic Park," and "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."
Among them, "Titanic's" $1.5 billion in international box office remains an unsurpassable peak.
In comparison, "Spider-Man's" overseas box office doesn't seem as astounding, but this is only relative. For Sony Pictures, the result was more than satisfying—
$600 million in North America, $670 million overseas.
"Spider-Man" ended up with a global total of $1.27 billion, becoming only the fifth film in history to break the $1 billion mark worldwide, joining "Titanic," "Jurassic Park," "Star Wars: Episode I," and "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."
For now, it ranks behind "Titanic," holding second place in global box office history.
In other words, "Spider-Man" climbed to a new height as the runner-up in both North American and global box office history—something Sony Pictures never anticipated.
Amazement, shock, and awe.
From the moment "Spider-Man" hit theaters, the global film market was swept into a frenzy, with discussions buzzing nonstop.
When you think about it, the key to "Jurassic Park's" success was dinosaurs, for "Star Wars: Episode I," it was the trilogy, for "Harry Potter," it was the magical world, and for "Titanic," it was Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
So, what about "Spider-Man"?
Anson Wood.
No matter how you look at it, the conclusion is the same—like "Titanic," the film's success largely falls on the shoulders of its male lead.
Now, when you think about it, "Spider-Man" and "Titanic" are vastly different films, but the stories behind their success have striking similarities, both driven by the male lead.
As a result, just like Leonardo, Anson became everyone's darling.
"Anson, a global sensation overnight."
"The new heartthrob: Anson Wood."
"The first love of countless girls: Anson."
"From the rock band lead singer in 'The Princess Diaries' to the young superhero in 'Spider-Man,' Anson is becoming a new generation idol."
"Behind the superhero suit, a boy not yet 19 years old."
"Who can resist Anson Wood?"
"Overnight success! Hollywood welcomes Anson with open arms."
Anson, Anson, and more Anson—
His name and face are everywhere, in every corner.
Hollywood never lacks overnight success stories. Just this summer, Hayden from "Star Wars: Episode II" and Anson from "Spider-Man" dominated the charts together, igniting the season.
Though "Star Wars: Episode II" fell short in terms of reviews and box office, as mentioned before, any actor who stars in a "Star Wars" film will find themselves in the spotlight.
Hayden was no exception. This handsome Canadian heartthrob also won the hearts of countless girls, with his face appearing on countless magazines, newspapers, TV shows, and websites.
However, compared to Anson, it's like comparing a molehill to a mountain.
Anson's benchmark should be Leonardo after "Titanic," reaching a level of fame where everyone knows his name.
The headline from "People" magazine was no exaggeration:
"Everyone wants a piece of Anson."
Yet, here's the interesting part:
Rumors of Hayden being recognized on the street, at gas stations, in supermarkets, and in coffee shops abound, with tales of him being mobbed by fans.
But not Anson.
It's as if Anson… vanished from North America—or maybe he's hiding out in some remote area of Alaska. Despite his face being everywhere, no one seems to run into him on the street, which is quite puzzling.
Think about it: after "Spider-Man" premiered, Anson even went to Century City AMC to watch the movie with Sam. From last year's "New York Times" to "Vogue" magazine, he has always rejected the idea of cultivating an air of mystery, emphasizing authenticity. But now, after skyrocketing to fame, he suddenly disappeared. What's going on?
Could it be a case of saying one thing and doing another?
That… wouldn't be surprising.
In Hollywood, the land of fame and fortune, everything is about image, everything is an illusion, everything is carefully calculated, just like a perfect product, presented in a way that consumers want to see, and they happily buy into it.
Who knows? Maybe Anson once believed in sharing his true self, but after finding out what success really meant, he regretted it and quickly retreated into his shell, refusing to show any of his real self.
Such things are all too common in Hollywood.
No worries, that's exactly why the world of fame and fortune needs this one profession—
Paparazzi.
Suddenly, every paparazzo in Los Angeles is on the move, mobilizing resources and contacts, trying to uncover Anson's whereabouts.
But all signs point to the fact that Anson never left Los Angeles, which means he's been hiding right under their noses!
Is that even possible?