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| This villain was proposed but was rejected by the community for not being heinous enough or lacks what is necessary to be a Pure Evil villain. Therefore, this villain shall be added to our "Never Again List", where proposed villains rejected by the community shall be placed to prevent future proposals of the same evil-doer. They can be proposed again (with the permission of an administrator) if new elements appear in their series that can change their status as non-PE villains. Any act of adding this villain to the Pure Evil category without a proposal or creating a proposal for this villain without the permission of an administrator will result in a ban. | ||
NOTE: This article is about the Green Goblin from the Sam Raimi film series. For mainstream Green Goblin, see: Green Goblin (Marvel). For his novelization's counterpart by Peter David, see: Green Goblin (2002 Novelization).
| “ | You've spun your last web, Spider-Man. Had you not been so selfish, your little girlfriend's death would have been quick and painless. But now that you really pissed me off, I'm gonna finish her nice and slow. MJ and I, we're gonna have a hell of a time! | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin to Spider-Man as he tries to finish him off before the latter beats up and gains the upper hand against the former. |
| “ | I've watched you from deep behind Norman's cowardly eyes. Struggling to have everything you want, while the world tries to make you choose. Gods don't have to choose. We take. | „ |
| ~ Green Goblin taunting the MCU's Peter Parker. |
| “ | Peter, Peter, Peter. No good deed goes unpunished. You can thank me later. | „ |
| ~ Green Goblin to MCU's Peter Parker after fatally injuring MCU's Aunt May, before escaping. |
Dr. Norman Virgil Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin, is the main antagonist of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy and the 2021 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: No Way Home.
He is the sadistic split personality of Norman Osborn, the founder and CEO of Oscorp Industries and the father of Harry Osborn, who befriended Peter Parker. After being exposed to the Goblin Serum during the year 2002, Norman was driven into insanity, causing his mind to create a psychotic alternative persona called the Green Goblin, who took control of Norman's mind and compelled him to kill anybody and destroy everything. While Norman would become aware of his alter ego, the latter still managed to manipulate and brainwash him into doing his bidding, as he had more control of Norman’s mind than Norman himself. Green Goblin uses a glider he stole to fly around and help commit his crimes.
However, after learning that Spider-Man is Peter Parker, Green Goblin becomes obsessed with destroying Peter and everything he cares about, and as such, compels Norman to help him destroy Spider-Man, thereby becoming his arch-nemesis. He is ultimately killed while fighting Spider-Man, as he is impaled by his glider, he attempted to use to kill Spider-Man. Despite his death, he would continue to haunt Spider-Man for years.
22 years later, past versions of Norman Osborn and the Green Goblin from a point prior to their deaths were accidentally transported to an alternate universe through space and time alive, due to a failed spell performed by Doctor Strange in the year 2024, where Norman initially regained control of his mind. Norman soon encountered two villains from his home universe and two villains from another alternate universe, all of whom fought Spider-Man and a few of whom suffered a similar fate like him. He then teamed up with the villains to get cured so they would not die upon returning to their universes. However, not wanting to be cured, the Green Goblin resurfaced from Norman's psyche and decided to target this world's version of Spider-Man and his loved ones before trying to conquer the Earth-199999 universe, also becoming his second arch-nemesis and most hated enemy after he murdered his aunt May Parker.
However, the native Spider-Man, with the assistance from the Goblin's universe's Spider-Man and another alternate version of Spider-Man, developed a cure that the native Spider-Man injected in Goblin, ultimately leading to The Green Goblin being destroyed for good and Norman Osborn being cured. Norman was then sent back to his universe, where he would get a second chance at life in a branched/alternate timeline in the Raimiverse.
He was portrayed by Willem Dafoe, who also played Raven Shaddock in Streets of Fire, Eric Masters in To Live and Die in L.A., Bobby Peru in Wild at Heart, John Geiger in Speed 2: Cruise Control, Max Schreck in Shadow of the Vampire, Armando Barillo in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Nikolai Diavolo in 007: Everything or Nothing, George Deckert in xXx: State of the Union, Lord Cob in Tales from Earthsea, Rat in Fantastic Mr. Fox, J.G. Jopling in The Grand Budapest Hotel, Jack Lassen in The Simpsons, Ryuk in Netflix's Death Note, Thomas Wake in The Lighthouse, and Clement Hoately in Nightmare Alley.
Appearance[]
Green Goblin's suit.
Norman wore the Green Goblin armor, which has a shiny metallic green and purple shaded suit that's pressed and manufactured where it fits the mask and glider and the person wearing it. The mask is a grinning goblin mask with yellow eyes and an opening for his mouth. On his left leg is a button that slides the eyes of the mask up for Goblin to see. On his right arm is also a button for the glider to come. He has a metal green layer on his arms and chest without weighing him with heavier armor. On his wrists are buttons as well for the sleeping gas he used against Spider-Man. As for his abdomen, back and legs which instead of mostly green armor it is smooth out where the wearer can move easily and not be restricted.
