The biggest question on everyone’s mind going into Spider-Man: Brand New Day is: what could possibly be “brand new” for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home? Quite a lot, actually. And what’s one of the things MCU fans hate most? Spoilers. Thankfully, Marvel has done quite well in keeping most of what comes next for Spider-Man under wraps, allowing audiences to walk in with genuine curiosity about what lies ahead for Peter Parker.
Few superhero films have had the cultural impact or generated the anticipation of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which brought together three generations of Spider-Man. That left Brand New Day with the difficult task of following such a monumental chapter while taking Peter Parker in a completely new direction.
The ending of No Way Home served as a soft reset for Peter Parker. With the world forgetting who was behind the mask and Peter losing his only remaining family member, Aunt May, he is forced to start over from scratch. This opens the door for new friendships, the rebuilding of old relationships and an exploration of what life looks like when Spider-Man has truly been left on his own.
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Destin Daniel Cretton (Wonder Man, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Short Term 12) takes over directing duties after Jon Watts wrapped up his Spider-Man trilogy in a neat little web. We have a more mature Peter Parker here, one shaped by loss, sacrifice and the hardships he has endured. Cretton’s smaller, character-driven filmmaking shines through, bringing an intimate emotional energy to the film’s tone and drama without losing sight of the fun and spectacle that make Spider-Man who he is.
Tom Holland has also grown alongside the character. At this point, we’re a long way from the Peter Parker we met in Spider-Man: Homecoming. He is playing with the big boys now and, thankfully, everything comes together beautifully. We also get to see Spidey team up with some surprise returning faces from the MCU, encounter new enemies and face a villain that’s best left unspoiled.
One thing Spider-Man: Brand New Day absolutely nails is the charm and chemistry between its characters. Every interaction feels genuine, well-written and full of personality, making it easy to become invested in each relationship. And if you’re a fan of the power trio of Ned (Jacob Batalon), MJ (Zendaya) and Peter, you’re in for a treat. Their friendship is put to the test following the events of No Way Home, and it remains one of the film’s greatest strengths, bringing plenty of heart and emotion to their journey.
However, Spider-Man’s growing pains once again revolve around an identity crisis. While the emotional payoff is satisfying and feels earned, it is a storyline the character has explored before, leaving parts of the journey feeling familiar.
The action and web-swinging are easily among the best we have seen from Spider-Man. The movement, choreography and visuals capture everything that makes the character feel alive, translating the energy of the comics onto the big screen. Still, I did find myself wanting a bigger finale, although that may have been unfairly influenced by the massive scale and spectacle of No Way Home’s ending.
The increasingly convoluted MCU has had more lows than highs since Phase Four, but Spider-Man: Brand New Day feels like an exciting bridge into the next phase while giving Spidey renewed energy. It delivers everything we expect from our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.
