Reel Takes: ‘Brand New Day’ swings highest as – get this – a Spider-Man movie
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When is Spider-Man at his best? When he is teaming up with Earth's Mightiest Heroes to take on alien threats in "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018) and "Avengers: Endgame" (2019)? When he meets other Spider-Men through some multiversal malarkey in "Spider-Man: No Way Home" (2021)? Or does he operate best when he simply lives up to his moniker as "your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man?"
Many longtime Marvel nerds (and nerds of the wall-crawler, specifically) will argue it's the latter, and the first act of "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" (2026) gets as close to this version of the hero as we've seen in a long time.
By the time Tom Holland first appeared as Peter Parker in "Captain America: Civil War" (2016), the Marvel Cinematic Universe had already become so sprawling that his solo films, beginning with 2017's "Spider-Man: Homecoming," could offer only glimpses of the "friendly neighborhood" side of the character. And even "Homecoming," the smallest of Holland's outings, remained too tethered to the larger MCU instead of embracing the traditional elements that have long defined the character.
"Brand New Day" fixes this flaw ... at least for the first 30 minutes or so. After a spell from Doctor Strange caused everyone to forget who Peter Parker is at the end of "No Way Home" (it's a long story; hopefully no one is coming into this movie without the prior knowledge of several previous MCU films and a couple of shows), Parker has secluded himself in a one-room apartment and is devoting most of his time to his Spider-Man persona. He throws himself into being Spider-Man while grappling with the loss of his relationships with MJ (Zendaya) and his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon), both of whom no longer remember him. The result is a first act filled with ground-level crimefighting, things that might seem "small" in the grand scheme of the MCU but are fitting for the character. These moments also provide some fresh humor, thanks mostly to the comedic chemistry between Holland and Jon Bernthal, making his film debut as the Punisher. This dynamic persists through most of the film, a welcome addition.
Things amp up considerably after that first act, and one's response to this will vary greatly depending on the preferred vision for this franchise and the character. Viewers who prefer the narrative simplicity and thematic weight of Sam Raimi's original Spider-Man trilogy (well, at least the first two), will probably leave "Brand New Day" slightly frustrated. Once the second act kicks in, and Sadie Sink's mystery character is revealed, the movie seems more focused on setting up future Marvel movies than living within its own story. This is a shame, considering the movie offers glimpses into Parker's inner turmoil, leading to some of the best emotional acting of Holland's career. Despite these touching moments, he occasionally feels sidelined in his own movie.
Fans who are excited about the expansive worldbuilding of the MCU, however, will find a lot here to enjoy. The film is stacked with familiar names and faces, and the action scenes are some of the most exhilarating we've seen in the franchise. Director Destin Daniel Cretton, stepping in for Jon Watts, who directed the other three Spider-Man films starring Holland, takes some bold leaps with his shot compositions and the staging of the action sequences. In the buildup to the film's release, the cast and crew have talked extensively about the practicality of many of the stunts compared to recent superhero films. This commitment to practicality makes the action feel more tactile, and therefore the stakes seem more severe. As summer blockbuster filmmaking, "Brand New Day" succeeds, even if it eventually becomes narratively overstuffed.
Beneath the film's multi-layered plotting lies a touching message about male loneliness. Parker wrestling with the consequences of being forgotten leads to some incredibly tender moments. "Brand New Day" culminates with an action sequence that is resolved not by some big explosion or moment of active heroism, but a quiet conversation, a heart-wrenching flashback and an act of sacrifice. The movie's willingness to tackle important topics like the loneliness crisis and the importance of community is noble, even if it could've used a little more breathing room.
The movie ultimately has its flaws. Its ambition often overwhelms its story, and its emotional core sometimes gets lost within the MCU's ever-expanding worldbuilding. But, when "Brand New Day" remembers that it's a Spider-Man movie, and that the character works best when serving the people around him, it soars, making it the strongest film in the Holland era.
Rating: 4/5
Joshua Stevens is a teacher, writer and film critic based in Marietta. He teaches high school English at Wood County Christian School in Williamstown. He is a staff writer at Loud and Clear Reviews, a Rotten Tomatoes approved publication. He has contributed to publications such as Think Christian and writes a Substack on film and the arts (The Culture Lens). He holds a B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in film and media studies.