r/comicbookmovies • u/Steko • Jul 29 '26
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Discussion Megathread (Spoilers) Spoiler
This is our official thread to discuss Spider-Man: Brand New Day for those who have seen it. Spoilers are allowed so if you've not seen it yet and wish to avoid spoilers leave now!. There are no spoilers in the body of this post and there are some links to non-spoiler threads below.
For the time being no other spoiler discussions will be allowed outside of this megathread. This sub is also not the place for universe flamewars, or low effort memes. Help us by reporting posts and comments that break the rules.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Writers: Chris McKenna/Erik Sommers
Starring:
Tom Holland (Peter Parker/Spider-Man)
Zendaya (Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson)
Sadie Sink
Costarring:
Jon Bernthal (Frank Castle/Punisher)
Jacob Batalon (Ned Leeds)
Tramell Tillman (Bill Metzger)
Michael Mando (Mac Gargan/Scorpion)
Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk)
Marvin Jones III (Tombstone)
Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova)
Production Budget: $225M
Length: 145 minutes
Mid/Post Credits Scenes: 1 (post-credits)
Reviews: click through for the latest numbers and links to reviews:
Metascore: 66 (56 reviews)
Tomatoscore: 90% Critics Certified Fresh (404 reviews), 98% Audience Certified Hot (25K verified)
Letterboxd: 4.09 (2.7M ratings), currently the #5 CBM, #3 live-action.
CinemaScore: A
Other Discussion:
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u/CurlPR Jul 30 '26
Worse kept secret on the internet. I really wish people would stop speculating and just let the movies speak for themselves.
1
u/Hitech_hillbilly Aug 11 '26
They hinted around at it enough.
But man, I wish they'd do some red herrings too.
1
u/gokul1080 Jul 30 '26
[Spider-Man: Brand New Day Spoiler-free Review]
There was a time when seeing the Marvel logo at the start of a movie instilled a sense of excitement. It felt like a promise that the audience was going to have a good time. But ever since Avengers: Endgame, there just doesn't seem to be the same level of interest in comic book movies that there once was, with a few exceptions like Shang-Chi, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Spider-Man: No Way Home, to name a few.
Now, I don't know whether it's superhero fatigue or a lack of good stories causing this general disinterest in superhero movies these days (to be honest I think it's a bit of column A, and a bit of column B), but after the recent lukewarm reception to the DCU's Supergirl, I was a little concerned about how well Spider-Man: Brand New Day would fare. Particularly since this is the last MCU movie we will get before Avengers: Doomsday. If Brand New Day flopped, it wouldn't bode well for the MCU's next big tentpole.
But it turns out I needn't have worried. Walking into the theatre today for the 8:30 pm showing, I was surprised to discover that the movie was sold out. I can't remember the last time I saw a sold-out theatre in Auckland. It looks like whatever fatigue there may be, people are still going to turn up for their favourite webhead.
And lucky for them they did, because the fourth movie starring your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man is an entertaining spectacle that deals with the aftermath of the events in No Way Home. Everyone has forgotten that Peter Parker is the Wall-Crawler, and we follow Peter as he tries to throw himself fully into fighting crime, ostracising himself from anyone who might get close to him.
Destin Daniel Cretton takes over directing duties from Jon Watts for this latest instalment, bringing a bleaker and darker take on Spider-Man. The colour palette is more muted this time around, and it is both poignant and sad as we follow Peter struggling through his self-imposed exile.
The main trio of Ned (Jacob Batalon), MJ (Zendaya) and, of course, Peter (Tom Holland) are all back for the ride, joined ably by Sadie Sink in a great villainous turn. As with all the best villains, the audience can fully sympathise with her motivations and, hey, I'd probably do the same in her shoes.
Also appearing in supporting roles are Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk and Jon Bernthal as the Punisher. To be honest, these two are probably the weaker parts of the film. I think Ruffalo's arc could easily have been excised from the movie without having any real impact, while this iteration of Bernthal's Punisher just seems at odds with his portrayal in other shows like Daredevil and his own titular show. I don't know, maybe it's just me.
Of the main cast, we already know how great Batalon is at providing comic relief, while Zendaya is once again back at her snarky best. But it's Holland who really carries the movie, delivering just the right level of angst, regret and pathos. In the wrong hands, this kind of characterisation can go horribly wrong (see Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3), but Holland does a great job here and adds another layer to the Spider-Man we know and love.
Cretton's direction also brings a new dimension to Spidey. We already know the director can shoot action from his time behind the camera on Shang-Chi, and he brings those same sensibilities to Brand New Day. The action sequences in this film are great and, I would say, probably the best we have seen from the MCU iteration of Spider-Man. Coupled with the more dour tone, it brings a breath of fresh air to the franchise. At times it also feels like Cretton imbues this film with some of the best bits from the Raimi and the Amazing Spider-Man movies as well.
Composer Michael Giacchino once again delivers an excellent score, albeit one that echoes the more sombre tone of the film. It riffs on the whimsical themes of the previous movies, but with an added touch of sadness and a more ominous edge.
There's a lot to like about Brand New Day and, if the applause at the end of my showing is anything to go by, you won't regret seeing this one in the cinema. And make sure you hang around right until the end for the single post-credits scene.
1
u/jimababwe Jul 31 '26
So about the post credit scene : we’re going back to space? Venom suit? Some alien menace? Fantastic 4?
1
2
u/Ghost51681 Aug 15 '26
Just watched Brand New Day (late to the party yeah lol). Two questions, with one particularly "bothersome"
Spoilers ahead for those who haven't seen the film.
Ok so question 1...
No Way Home's ending suggested Tom's Spidey is now going the direction of the New York city based, "Friendly neighborhood Spider-Man" roots. I was therefore expecting a very grounded version, much like Tobey's and Andrew's. Tom's version will now have to do Spider-Man things, with limited resources, and no support from Stark tech.
So I might just be missing something (kindly let me know if so), but where did all the tech in his apartment come from? Even assuming his genius could build such things, he'd need a ton of cash to build and create the software and tech. His suit's got AI, a vast departure from what was teased in the No Way Home ending. I'm not against the most tech driven Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man yet, but it'd help if there was some background as to where he got the resources (I was thinking the local govt? Since the police work hand in hand with him).
Question 2...
This is the one where I'm kinda "bothered". It may be nitpicking, but I believe all mediums portraying a character, should remain faithful to the superhero's personality and sensibilities.
So when Jean slipped into the bearded worker who eventually gets runover by a vehicle, and Spidey completely ignores the accident, I was like "wait a minute..."
Knowing how Peter is, even if it meant sacrificing a few precious seconds pursuing Jean's body transfers, he'd have a look at the guy even just to check on him, or show he was affected by an innocent bystander getting violently run over. I think a very short scene of Spidey quickly checking on the guy (presumably dead), just right before he continues pursuing Jean, would've really helped keep the persona aligned. The lack of any empathy from Peter in that scene just really through me off for a bit lol.
So one's an actual question, the other more of me just sharing my thoughts.
What are yours, regarding the two points brought up? And at #1, if I actually missed a plot point or something, do let me know! Thanks!
11
u/three-nigerians-69 Jul 29 '26
can’t believe tombstone had such little screen time 🥲