As I sit down to write my review of the latest MCU entry, I can’t help but think back to a time not so long ago when the comic book genre stood as the gold standard of blockbuster cinema. While a vocal minority dismissed the genre during its heyday, there’s no denying the cultural and financial impact it had on Hollywood. Since Avengers: Endgame, however, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows.
Since 2019, the box office has continued to prove that audiences will still show up for Marvel, but the widespread critical acclaim the franchise once enjoyed has begun to fade. Several lesser-known properties have struggled to find their footing. With Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars on the horizon, Marvel finds itself searching for renewed momentum. Through every bump in the road, though, one hero has remained its most reliable safety net.
Spider-Man: No Way Home remains one of the defining critical and financial successes of the post-Endgame era. Now, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Marvel isn’t just launching another Spider-Man adventure; it’s hoping for a true brand new day, one that rekindles the excitement and enthusiasm that once made superhero films feel like the biggest event in cinema.
Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings its way into adulthood with its most grounded and mature story yet. It’s Peter Parker’s most personal and emotionally resonant journey to date, elevated by a supporting cast that serves his growth rather than existing as cameo fodder. And yes… Sadie Sink is absolute perfection in her “wink wink” role. It’s the closest the MCU’s Spider-Man has come to capturing the heart and spirit of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, and I can’t think of higher praise than that.
Set in the aftermath of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Brand New Day finds Peter Parker truly alone after Doctor Strange’s spell erases him from the memories of everyone he once knew. Forced to embrace life in the shadows, Peter continues protecting New York City as its friendly neighborhood Spider-Man while carrying the weight of a world that’s forgotten his existence. But when a dangerous new threat emerges and his abilities begin to change in unexpected ways, Peter is thrust into his greatest challenge yet, one that will test both the hero he’s become and the man behind the mask.
Along with Destin Daniel Cretton’s assured direction, Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers’ screenplay takes a refreshing back-to-basics approach, resulting in the most mature Spider-Man story of the MCU trilogy. Echoing the themes of work-life balance and community that made Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 so enduring, the script never loses sight of Peter Parker beneath the mask. After being dealt a devastating hand at the end of No Way Home, Peter’s journey through the emotional and personal consequences of those events becomes one of the film’s greatest strengths.
I’ve always viewed Peter Parker as Marvel’s Charlie Brown, a character whose greatest strength isn’t his victories, but his resilience in the face of constant hardship. That’s why I’ve gravitated toward his stories throughout my life. They have always felt like life lessons audiences can carry into their own, and Brand New Day fully embraces that philosophy. While the screenplay occasionally feels overstuffed, leading to an unnecessary two-and-a-half-hour runtime, McKenna and Sommers clearly understand what makes Peter Parker such an enduring hero, delivering his most human and emotionally resonant story to date.
If Brand New Day‘s screenplay represents an evolution for Peter Parker, then Tom Holland rises to meet it with the best performance of his Spider-Man career. Having carried the mantle since 2016, Holland delivers his most grounded and emotionally resonant portrayal of the character to date. He fully understands what makes Peter Parker tick, and that understanding shines through in every scene. That’s not to say the supporting cast doesn’t come to play.
The secret sauce of this franchise over the past decade has always been the on- and off-screen connection shared by Holland, Zendaya, and Jacob Batalon. Their chemistry is effortless, and every reunion feels like we’re catching up with old friends. Brand New Day is no different. Less reliant on comedy and more focused on emotional stakes, the trio delivers some of their finest work together yet, proving once again why they’re among the MCU’s most endearing ensembles.
The dreaded MCU cameo discourse can be put to rest for now. Rather than existing as fan service, every supporting player has a purpose. Frank Castle and Peter Parker become a modern-day Tango & Cash, with Holland and Jon Bernthal sharing electric chemistry that fuels not only some of the film’s best action sequences, but also many of its funniest moments. In a film that prioritizes character over forced humor, their dynamic is a welcome surprise. Meanwhile, Mark Ruffalo’s brief but effective return as Bruce Banner continues to reinforce why he remains one of the MCU’s most valuable supporting players.
Then there’s Sadie Sink, whose role has been the subject of endless speculation ever since her casting was announced. While I won’t spoil who she plays, I will say that she delivers one of the film’s most emotionally affecting performances, standing shoulder to shoulder with Holland throughout. The two share one of Brand New Day‘s most powerful scenes, one that perfectly encapsulates the film’s emotional core. Ever since Stranger Things, I’ve believed Sink has been one of Hollywood’s brightest young talents, and she somehow manages to exceed those already lofty expectations here.
On the technical side, Marvel Studios has earned a reputation in recent years for producing films that aren’t always the most visually appealing. Outside of The Fantastic Four, few recent MCU entries have truly stood out from an aesthetic standpoint. While Brand New Day certainly embraces the franchise’s signature VFX spectacle, cinematographer Brett Pawlak deserves tremendous credit for crafting one of the MCU’s best-looking films in years. His lens beautifully showcases Spider-Man’s new suit while making New York City feel vibrant, lived-in, and every bit as much a character as Peter Parker himself.
Equally impressive is Destin Daniel Cretton’s decision to lean more heavily into practical filmmaking whenever possible. The result is a series of ambitious set pieces that demand remarkable precision from everyone involved, and the execution is consistently outstanding. Rounding out the technical package is Michael Giacchino’s score, which is as emotionally rich and heroic as ever. While I still rank it as the weakest of his four Spider-Man scores, “weakest” is relative here, as it remains stronger than most superhero scores produced today.
For years, Marvel Studios has searched for the next film that could remind audiences why they fell in love with the MCU in the first place. While Spider-Man: Brand New Day won’t erase every misstep the franchise has made since Endgame, it proves that the path forward isn’t bigger multiversal stakes or an endless parade of cameos. It’s returning to what made these stories resonate in the first place: compelling characters, heartfelt relationships, and heroes whose greatest battles aren’t always the ones fought in costume.
For Peter Parker, every victory has always come at a cost, and perhaps that’s why he’s remained Marvel’s most relatable hero for generations. Brand New Day understands that better than any Spider-Man film in the MCU to date, delivering a heartfelt, emotionally mature, and wonderfully entertaining adventure that reminds us why the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man continues to be one of the gold standard of comic book heroes. If this truly is the blueprint for Marvel’s future, then perhaps a brand new day has finally arrived.
