Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films had Kirsten Dunst as MJ. Fans found her character unlikable and writers are still struggling to make her compelling.

Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man films successfully balanced the challenges faced by a teenager amidst losing a loved one and juggling the responsibilities of high school. Additionally, Peter has to keep his identity as Spider-Man hidden while also trying to impress MJ. The three films show the evolution of their relationship which fans found to be underwhelming.

Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane in 2002’s Spider-Man | Credits: Sony Pictures Releasing

Peter and MJ didn’t have the best arc in the films and the latter’s poor characterization didn’t help matters. The character’s presentation in mainline comics has deteriorated as fans find her increasingly annoying. Fans are lamenting the decline in quality of the current comic writers in not being able to elevate MJ and her dynamic with Peter.

Following Underwritten MJ in Sam Raimi’s Films, The Comics Continue The Disappointing Trend

Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst in a scene from Spider-Man 2 | Credits: Sony Pictures Releasing

Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films had Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst as Peter Parker and Mary Jane. Throughout the three films, their relationship evolves from being friends to becoming lovers, while facing various trials and tribulations in between. However, fans have not really connected with Dunst’s version of MJ and have found her to be quite unlikeable.

As many fans on Reddit have pointed out, Dunst’s MJ was mainly limited to being Peter’s love interest and a damsel in distress. Despite some emotionally resonant scenes between her and Peter, fans found her character to be shallow and is mostly remembered for screaming a lot as Spider-Man has to save her every time.

Unfortunately. the characterization of MJ continues to get worse in the comics. As one fan @spidermanias posted on X, the character continues to be annoying with some cringy dialogues that will have fans rolling their eyes. People have grown tired of this underwhelming characterization and are calling out the writers to make significant improvements. Here are some of the reactions,

Compared to Dunst’s MJ, the love interests of Peter in the Amazing Spider-Man films (Emma Stone’s Gwen) and the MCU trilogy (Zendaya’s MJ) have been received more positively. Fans hope that the comics improve upon the characterization of MJ and make her a significant part of compelling stories.

Kirsten Dunst Would Have Loved A Reunion With Tobey Maguire In An Indie-Style Superhero Film

Tobey Maguire came back as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home | Credits: Marvel Studios

Kirsten Dunst played MJ in all three Spider-Man films by Sam Raimi. While the latter reprised his role in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, Dunst was surprisingly not seen in it. In an interview with British GQ, the actress revealed that she was not asked to return in the 2021 film.

Dunst further stated that she would love to reunite with Maguire in a unique superhero film similar to 2012’s Chronicle, which is approached like an indie film. The Civil War star said,

It would be funny to be like, OK, let’s take Tobey [Maguire] and I and do it in a weird indie way where it’s like a different kind of superhero film. Like how they did that movie Chronicle. It could be cool.

It would have been great to see the two actors have shared screen space yet again in the 2021 film, but a new film with them is unlikely to happen. As of 2024, Dunst secured a big hit with Civil War and received huge praise for her intense performance. Fans can watch Maguire and Dunst in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy on Disney+.