Spiderman: Brand New Day (2026) – 8.5/10 – Our Web-slinger Comes Through
Overall
Brand New Day continues the Marvel saga, taking off where No Way Home left off in 2021. I’ll be honest when I say that Marvel has fatigued me since the Infinite Wars concluded. The thrill had dissipated, but Spiderman keeps that excitement alive. In the Tom Holland Spiderman era, I have yet to be disappointed. Each installment raises the roof from a writing perspective. Brand New Day once again comes through with flying colors. I haven’t been to the theater since Far From Home in 2019 and finally returning for this Spiderman after seven years. Even though I missed multiple solid theater movies over the years, I have no regrets. Brand New Day became the second-fastest film to make $1 billion, accomplishing it in only six days. It made $932 million on opening weekend alone, making it the most behind only Avengers: Endgame!
Would I recommend this?
Yes. I don’t know how they continue the freshness for Spiderman. Most movie series become repetitive after a few installments. For Marvel, they have kept Spiderman and Deadpool going, each topping or matching the previous. Spiderman here appears more down-to-earth and returns to the original city setting that doesn’t rely on extra-dimensional or alternative worlds. Filmmakers add a mature, emotional dimension to Spiderman, which we have seen flashes of in the past movies. Humor, hope, and heart after losing everything help flesh out the inspiring side to Spiderman. Without his humanity, he’s reduced to a mere web-slinging vigilante; with it, he is the Spidey we’ve come to love. I’m left wondering where Spidey’s journey will take us next, but I’m optimistic the writers will figure it out. My rating is 8.5/10.
Plot (spoiler-free)
In the previous film, Spiderman (Tom Holland) asked Dr Strange to use his magic and erase him from everyone’s memories. Others knowing his identity placed them in danger. With nobody knowing him, he returns to full-time Spiderman, protecting citizens from crime. Until a powerful telepathic villain emerges, played by Sadie Sink. Spiderman joins forces with The Punisher, Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), to track the mysterious telepath.
Technicals
Brand New Day is an impressive success, showcasing a mix of technical prowess and entertainment value. The best aspects are the direction, acting, writing, cinematography, New York City setting, choreography, background music, visuals, and special effects. I loved the main characters and their chemistry. Bernthal’s Frank Castle/Punisher adds a rawness that complements Spiderman’s empathic, easygoing persona. MJ and Ned combine charm and humor to keep their friendship with Peter flowing. Sadie Sink seems outlandish in the beginning, but she completes the character puzzle to keep us captivated.
I had questions when Tom Holland was introduced as Spiderman. “Who is this kid? Why is this boy playing Spiderman? Awww, another Spiderman reboot?” That’s in the rearview mirror – Holland is Spiderman! Peter Parker has come a long way since the earlier movies, maturing into a hero worthy of respect. The city views and shots are breathtaking, especially on the theater screen! Fast-paced fighting scenes contain choreography that keeps you on the edge as you watch them unfold.
There are a couple of issues. First, I found the first half lackluster in pacing and story development. I was unclear where it was heading, and the slow pace didn’t help. Second, it’s clear that they’re building toward an Avengers tie-in, perhaps for Secret Wars next year. Crossovers are cool to watch unfold, but it becomes a problem when writing teams differ, with each having their own vision. Not only does that draw focus from the main movie character, but it forces plotlines to protect story continuity. They tried to pull Spiderman from the Avengers/Iron Man’s shadows, but you still see hints of it. I suspect this will become another puzzle piece in the grand Marvel plan. Third, the extra credit scenes used to be meaningful in earlier Marvel films. I say skip the extra scene during the credits and check it later on YouTube.
*Obtained trivia facts from IMDb’s trivia page and plot/basic history/name information from Wiki
