Censor Board’s decision on Spider-Man’s kiss
New Delhi: Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst’s upside-down kiss from 2002 still resonates with people. But now, 26 years later, a new Spider-Man kiss has become the topic of discussion. This time, the reason isn’t romance, but a censorship decision.
What is the difference between the kiss of 2002 and 2026?
Marvel’s latest film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, has been granted a U/A 13+ certificate by the CBFC. However, the board has shortened an 8-second liplock scene and muted some profanity.
Following this decision, people on social media have begun drawing comparisons to the 2002 Spider-Man. It’s being said that the CBFC didn’t cut Toby and Kirsten’s 15-20-second kiss, while Tom Holland and Zendaya’s 8-second scene was cut.
However, the truth is a little different. When the first Spider-Man was released in India in 2002, the CBFC didn’t cut even a second of the famous kissing scene. The scene was shown in its entirety in theaters. Reports of the new film mistakenly linking it to the old film have led to theories circulating online.
Kirsten Dunst’s experience
As romantic as Toby and Kirsten’s upside-down kiss may seem, it was challenging to shoot. Kirsten Dunst explained that it was pouring rain and cold on set. Toby was hanging upside down and gasping for breath.
“Director Sam Raimi wanted this kiss to be memorable, so he even showed me a book of love scenes. But it really felt like I was giving Toby CPR, not kissing,” Kirsten said on The Jonathan Ross Show.
Censor action on Brand New Day
Ironically, the franchise that redefined on-screen kissing is now facing censorship. The CBFC reduced the length of Brand New Day’s kiss scene and beeped out some dialogue.
The film stars Tom Holland and Zendaya, and fans love this pairing. The 8-second cut has angered many. Some say censorship standards have changed, while others see it as a double standard.
For now, Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be released with the U/A cut. But the comparisons between the iconic kiss from 2002 and the one cut in 2026 aren’t going away.