After being transported into Earth-199999, Green Goblin initially retains his typical appearance, but Norman smashed his helmet into pieces in an attempt to escape the Goblin persona. He then dons a purple hoodie and a green jacket and pants while still wearing the Goblin suit underneath. When the Green Goblin retakes control of Norman's mind and battles Spider-Man throughout his apartment building, most of his clothing is tattered leaving him with his armor and purple hood. During the final battle at the Statue of Liberty, the Green Goblin wears a satchel, large goggles as a substitute for his helmet, gauntlets, and rides a slightly redesigned glider.
Personality[]
Norman Osborn was a wealthy individual who possessed a keen intellect and familiarity with bio enhancement and business. His familiarity with science also allowed him to bond with Peter Parker instantly upon first meeting him, who acknowledges him for his talent and work, much to Norman's delight and appreciation. At the same time, however, he was a workaholic who was fixated on his projects, and due to this, this created a strained relationship between him and Harry. Despite this, he genuinely loves Harry and wants the best for him.
However, as he progresses with his super soldier serum project, Norman notably becomes increasingly frustrated and agitated, due to not being able to produce successful results and meeting the deadlines that his project is due. As such, this frustration of his makes him more paranoid on achieving his goal, to the point that he was willing to use the serum on himself, without running through proper procedures. Unfortunately, this led to his descent into insanity, developing his alternative personality, the Green Goblin: a sinister, malicious villain with a clear sadistic and cunning streak to boot.
As the Green Goblin, he is consistently cheerful, playful and merry in tone, in stark contrast to the viciousness and violence of his actions. He takes everything in stride, having no value for human life, and finds amusement in wanting destruction. While he comes off as silly at first, the Green Goblin is constantly scheming, orchestrating incredibly elaborate plans. He also has a nihilistic sense of humor and what is entertaining to him is disturbing and horrific to others. He shows strong hatred towards the very concept of morality, believing it weakens people and makes them suffer, and even goes as far as calling it an illness.
Furthermore, he can assess an opponent and accurately deduce their mindset and desires - exploiting their impulses for his own gains. His greatest strength lies in his ability to understand his opponents' capacity for empathy and love, and twist it in order to bend their will to suit his own needs. The Green Goblin is sharply perceptive of other people's mindsets, which makes him much more insidious and dangerous than other typical villains. While many villains fail to grasp empathy or believe in selflessness and kindness, the Green Goblin understands these qualities well and exploits them to psychologically break the will of others.
While Norman Osborn becomes aware and horrified of his actions as the Green Goblin, the latter has more control of Norman's mind and actions than Norman himself, which leads to the Goblin manipulating and brainwashing Norman into committing crimes just for his own amusement. Even if he says the contrary, it's more than evident that the Green Goblin never cared for Norman, given how he endangers Norman's son Harry during the festival or how he drives Norman into hurting Peter Parker, who is not only his son's best friend but a gifted young man Norman sees as a surrogate son, upon finding out that he is Spider-Man by persuading Norman to attack Parker's loved ones to hurt him in the heart. The Green Goblin's later comments of his other self being a coward essentially prove that he only sees Norman as a vessel for him, not even concerned if he gets caught in the crossfire of his fights, leading to their deaths when the Goblin tries to use their glider against Spider-Man just as Norman explained his motives. While considering himself separate from his "weaker half," the Goblin carries echoes of Norman's own frustrations, such as murdering the Oscorp board because they had ousted Norman; similarly, he establishes a connection, if warped, with one he sees as akin to himself, as Norman had bonded with Peter, the Goblin tried to bond with Spider-Man. Though, Norman is able to succeed at building relationships due to being predominantly a decent person, while the Goblin fails because of his malevolence; and yet once the Goblin begins to overrule Norman's mind, Norman himself ends up becoming incapable of compassion when under his influence.
Upon entering the Earth-199999/MCU universe, the alternate version of Green Goblin retained his original version's personality, but has become more determined to cause mayhem and misery wherever he goes. He disregards Norman entirely, wishing to conquer this new world he's come across, unaware of the heroes other than Spider-Man here. Proof of his love of chaos, the Goblin convinces Electro and Sandman to refuse their cures because their mutations make them "gods" capable of taking what they wish, and also killing MCU Peter's Aunt May (Which in turn makes him not that different from the Harry Osborn of Electro and Lizard's universe who did the exact same thing to Webb Peter by killing Gwen Stacy, after the former refuses to help him cure his illness) making it clear that for all his pretenses of helping Osborn, all he cared about was to break everyone who held the mantle of Spider-Man (especially those who held the name Peter Parker) out of spite for the Raimiverse's Peter's (AKA Goblin's own Peter) refusal to join him and in his own eyes spatting in his face, even though MCU Peter has nothing to do with his feud with the latter. He even puts all of Earth-199999 in fatal danger by releasing the spell Doctor Strange sealed away; every person in the multiverse who knows Peter Parker is Spider-Man would get pulled in, resulting in the near-collapse of MCU Peter's world.
