Marvel finally remembered Spider-Man is supposed to swing through New York instead of standing in front of a green screen explaining the multiverse. Progress.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is loud, fast, emotional, and undeniably entertaining. It’s also a film that constantly feels like it’s about to become something extraordinary before deciding, at the very last second, to play it painfully safe. Think of it as the cinematic equivalent of ordering the spiciest dish on the menu only to discover the chef forgot the seasoning.
Let’s start with the obvious: Tom Holland has never been better.
This is easily his strongest performance as Peter Parker. He’s funny without trying too hard, emotionally wrecked without becoming melodramatic, and finally feels like a Spider-Man who’s grown up. After years of universe-ending crossovers, Holland gets to focus on Peter’s loneliness, grief, and the impossible balancing act of being everyone’s hero while nobody remembers your name. It’s the kind of performance that deserves a much bolder script.
Director Destin Daniel Cretton absolutely understands the assignment. The action is kinetic, stylish, and refreshingly physical. Spider-Man actually swings. A lot. New York once again feels like his playground instead of expensive CGI wallpaper. Every chase sequence has energy, every punch has momentum, and for a glorious two hours the web-slinging is genuinely addictive.
Then there’s Sadie Sink.
Introducing Jean Grey in a Spider-Man movie is certainly… a choice.
Sink is excellent. She gives Jean warmth, vulnerability, and enough mystery to make you want an entire X-Men film immediately. Unfortunately, Brand New Day seems almost embarrassed to acknowledge she’s one of Marvel’s most important mutants. There are barely any references to mutants, no real sense that the X-Men exist, and almost nothing connecting Jean to a larger story.
It’s giving “surprise guest star” more than “the future of the MCU.”
Marvel keeps asking audiences to be excited for tomorrow while forgetting today’s movie also needs to exist.
The villain? Well… he’s there.
William Metzger joins the ever-growing Marvel Support Group for CEOs Who Secretly Become Evil Around Act Two. If you’ve watched literally any superhero movie made in the last decade, congratulations—you’ve already met him. Tramell Tillman does what he can, but even charisma can’t save another businessman who discovers that ethics are optional after acquiring unlimited power.
Somewhere, Norman Osborn is probably filing a copyright lawsuit.
One relationship that absolutely works is Spider-Man and the Punisher. Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal bounce off each other beautifully. Spider-Man believes everyone deserves saving. Frank Castle believes everyone deserves a headstone. Watching those philosophies collide produces some of the film’s funniest and most memorable scenes.
More of this, please.
Less “evil tech billionaire number fourteen.”
The biggest frustration, however, is that Brand New Day refuses to fully embrace Spider-Man’s own mythology.
This is a character with arguably the greatest rogues’ gallery in comics. Green Goblin. Black Cat. Venom. Hobgoblin. Mister Negative. Kraven. Scorpion. Harry Osborn. Yet the film treats most of them like background decoration while inventing another corporate villain nobody will be dressing up as for Halloween.
Marvel has an all-you-can-eat buffet of Spider-Man villains.
Instead, it ordered plain toast.
Even the ending feels strangely hesitant. Rather than delivering a jaw-dropping finale or a post-credit scene that leaves fans screaming in the theater, the film quietly reminds everyone that Spider-Man will return.
Thank you, Marvel.
We had absolutely no idea.
The strange thing is that none of these issues make Brand New Day a bad movie. Quite the opposite. It’s consistently entertaining, visually gorgeous, emotionally sincere, and often genuinely funny.
Its biggest problem is that it constantly hints at becoming one of the great Spider-Man films before settling for being a very good Marvel movie instead.
Maybe that’s the real tragedy.
Spider-Man finally remembers who he is.
Marvel still isn’t entirely sure.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
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