The tray scene from the Spider-Man movie, which many have seen on television, YouTube, or streaming services, is one of the most famous. This film, released in 2002, was even shown on Cartoon Network in India.
Particular attention is drawn to the famous cafeteria scene where Peter Parker catches a tray with a milk packet, an apple, and a dessert in mid-air. Although it looks like computer graphics (CGI) at first glance, this shot was actually filmed entirely in reality, without the use of a green screen or visual effects (VFX).
According to incredible data, Tobey Maguire performed 156 takes for this moment, and it took 16 hours to shoot. Sticky material, similar to glue, was used to attach the tray to the actor's hands, and jellies and sandwiches were glued to the plates. A crew member standing above the camera dropped the items so they would land in the correct frame.
Reports indicate that Sony wanted to remove this scene, but Sam Raimi insisted on keeping it. This memorable moment from 'Spider-Man' came after the character appeared on the big screen in 'X-Men' two years earlier. Sam Raimi introduced the popular Marvel hero on the big screen in his 2002 film.
The scene takes place immediately after Peter Parker gains his powers. In the school cafeteria, Mary Jane trips over spilled juice. Peter saves her from falling and simultaneously catches the falling food from the tray.
Kristen Dunst, in a DVD commentary, claimed that it was not CGI, but that Tobey did all of it using sticky material to attach his hands to the tray. There are no records of how close the team came to success in the first 155 takes, nor is it recorded whether any successful take was ruined by joy at the moment.
It was noted that this non-digital effects scene was as interesting for its technical aspects as it was for the discussion itself. 16 hours and 156 takes mean that an attempt was made approximately every six minutes, all for a scene lasting about four seconds.
The complexity of the task increased due to the simultaneous falling of various items, the need to hold everything with one hand, and Kristen Dunst's correct reaction in the same take. John Dijkstra, the film's VFX supervisor, confirmed the authenticity of this shot, having been associated with the motorized camera system of the original 'Star Wars'. Interestingly, his effects were not required in the highly discussed scene.
It is also noted that web-swinging in the film now looks like a cutscene on PlayStation 2, but it is this non-digital effects shot that continues to be published by people 24 years later. The essence of the matter is that Sam Raimi kept the scene that Sony wanted to remove, and it became one of the most memorable moments in this film.