Norman Osborn (2002 film series character)

Norman Osborn is a character portrayed by Willem Dafoe in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film trilogy and later the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, Osborn is introduced in Spider-Man (2002) as a dedicated scientist and the CEO of Oscorp who tests an unstable performance-enhancing serum on himself, developing both superhuman strength and a crazed alternate personality known as the Green Goblin (or simply the Goblin). After being removed from the Oscorp board, he uses advanced armor, a glider, and pumpkin bombs to terrorize the board members and New York City, bringing him into conflict with Spider-Man whom Goblin later discovers is the secret identity of Peter Parker. During his final battle against Spider-Man, he reveals his identity in an attempt to trick Peter into death, but ultimately kills himself via impalement by his own glider. Deeply saddened by his father's death, Harry hallucinates his father pleading for vengeance in Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007). In the latter film, Harry uses his late father's equipment and serum in an attempt to kill Peter.

Osborn and Goblin return in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) when a magical spell gone wrong breaks open the multiverse and causes past versions of them (from a point prior to their deaths) to be transported to the MCU reality. The alternate Osborn's mind is taken over by the Goblin persona, tormenting that reality's Peter Parker and killing his Aunt May Parker. After a brutal fight with Parker on the Statue of Liberty, Osborn is cured of the Goblin identity and returned to his universe.

Dafoe's performance in both films has been met with praise from critics and audiences, considered one of the best villains in the superhero genre. Dafoe and co-stars Tobey Maguire and J. K. Simmons held the Guinness World Record for "the longest career as a live-action Marvel character" before Patrick Stewart reclaimed the record by reprising his role as Charles Xavier in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).