However, it's unknown whether the Green Goblin knew what releasing the spell would unleash or if he just thought it would prevent Doctor Strange from sending him back to his home universe to die. Either way, even if he had become aware of the catastrophic consequences he could provoke, the Goblin wouldn't have cared less as long chaos ensued on his name and the near-collapse of the MCU was still his fault as well as getting the chance to further spite at the legacy that his two archnemesis Raimi Peter and MCU Peter stood for. Which is reinforced by whenever MCU Peter gained an advantage over him in a fight, since he'd merely laugh maniacally; and upon hearing MCU Peter's desire to personally kill the Goblin, the lunatic was pleased as he felt he was successfully corrupting the young hero into falling to his dark level.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Artificially Enhanced Physiology/Goblin Formula Enhancements: Norman decided to expose himself to a formula being developed by his company that was specifically made to create Super Soldiers for the military. As Norman's alternative personality, the Green Goblin is far stronger, durable, faster, and agile than Norman or any other normal human. However, the performing-enhancing gas resulted in him in his creation, where the Goblin often takes over whenever he wants and his voice also changes between the two personas. Osborn often sees his Goblin persona while staring in a mirror and have no memory of the Goblin's actions. The Goblin continued to be at the peak of his power until he was rehabilitated by the MCU Spider-Man who chose not to kill him, but by injecting him with an anti-serum that undid his mutation, ridding the Goblin persona and thereby restoring Norman's sanity.
- Strength: The Goblin is stronger than any normal human, being strong enough to fight and overpower his Spider-Man, slamming him through multiple floors, and destroying an entire apartment building. He showed his strength when he punches a wall when Spider-Man ducks in the final battle and he busted the wall completely showing his strength in his blows. He also easily broke his helmet with a rock. Later in his battle with the alternate Spider-Man, he was able to take the young hero down and sent him smashing through the hotel walls.
- Durability: The Goblin's body is tougher and far more durable than a normal human's, which allowed him to withstand physical strikes attacks from an enraged Spider-Man and MCU Spider-Man without facing any fatal injury all the while laughing it off. However, he did have his limits, as his own glider was capable of impaling him and Spider-Man and MCU Spider-Man were eventually able to best him during each of their final confrontation. The Goblin also has far more stamina than any normal human, which allowed him to easily keep up with the likes of the powerful Spider-Man himself who was holding back his power.
- Speed: The Goblin is far faster and more agile than any normal human, being almost as fast as Spider-Man and being able to make maneuvers to best his opponents.
- Reflexes: The Goblin also has incredible reflexes to react much faster than any regular human and can keep up with Spider-Man during his fight. He can keep up with Spider-Man during his fight, going as far was able to block some of his attacks and react from an intense blow Peter attempted to give.
- Agility: The Goblin is far more agile than any normal human, being able to use it to make maneuvers to best his opponents. Osborn can use his glider with little issues with his superhuman equilibrium and sense of balance and dodge certain attacks from an enraged Peter.
- Athleticism: Because of the performance-enhancing gas Osborn experimented with, the Goblin was capable of great athletic feats as seen during his battles with Spider-Man.
- Stamina: Osborn's musculature produces far fewer fatigue toxins during physical activity than the musculature of an ordinary human, allowing him to easily keep up with the likes of the powerful Spider-Man himself who was holding back his power. Osborn continuously laugh and enjoy the every punches Parker gave and continued the fight.
- Regenerative Healing Factor: The enhancing gas also gave the Goblin the ability to heal more quickly than a regular human. Though he did have his limits, as his own glider was capable of killing him in seconds.
Abilities[]
- Genius-Level Intellect: As Osborn, the Goblin is an expert businessman, as he was able to create his company from the ground up in his universe. He was described as "brilliant" by the likes of Doctor Octopus, an accomplished scientist in his own regard. He was described as a "brilliant scientist" in the field of military research by Doctor Octopus. He helped Spider-Man in his endeavor to cure the other villains while Osborn was in control.
- Weapons Creation: The Goblin was also able to create with Osborn's company through the creation of several advanced weapons. His best work as an engineer includes his Green Goblin Armor, Glider, Pumpkin Bombs, and Razor Bats. He also helped Spider-Man fabricate an improved Neural Inhibitor Chip for Doctor Octopus utilizing Stark technology, which is technology far beyond what he has ever seen and still able to use it efficiently.
- Master Martial Artist: While having no known formal training, the Green Goblin is a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and martial artist, using an aggressive and methodical fighting style, as seen when he repeatedly went toe to toe with his universe' Peter Parker and grappled with an alternate Spider-Man. The Goblin also has a retractable blade along the gauntlet of his armor. He managed to stab his Spider-Man in the back, although he failed to kill him.
- Accuracy: The Goblin can throw his Pumpkin Bombs and Razor Bats with great accuracy. He threw one of his bombs into the Machina de Kadavus with considerable ease, destroying it to unleash the spell.
Weaknesses[]
- Split Personality Disorder: The effects of the Formula caused mental instability in the test subjects before Norman decided to expose himself to the formula, after being exposed to the formula, he developed a personality different from his own that was thirsty for blood and vengeance who would be the Green Goblin.
