Tom Holland returns in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, an emotional and action-packed Marvel adventure that pushes Peter Parker into unfamiliar territory.
I think it is safe to say that Spider-Man is one of Marvel Comics' most beloved characters. If anyone would argue the point, I offer as evidence two separate live-action feature film trilogies, one live-action four-film series, and two animated movies within the last 25 years. That averages out to approximately one Spider-Man film every two years, and I don't really know of any other character who has had more screen time in the last two and a half decades. This week, the fourth film in the most recent live-action series, starring Tom Holland (The Odyssey), Zendaya (Euphoria), Jacob Batalon (Novocaine), and Sadie Sink (Stranger Things), hits theaters worldwide.
As we begin Spider-Man: Brand New Day, we see Peter (Holland) living a solitary life as a full-time, crime-fighting web-slinger after making the hardest decision of his life at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home. While he loves saving people and fighting crime, Peter definitely misses his friend Ned (Batalon) and the love of his life, MJ (Zendaya), so much so that he can't really stay away from them. Unfortunately, a new villain appears to threaten everything and everyone Peter loves, while he also battles his own body as his human and arachnid sides wrestle for dominance.
The core trio of Holland, Batalon, and Zendaya, whom audiences have watched grow up over the past decade, once again takes center stage even though Ned and MJ don't know who Peter is. Joining them is Jon Bernthal (The Accountant) as Frank "The Punisher" Castle and Sink. I could tell you what character she plays, but then the executives at Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios would probably murder me. The supporting cast includes Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things), Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny), Tramell Tillman (Severance), and Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear), and together this ensemble brings an enjoyable movie to the screen.
Director Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) is no stranger to action and superhero films, which is evident throughout Spider-Man: Brand New Day. He gives the audience opposing views from Peter's perspective, MJ's perspective, and the bystanders' perspective. This contrast truly envelops the audience in the film and gets them invested early in the two-and-a-half-hour runtime. Backward dives off buildings and falls from windows are shot from a bird's-eye view as opposed to looking up from ground level. These unique touches make the film more interesting visually and get the audience invested.
The story has a lot going for it as well. By the time Sink's character is introduced, there is a layer of confusion as the villain seems to jump from body to body and a sense of intrigue because an entity such as this one has never been seen before in any Marvel Studios project. The revelation of who Sink portrays adds a level of excitement to the plot, and she is extremely well cast, making her character all the more believable.
The special effects are very well done for the most part, with only a few moments here or there that shout green screen. Otherwise, the cinematography and effects are great, which helps elevate the movie.
As one of 2026's most anticipated feature films, Spider-Man: Brand New Day certainly doesn't disappoint. It has plenty of action mixed with tender and heartbreaking moments, giving the movie a blend of emotion and adrenaline. There are also plenty of hilarious scenes and lines of dialogue that add to the entertainment.
Holland once again delivers a strong performance as Spider-Man, and the ending leaves plenty of room for Peter Parker's story to continue. Hopefully, we will be seeing more of this version of the character in the future.
Grade: B+
