2002 MOVIES: WEB OF SUCCESS 'SPIDEY,' 'GREEK' LEAD BOX OFFICE.

Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer

Columbia Pictures expected financial feats from ``Spider-Man,'' and he delivered with a record opening weekend, the top spot in the year-end chart and a record first day for the movie's video and DVD sales.

``Spider-Man,'' with Tobey Maguire as the reluctant arachnid hero, bolted from the gate last May with $114.8 million, the best opening weekend ever. It also emerged as the rare summer blockbuster that pleased both theater owners and critics, who praised director Sam Raimi and Maguire for bringing out the human side of the character.

It finished its U.S. theatrical run with $405.7 million, making it the first ever rival of a ``Star Wars'' title to keep it from the year's top spot. (``Episode II - Attack of the Clones'' certainly held its own with $303.6 million.)

In Spidey's considerable shadow was a little movie that astounded even its creator with its popularity, and probably had several studio executives kicking themselves for having rejected it as unsalable.

``My Big Fat Greek Wedding'' began as a cathartic memory-lane trip in the form of a one-woman stage show for writer and star Nia Vardalos. It mushroomed into the most successful romantic comedy and independent film ever, bumping 1990's ``Pretty Woman'' ($178 million) and 1999's ``The Blair Witch Project'' ($149.5 million) from their perches.

Actress Rita Wilson saw the play and enjoyed it so much that she encouraged her husband, Tom Hanks, to throw his money and his clout behind it.

Having opened last spring with mixed reviews, ``Greek Wedding'' is less likely to win Oscars than People's Choice Awards. And the Independent Spirit Awards, an annual celebration of the triumph of the little guys over the studios, gave it just one nomination, for Vardalos' script. But there's no denying its appeal to a wide audience, from giddy young girls and wistful grandmothers to dating couples looking for a little romance.

Its $215.6 million in ticket sales have opened so many doors for 40-year- old Vardalos. There's a mid-season comedy series in the works for CBS, most likely to be titled ``My Big Fat Greek Family,'' which will reunite the cast with the exception of leading man John Corbett, who has another series commitment. And Vardalos has written and will star in a buddy movie for Universal titled ``Connie and Carla.''

As for ``Spider-Man,'' 7 million tapes and DVDs flew off the shelves in its first day in stores in November, besting the single-day sales record of 5 million set two months earlier by ``Monsters, Inc.'' Columbia TriStar Home Video has shipped 41 million copies worldwide.

There is a 2004 sequel planned, but there may be problems afoot that even Peter Parker's alter ego cannot solve. Stan Lee, creator of the comic book character, has filed a multimillion-dollar suit against Marvel Comics claiming the company has not paid him a penny of its profits from the film. Marvel says it has complied with the ``profit'' definitions in Lee's contract.

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(1 -- 2 -- color) ``My Big Fat Greek Wedding'' actors John Corbet and Nia Vardalos accept awards at the VH1 Big in 2002 Awards show on Dec. 4. This movie and ``Spider-Man'' were big hits at the box office in 2002.

Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com