- Limited Combat Knowledge: Although the Green Goblin's a skilled fighter, he relies more on offense than defense as shown during his fights with his Spider-Man, as well as MCU Spider-Man and thus had to rely on his gadgets to even the playing field, even laughing off both Raimi and MCU Peter's punches banking on his durability to pull through. This was made even more evident with his final battles with his Spider-Man as well as the MCU Spider-Man, Where the former angrily pushes him back, webs his legs, disorienting him by causing a brick wall to fall on him and then started to beat him to a pulp. Whilst the latter uses Capoeira like fighting maneuvers to dodge his attacks and hitting his weak spots which was his back and face.
- Arrogance, and Spite: As he is the embodiment of Norman's dark side, the Green Goblin is arrogant to a fault thinking he's a god and that others like him should think the same way and that having morals is a weakness. This causes him to spitefully ruin the lives of others who think otherwise like Raimi Peter and MCU Peter. Not caring of the consequences it might bring. His death in the original timeline was caused since he was so focused on killing Peter that he failed to realise that he was in the flight path of his glider should the hero dodge it. With his feud with MCU Peter being the most prominent example of spite as he starts the feud with the MCU Peter as a way to spite Raimi Peter for refusing his "friendship" which he regards as spatting in his face not knowing that MCU Peter by this point has more experience at fighting other superpowered beings like Captain America and Thanos and a primary reason he won in their first fight was because of MCU Peter holding back and having Electro and Lizard's indirect assistance. This even extends to him blowing up the Machina de Kadavus and taunting MCU Peter in his final moments. Which leads to the near destruction of the MCU and his death via Goblin Anti-Serum.
Equipment[]
- Green Goblin Armor: The Green Goblin wore a technologically advanced battle-suit that enhanced his strength and durability. The suit has control over the goblin glider, as he is able to remotely control it. His helmet can reveal his eyes while the rest of his face remains hidden when he wears it. Shortly after entering Spider-Man's universe, Norman smashed his helmet into bits in a futile attempt to escape the Goblin. He then received a purple sweater from MCU May Parker when he sought refuge at F.E.A.S.T., which became tattered as the Goblin took over and fought Spider-Man. The Goblin would later equip a satchel to hold many Pumpkin Bombs and Razor Bats and goggles as a substitute for his broken helmet for the battle at Liberty Island.
- Sleep Gas: The original Goblin suit was equipped with sleep gas that come out from the arms. He used this to kidnap Spider-Man when he attacked the Daily Bugle.
- Retractable Blade: The Goblin suit became upgraded with a retractable blade. He attempted to use this weapon against MCU Spider-Man.
- Pumpkin Bombs: The Goblin uses these specialized pumpkin-themed explosives/bombs to blow up or disintegrate his targets. He used one to destroy the Machina de Kadavus. These bombs are stored and can come out of his glider.
One of Green Goblin's bombs
- Razor Bats: The Goblin uses small bat-shaped boomerangs. These Razor Bats are drones to slice his enemies, they could be used to sever Spider-Man's web-lines. The Razor Bats were a variant of Pumpkin Bomb that sprouted rotating wing-shaped razor blades when thrown, and were capable of flight and homing in on a target.
Goblin holding his trident
- Goblin Trident: The Goblin utilizes a special weapon he briefly wields in his final battle with Spider-Man. His shiny trident was made specifically to kill Spider-Man. The Goblin didn't have his trident with him due to being transported to Earth-199999 by Doctor Strange's spell.
- Goblin Glider: The Goblin utilizes a special transportation device to fly where he wants to, store his weapons, and impale his enemies. A number of Pumpkin Bombs are stashed in the machine, which the Green Goblin can retrieve at any time. Osborn can also control the Glider remotely to either summon it or attack his foes with it. At the front of the Glider are sharp prongs which the Goblin can use to impale his enemies, usually with lethal results. He impaled and killed himself while trying to murder the Spider-Man native to his universe and managed to fatally injure May Parker, who was the aunt of an alternate Peter Parker. The Goblin himself was almost killed by his own glider once more by a vengeful MCU Peter Parker but was stopped by Raimiverse Peter Parker.
