Alternate versions

On some US TV versions, there is some alternate dialogue between Peter and Mary Jane when he takes out the garbage after his birthday party that wasn't in the theatrical or DVD releases. The most notable is a two-line addition after Mary Jane says, "I'm seeing somebody now." Peter responds, "Oh, therapy." Mary Jane answers, "No, a man." That part of the dialogue especially gives the whole scene a less optimistic feel.

An extended version of the film, titled Spiderman 2.1, was released on DVD in April 2007. It contains 8 extra minutes (for a total running time of 2:15) in 3 new, 1 alternate, and 11 extended scenes. Just over half the added material fleshes out the plot: a new scene where a friend challenges MJ about her decision to marry, an extra minute in Peter's birthday party to underscore Harry's hatred of Spiderman, an extended, more downbeat conversation with MJ afterwards (seen in some TV versions), a longer introduction of Octavius and his wife, a brief new scene where Peter in class is distracted by both his fears about Octavius's experiment and his love for MJ, and a bit more of Peter trying to talk his way into MJ's play. There is extra comedy, with more of the pizza delivery scene, a longer, completely different elevator encounter, and a brief new scene where Jameson plays at being Spidey in his office. Two extended scenes address the movie's themes more than the plot: there is over a minute more with the doctor and a bit more of Peter's conversation with Ben. Finally, there are tiny extra additions to two early action scenes, and more than a minute added to the two major Doc Oc encounters: a brief extra sequence in the first fight, and a longer one atop the train.

In the UK a headbutt (in a fight between Spider-Man and Doc Ock) was replaced with a punch in order to secure a PG rating, which the distributor desperately wanted for commercial reasons. This version was used as the basis for home video release in all RC2, RC3 and RC4 countries (including the extended edition). The US version is uncut. The cut was waived by the BBFC in 2009 and the certificate retained as PG. However, for it's 2024 issue for Sony's 100 anniversary all of the films were resubmitted for reclassification and the BBFC boosted Spider-Man 2's rating from PG to 12A.

Depending on which country you see the film, much of the soundtrack is influenced by that country's local artists - or artists presently being promoted in that country. For example, in Britain the film's primary song is Switchfoot's "Meant to Live" while in the U.S. the focus in the movie (and on the radio) is Dashboard Confessional's Vindicated.

A red cross on a hospital in the theatrical version becomes a white cross for DVD/TV versions. (The American Red Cross asked for the change, concerned the symbol's use could be misinterpreted.)

In some theatrical versions of the film, there is a scene near the end where Peter calls up Aunt May on the phone, and she just sits there, listening to the answering machine, but not bothering to pick up. This scene has been completely removed from the DVD release.

When Peter comes back from delivering the pizzas, there is a refrigerator with sodas in the back of the pizza place. In the US version, the sodas are Dr. Pepper. In Latin America the sodas are Mirinda, a famous orange beverage that sponsored the movie in the region.