When Does the Film "Spider-Man 2" (2004) Take Place?
"Spider-Man 2" is a superhero film written by Alvin Sargent with Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, David Koepp, and Michael Chabon [adapting "The Amazing Spider-Man" #3 (1963) as well as "The Amazing Spider-Man" #50 (1967), both by Stan Lee] and released June 30th, 2004.
It takes place on an alternate timeline of the fictional Marvel Cinematic Universe in the year:
We know this because, early in the movie, May Parker says to Peter Parker, ‘Can you believe that it’s 2 years next month since he was taken?’ referring to the murder of a character shown partway through the previous film “Spider-Man” (2002) in a scene that could take place in late 2000 AD or early 2001 AD. This puts the start of this story in either late 2002 AD or early 2003 AD.
2003 AD
We know this because, early in the movie, May Parker says to Peter Parker, ‘Can you believe that it’s 2 years next month since he was taken?’ referring to the murder of a character shown partway through the previous film “Spider-Man” (2002) in a scene that could take place in late 2000 AD or early 2001 AD. This puts the start of this story in either late 2002 AD or early 2003 AD.
A bit after the midpoint of the movie, Harry Osborn is sifting through a collection of newspaper clippings about Spider-Man. One of them is clearly dated for "June 9, 2003" and another appears to be for "June 12, 2003". So we know this scene and the following half of the film must be in or after June of 2003 AD.
It was retroactively absorbed into the Marvel Cinematic Universe at a chronologically early place (an early chronological film to feature Peter Parker/Spider-Man) and can be watched either at its timeline point or before "Spider-Man: No Way Home" (2021) as part of an extended flashback.