Relationships[]
Family[]
- Emily Osborn † - Wife
- Harry Osborn/New Goblin † - Son and Temporary Successor
Allies[]
- Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus † - Friend and Temporary Enemy (In Norman´s case)
- Flint Marko/Sandman - Situational Ally (In the Goblin´s case)
- Max Dillon/Electro - Situational Ally (In the Goblin´s case)
- Curt Connors/The Lizard - Situational Ally (In the Goblin´s case)
- Peter Parker/Spider-Man - Former Archenemy turned Friend, Former Attempted Killer and Former Attempted Victim (In Norman´s case)
- Peter Parker/Amazing Spider-Man - Ally (In Norman Osborn´s case)
- Ned Leeds - Ally (In Norman Osborn´s case)
- Dr. Mendel Stromm † - Former employee (In Norman Osborn´s case)
- MCU May Parker † - Ally (In Norman Osborn´s case)
Enemies[]
- Mary Jane Watson - Kidnapee and Attempted Victim (In the Goblin´s case)
- May Parker - Attempted Victim (In the Goblin´s case)
- Henry Balkan † - Former Board Member turned Enemy and Victim (In the Goblin´s case)
- Maximilian "Max" Fargas † - Former Board Member turned Enemy and Victim (In the Goblin´s case)
- General Slocum † - Former Board Member turned Enemy and Victim (In the Goblin´s case)
- Dr. Mendel Stromm † - Victim (In the Goblin´s case)
- Peter Parker/MCU Spider-Man - Second Archenemy, Attempted Victim, Attempted Killer and Curer (In the Goblin´s case)
- Peter Parker/Spider-Man - First Archenemy, Attempted Killer and Attempted Victim (In the Goblin´s case)
- MCU May Parker † - Victim (In the Goblin´s case)
- Michelle Jones - Attempted Victim (In the Goblin´s case)
- Stephen Strange/Doctor Strange - Former Capturer and Attempted Victim (In the Goblin´s case)
- Peter Parker/Webbverse Spider-Man - Indirect Enemy
Quotes[]
Spider-Man[]
| “ | Back to formula? | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin's first words before killing Stromm. |
| “ | OUT, AM I!? | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin to the Oscorp Board members before killing them. |
| “ | Hello, my dear! | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin to Mary Jane Watson. |
| “ | I surrender! | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin pretending to surrender before taking out the cops. |
| “ | Impressive! | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin complimenting Spider-Man's fighting before punching him. |
| “ | We'll meet again, Spider-Man! | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin after his first defeat at Spider-Man's hands. |
| “ | Norman Osborn: Somebody there? Green Goblin: Somebody. Norman Osborn: Who is it? Green Goblin: Don't play being innocent with me. You've known all along. Norman Osborn: Where are you? Green Goblin: Follow the cold shiver running down your spine. I'm right here! Norman Osborn: I don't understand. Green Goblin: Did you think it was coincidence? So many good things, all happening for you - All, for you. Norman. Norman Osborn: What do you want? Green Goblin: To say what you won't. To do what you can't. To remove those in your way. Norman Osborn: The board members! You killed them. Green Goblin: We killed them! Norman Osborn: We? Green Goblin: Remember your little accident at the laboratory? Norman Osborn: The performance enhancers... Green Goblin: Bingo. Me. Your greatest creation. Bringing you what you've always wanted: Power, beyond your wildest dreams, and it's only the beginning! There's only one... who can stop us. Or, imagine if he joined us. |
„ |
| ~ The Green Goblin talking to Norman and revealing himself to him. |
| “ | Green Goblin: Jameson, you slime! Who's the photographer who takes the pictures of Spider-Man?! J. Jonah Jameson: I don't know who he is! He's stuff comes in the mail! Green Goblin: You're lying! J. Jonah Jameson: I swear! Green Goblin: He's the one who can bring me to him. J. Jonah Jameson: I don't know who he is! Green Goblin: You are useless you... Spider-Man: Settle down, tough guy! Green Goblin: Speak of the devil! |
„ |
| ~ The Green Goblin attacks J. Jonah Jameson before Spider-Man shows up. |
| “ | Sleep. | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin gasses Spider-Man into unconsciousness before taking him away to talk. |
| “ | Wake up, little spider. Wake up. No. You're not dead... yet. Just paralyzed... temporarily. | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin to Spider-Man as the latter regains consciousness. |
| “ | Here's the real truth: there are eight million people in this city and those teeming masses exist for the sole purpose of lifting the few exceptional people onto their shoulders. You, me, we're exceptional. I could squash you like a bug right now, but I'm offering you a choice. Join me. Imagine what we could accomplish together. What we could create. Or we could destroy, cause the deaths of countless innocents in selfish battle again and again and again until we're both dead! Is that what you want? Think about it, "hero"! | „ |
| ~ Green Goblin's "generous proposal" to Spider-Man. |
| “ | Green Goblin: You're pathetically predictable, like a moth to the flame. What about my generous proposal? Are you in or are you out? Spider-Man: It's you who's out, Gobby! Out of your mind! Green Goblin: Wrong answer! |
„ |
| ~ The Green Goblin to Spider-Man about the choice of joining him or not but Spider-Man rejects his "generous proposal". |
| “ | No one says no to me! | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin after Spider-Man escapes from their second battle in the burning building. |
| “ | Green Goblin: Spider-Man is all but invincible; but Parker, we can destroy him. Norman Osborn: I can't. Green Goblin: Betrayal must not be countenanced. Parker must be educated. Norman Osborn: What do I do? Green Goblin: Instruct him in the matters of loss and pain. Make him suffer, make him wish he were dead. Norman Osborn: Yes? Green Goblin: And then grant his wish. Norman Osborn: But how? Green Goblin: The cunning warrior attacks neither body nor mind. Norman Osborn: Tell me how! Green Goblin: The HEART Osborn! First, we attack his heart! |
