SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY
Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Sadie Sink, Tramell Tillman, Liza Colón-Zayas, Michael Mando, and Mark Ruffalo
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
NICK
Brand New Day is the emotional payoff to No Way Home we all deserved, and pairing Tom Holland’s Peter Parker with Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle gave me the duo I didn’t know I needed. Not just for their entertainment value, but for the characters’ mirrored tragic lives. Tragedy is the prevailing theme in this one, which enriches the story and allows it to remain grounded. Yet, somehow, director Destin Daniel Cretton is able to balance the heaviness with well-timed humour, exhilarating action, and visual panache unlike anything we’ve seen from Spidey before. It’s a welcome return for this character and another great addition to Marvel’s strongest sub-franchise.
ADRIANO
As a vocal MCU hater, Brand New Day is refreshing. The visual aesthetic is nice, and keeping everything at street level means the stakes remain mostly personal with the focus being more on the characters than the action — I like that. Where it doesn’t fully land is in how it juggles its plotlines, often throwing Peter Parker (Tom Holland) into emotional and physical struggles that aren’t packaged neatly. As a result, I didn’t feel their full impact. Still, considering where this franchise has gone, this film going beyond the bare minimum is enough for now.
QUENTIN
For all the talk of Marvel’s decline, the MCU has been quietly resurging since Thunderbolts* (television included), with Brand New Day being its best offering since Endgame. Not only is the story thematically cohesive and emotionally resonant, but the thrilling set pieces truly capture the essence of reading the comics. In fact, some shots are beautiful recreations ripped straight from the page. Additionally, there are callbacks and homages, both subtle and overt, as well as cameos and twists that are (mostly) organic instead of functioning as cheap fan service — all of which makes New Day feel like the old days of the MCU’s prime.
AMARÚ
Even with a glaringly predictable plot point that’s telegraphed a mile away, Brand New Day reminds us that the MCU’s Spider-Man movies always hold one truth: they’re a good-ass time. The fun effortlessly continues with this entry, but there’s also an emotional depth that naturally evolves from the first trilogy. This film’s heart is the tremendous payoff of Peter’s (Tom Holland) decision to be forgotten, and every scene exploring his isolation from MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) is deeply rich. Add in hilarious chemistry with Jon Bernthal’s Punisher, along with plenty of well-written seeds planted for future storylines, and Spidey continues to swing big.
ROBERT
It only took ten years and seven film appearances, but Marvel and Sony finally created a vehicle to let Tom Holland’s Peter Parker be the chef de cuisine on his own. Brand New Day lifts from other, more recent Spider-Man properties to tell a Peter-centric story. If you like the Insomniac games, you will applaud the action set pieces. If you like the sensibilities and character considerations of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2, you will recognize Peter’s emotional turmoil. If you try to forget the goofiness of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3, this movie will catch you in its silly web occasionally, but only briefly.
KATIE
I have low expectations for MCU films in general nowadays, but adjusted ones for Spider-Man. These films feel distinct from other superhero fare, and I was pleased that Brand New Day retains the more grounded and street-level feel that makes Spider-Man (Tom Holland) so endearing. It has strong direction, genuinely exciting and dynamic action sequences that feel impactful and fun, and restrained use of CGI in comparison to Marvel’s usual inclination towards its over-usage. Holland is brilliant in the leading role, and his hilarious chemistry with Jon Bernthal’s Punisher is the beating heart of the film.
PAIGE
Brand New Day truly feels like a comic strip coming to life on the screen. Director Destin Daniel Cretton manages to bring new heart and energy to this franchise while also capturing the charm of its three previous installments. This time around, we get to see Tom Holland portray the more grounded, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man that we've been yearning for as he explores the evolution of his powers. The thing that truly surprised me, though, is how emotionally charged it all is. Although convoluted at times, it’s such a heartfelt story that gives Peter Parker’s journey real weight.
BODE
There was no way that the next Tom Holland Spider-Man movie could top the multiverse madness of No Way Home. Thankfully, Brand New Day doesn’t really try. Even with major reveals that - of course - tease what’s ahead, this instalment stays refreshingly grounded for the most part (borrowing beats from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 generates some goodwill). A few of the same MCU-isms still prevail, leaving this disjointed as a result, but at least it’s visually appealing, the fight sequences aren’t weightless, and the cast remains endearing. It’s not a particularly great Spidey movie, but for the MCU, it’s a relatively fun matinee.
Want to hear even more of our thoughts? Nick , Amarú, and Harrison join Matt to take A Bigger Bite out of Spider-Man: Brand New Day HERE.