„ |
| ~ The Green Goblin discussing to Norman about annihilating Spider-Man. |
| “ | Finish it! FINISH IT! | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin telling Aunt May to finish her prayer as he attacks her in her own home. |
| “ | Can the Spider-Man come out to play? | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin to Peter over the phone. |
| “ | ♫The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout, down came the Goblin and took the spider out!♫ | „ |
| ~ Green Goblin singing during his attack on the bridge. |
| “ | Green Goblin: Spider-Man! This is why only fools are heroes — because you never know when some lunatic will come along with a sadistic choice. Let die the woman you love… or suffer the little children. Make your choice, Spider-Man, and see how a hero is rewarded. Spider-Man: Don't do it, Goblin! Green Goblin: We are who we choose to be. Now, CHOOSE! |
„ |
| ~ The Goblin holding Mary Jane and a tram full of innocent children hostage forcing Spider-Man to decide whom to save first. |
| “ | It's time to die! | „ |
| ~ Green Goblin attempts to kill Spider-Man. |
| “ | Misery, misery, misery. That's what you've chosen. I offered you friendship, and you spat in my face. | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin as he attacks and beats Spider-Man. |
| “ | God speed Spider-Man. | „ |
| ~ Green Goblin to Spider-Man as he tries to kill him with his glider, only to get himself killed instead. |
| “ | Oh. | „ |
| ~ Green Goblin's last word before he is impaled by his own glider. |
| “ | Peter...Don't tell Harry. | „ |
| ~ Green Goblin's last words to Spider-Man, telling him to not tell Harry about his crimes. |
Spider-Man 2[]
| “ | Green Goblin: Son... I'm here. Harry Osborn: Dad? I thought you were... Green Goblin: No. I'm alive in you, Harry. You swore to make Spider-Man pay... now make him pay. Harry Osborn: But Pete's my best friend! Green Goblin: And I'm your father. You're weak. You were always weak and you will always be weak until you take control! Now you know the truth about Peter. Be strong Harry. Avenge me. Harry Osborn: No... Green Goblin: AVENGE ME! Harry Osborn: NO! |
„ |
| ~ The Green Goblin to Harry in Harry's vision. |
Spider-Man 3[]
| “ | You've taken your eye off the ball. | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin resurfacing in Harry's head to make him regain his memories. |
| “ | Green Goblin: Harry. Remember me? Harry Osborn: Yes, father. I remember. Green Goblin: I was right about her. About Peter. About everything. You know what you must do. Make him suffer. Make him wish he were dead. FIRST, WE ATTACK HIS HEART! |
„ |
| ~ The Green Goblin to Harry in Harry's vision after the latter regains his memories. |
Spider-Man: No Way Home[]
| “ | Coward! We have a new world to conquer. You make me sick. Hiding in the shadows. Hiding from who you truly are. You can't escape yourself! | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin to Norman Osborn. |
| “ | Green Goblin: That's some neat trick... that sense of yours. Otto Octavius: Norman? Green Goblin: Norman's on sabbatical, honey. Electro: What the hell? Spider-Man (MCU): The Goblin. Green Goblin: "No more darker half"? Did you really think that I'd let that happen? That I'd let you take away my power, just because you're blind to what true power can bring you? Spider-Man (MCU): You don't know me. Green Goblin: Don't I? I saw how she trapped you. Fighting her holy, moral mission. We don't need you to save us. We don't need to be fixed! These are not curses. They're gifts. Otto Octavius: Norman, no. Green Goblin: Quiet, lapdog. Spider-Man (MCU): You don't know what you're talking about. Green Goblin: I've watched you from deep behind Norman's cowardly eyes. Struggling to have everything you want... while the world tries to make you choose. Gods don't have to choose. We take. |
„ |
| ~ The Green Goblin to MCU Spider-Man and the other villains. |
| “ | Strong enough to have it all... TOO WEAK TO TAKE IT! | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin taunts MCU Spider-Man's morality while fighting him. |
| “ | Your weakness, Peter... is morality. It's choking you. Can you feel it? | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin as he strangles MCU Spider-Man. |
| “ | Norman was right. He got it from you, that pathetic sickness. You tried to fix me. Now, I'm gonna fix you. | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin before fatally wounding Aunt May. |
| “ | Peter, Peter, Peter. No good deed goes unpunished. You can thank me later. | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin to MCU Spider-Man before escaping. |
| “ | Can the Spider-Man come out to play?! | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin arriving to battle all three Spider-Men. |
| “ | Green Goblin: Poor Peter. Too weak to send me home to die? Spider-Man (MCU): No. I just want to kill you myself. Green Goblin: Attaboy! |
„ |
| ~ The Green Goblin beaming at an enraged MCU Spider-Man. |
| “ | She was there... because of you. I may have struck the blow, but you... Ha-ha, you are the one that killed her. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA--! | „ |
| ~ The Green Goblin's very last words, taunting the MCU's Peter Parker over Aunt May's death when it was truly his own fault, not Peter's, and his most infamous quote before being cured by MCU Peter Parker plus ending the Green Goblin forever. |
Reception[]
Dafoe's performance as the Green Goblin was widely praised and is considered to be one of the greatest superhero movie villains.
Vulture ranked the Green Goblin 19th on the top 25 superhero film villains in 2018, while Collider ranked him the 5th greatest Spider-Man film villain in 2020. Steven Scaife of Vice wrote that "Dafoe's Goblin represents everything that’s fun about superhero villains, as well as everything that’s great about Raimi's campy films." He also commended Dafoe's voice and body language, which helped overcome the bulky Green Goblin costume that he compared to that of a Power Rangers villain. Looking back at the Sam Raimi trilogy, Tom Holland, who portrays Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in addition to his co-star Jacob Batalon, praised Dafoe's performance in the trilogy, calling the Green Goblin a "landmark villain". The two actors praised Dafoe's ability to "bring a difficult character to life" and particularly the mirror scene where he portrays both Norman Osborn and the Green Goblin persona.
David Germain of Peninsula Clarion stated, "Dafoe's best moments come in schizoid debates between the tremulous Osborn and his snarling alter-ego, his internal struggle eliciting occasional compassion among viewers."
Tulsa World stated "Willem Dafoe shoots the moon as Norman Osborn, an unhinged scientist who becomes a masked supervillain called the Green Goblin. Encased in gleaming armor and cackling maniacally as he zips around on a one-man jet glider, he provides some of the film's most dynamic images. However, the Goblin is only half as scary as Dafoe without the mask. In one memorable scene, he debates the nature of his own evil with his reflection in a mirror, successfully taking more risks as an actor than Jack Nicholson in Batman or his own tour de force in Shadow of the Vampire. As much fun as Dafoe is to watch, it's in some of his scenes where the film nearly goes off the rails. At times the Goblin is almost too menacing for this otherwise good-hearted adventure."
Stylistically, there was heavy (though not universal), criticism of the Green Goblin's costume, which led IGN's Richard George to comment years later, "We're not saying the comic book costume is exactly thrilling, but the Goblin armor (the helmet in particular) from Spider-Man is almost comically bad... Not only is it not frightening, it prohibits expression."
William Dafoe won a New York Film Critics Online Award for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain. Dafoe was even nominated for a Seattle Film Critics Society Award for Villain of the Year for his performance in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Audio Samples[]
The Goblin's jump-scare monster bird screech[]
Trivia[]
- During the final battle scene, it was supposed to be more brutal with more blood and the use of razor-sharp weapons again and Spider-Man's beating was supposed to be more brutal, but they decided to tone it down to meet a PG-13 rating. This was later salvage in No Way Home in his Battles with MCU Spider-Man where he modified his suit with Wolverine style-claws as well as using Wrestling Moves to brutalize his second Archnemesis, with the latter using mix martial arts moves to beat him to a bloody pulp in the final battle.
- Willem Dafoe portrayed the Green Goblin in each of the three films of the Raimi Spider-Man trilogy. Although his character was killed during the climax of the first film, the Goblin appeared in the other two films as a vision/hallucination to his son Harry Osborn, thus, he liked to manipulate him and drive him into trying to kill Spider-Man.
- Aside from appearing as a vision of Norman Osborn in Spider-Man 3, Dafoe appears in a cameo as a customer in a club that Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy go to.
- Norman Osborn, a.k.a. the Green Goblin, also appeared as the main antagonist in the 2002 video game based on the film. In the game, his main scheme was to take Spider-Man's blood and inject it into himself, in order to improve himself, but in the film, his scheme was to defeat and kill Spider-Man, kill his loved ones and destroy the city with his equipment. In the game, unlike in the movie, he was also killed by his glider's blades, which hit him straight in his body, and not in his stomach, which left him to die alone while the glider flew away.
- Norman's Goblin character model was also a playable character in the game, although it is actually his son Harry.
- Willem Dafoe performed 90% of his own stunts.
- The Green Goblin was chosen as the film's main villain since Sam Raimi felt the father-son theme (Norman and Harry Osborn and Peter Parker) would make the film deeper.
Green Goblin's scrapped masked design.
- The Green Goblin's costume was originally designed to be more bulky and armored, but Willem Dafoe, having decided to film his own stunts, rejected it in favor of a more streamlined and athletic costume. The final outfit was composed of 580 pieces and took Dafoe half an hour to put on.
- Aditionally, in early concepts of the film, Norman was supposed to physically turn into the Goblin, with a practical Goblin mask with animatronic expressions having even been finished. This idea would be scrapped before Willem Dafoe was even cast for the role, as Sam Raimi believed the mask could have been too scary for younger viewers, noting it was also very difficult to put on.
- During the fight between the Green Goblin and Spider-Man near the end, Willem Dafoe accidentally clipped Tobey Maguire on the chin with one blow.
- The smoke in the lab during Norman Osborn's transformation scene was originally white but was then digitally altered to green. Director Sam Raimi wanted to use real green smoke but went with the CG effect when prop designers could not create a colored smoke that was nontoxic.
- Both Tobey Maguire and Willem Dafoe incorporated a Yoga technique called Ashtanga into their training regimens for this film. "Ashtanga" translates into English as "eight-legged", like a spider.
- Before Willem Dafoe received the role of the Green Goblin, the role was originally intended to be played by Billy Crudup, who even dropped out of other projects to act in this film, but he was considered too young to play the part of Norman Osborn and was declined the role. Many other actors, including Robert De Niro and John Travolta, turned down the role. De Niro was also considered for Otto Octavius/Dr. Octopus (another villain), in the sequel. The final actor in line to play Norman was the late Bill Paxton, but Sam Raimi was finally convinced that Dafoe was right for the part after a few meetings. Paxton's father still appears in the film as Osborn's elderly housekeeper.
- Willem Dafoe's own face bears an uncanny resemblance to the original Green Goblin mask from the comics, designed almost 40 years before he was cast in the role.
- Norman Osborn's home is decorated with masks from around the world. The filmmakers did this to suggest that Norman is a collector of masks, thus offering an explanation for how he was able to provide a mask for his Green Goblin outfit.
- The film was supposed to feature Doctor Octopus and Green Goblin. However, Sam Raimi decided against using two villains, to focus on a more straightforward story.
- Willem Dafoe was never an intended choice to play the Green Goblin but, after the script fell into his possession, he began lobbying for the role and met with Sam Raimi, who had intended to cast Billy Crudup in the role. Sometime later, while filming a movie in Spain, Dafoe was approached and shot some test footage inside the hotel room he was staying in. It led to his being cast. Once he received the role, Dafoe asked that he be allowed to perform his own stunts so that the character and movements would feel authentic, or else the audience would notice the difference. He performed about 95% of his own stunts, and unlike many of the stunt crew, learned how to handle the Goblin Glider after just 15 minutes. Having such a great time during filming, he offered to return for Spider-Man 2 (2004) and asked if they could write him in somewhere, his character having died in this movie. Sam Raimi took him up on the offer and both of them set aside a specific day of filming on Spider-Man 2 for Dafoe to shoot Norman Osborn's cameo in other characters' dreams and memories.
- Willem Dafoe had to be fitted with prosthetic teeth when he took the role of the Green Goblin. Producers didn't feel a person as rich as Norman Osborn couldn't afford to get his teeth straightened out. Willem Dafoe's real teeth can be seen in the scene where Norman Osborn is having a conversation with himself in the mirror.
- Willem Dafoe agreed to come back to play Green Goblin in Spider-Man: No Way Home because he got to do his own stunts. This initially concerned Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal, due to Dafoe being around his sixties by the time No Way Home was shot, but Dafoe still insisted and ultimately proved himself to have no issues with the stunts like twenty years ago.
- While filming Spider-Man: No Way Home, Willem Dafoe wore a cloak to conceal his identity and costume on the set to prevent his appearance from being leaked and preserve the film's secrecy. Tom Holland actually met Dafoe during filming when they accidentally bumped against each other.
- The Green Goblin has the distinction of being the only main antagonist of a film of the Spider-Man film series within the Marvel Cinematic Universe whose origins aren't linked in any way to Tony Stark/Iron Man, given how the Vulture lost his job thanks to Tony founding Damage Control to clean up the remains of the Battle of New York and Mysterio was fired by Stark due to his unstable nature.
- He also has the distinction of being the first non-MCU villain to appear as the main antagonist of an MCU film, due to having been the main antagonist of the Raimi trilogy before becoming the main antagonist of No Way Home. He is followed by Cassandra Nova, another non-MCU villain who appeared as the main antagonist of Deadpool & Wolverine.
- He appears in the Chad Kroeger and Josey Scott "Hero" music video.
- In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter is able to create a cure for Norman, telling the MCU Peter that he'd been "thinking about it a long time," suggesting that even with the Goblin long gone, Peter had still cared for and wanted to help Norman if he could.
- During the fight against MCU Spider-Man in the apartment complex, the scene where the Green Goblin maniacally laughs as Peter punches him in the face repeatedly was improvised by Dafoe. Tom Holland's unnerved reaction to this was genuine.
- So far, the Green Goblin is the only villain in Spider-Man: No Way Home, alongside Doctor Octopus' Tentacles, who doesn't redeem himself by his own volition: the Green Goblin is technically killed when the MCU's Peter Parker injects the Anti-Goblin Serum on Norman Osborn, allowing him to regain control of his body again and purging the Goblin persona from his psyche for good.
- The point at which Norman was pulled in Spider-Man: No Way Home isn't clear, but it is implied he was pulled prior to his final battle with his Spider-Man, as his suit was intact and he was on his glider when he arrived in the MCU.
- In Harry's apartment in Spider-Man (2002) a mug can be spotted with the picture of infamous dictator Mao Zedong, probably a gift from Norman taken in one of his journeys just like his collection of masks (since it's quite unlikely to say the least that these kind of items could be found on sale in America back then). This detail may be foreshadowing for Norman's and/or Harry's respective evil and vengeful nature.
External Links[]
- Green Goblin on the Spider-Man Films Wiki
- Green Goblin on the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki
- Green Goblin on the Marvel Wiki
- Green Goblin on the Marvel Movies Wiki
- Green Goblin on the Disney Wiki
- Green Goblin on the Wikipedia
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 Cinematic Villains
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