There was a point where every Marvel film seemed determined to convince audiences that the only way to raise the stakes was to threaten the entire universe. Planets collided. Multiverses fractured. Every adventure had to be bigger than the last. Spider-Man: Brand New Day wisely goes in the opposite direction, and in doing so delivers one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s strongest and most emotionally satisfying entries in years.
Picking up after the devastating conclusion of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is living with the consequences of Doctor Strange’s spell. The world has forgotten that Peter Parker exists, leaving him to continue protecting New York while watching former girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and bestie Ned (Jacob Batalon) move on with lives that no longer include him. It’s a lonely existence, one defined as much by grief as responsibility.
That emotional isolation becomes the foundation for a story that is far more interested in Peter Parker the person than Spider-Man the superhero.
When a mysterious new adversary emerges with the terrifying ability to inhabit and manipulate the minds of others, Peter is forced into another battle to save the city. Yet director Destin Daniel Cretton and returning writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers never allow the spectacle to overshadow the character beneath the mask. The action is exciting, inventive and occasionally breathtaking, but every confrontation is rooted in Peter’s internal struggle rather than existing simply because a blockbuster demands another set piece.
It’s a refreshing change of pace.
Holland gives what may well be the finest performance of his Spider-Man career. Without the comfort of Peter’s usual support system, he leans fully into the character’s vulnerability, portraying a young man carrying grief, guilt and crushing loneliness while desperately trying to convince himself that sacrificing his own happiness is simply part of the job. It’s an understated, deeply human performance that gives genuine weight to even the quieter moments.
Zendaya’s reduced screen time hardly diminishes her impact. Every scene between Peter and MJ carries years of shared history, with the film quietly reminding us of everything they’ve lost without resorting to excessive melodrama. Their chemistry remains effortless, and those emotional beats become the film’s beating heart.
Sadie Sink also proves an inspired addition to the franchise. The less said about her character the better, but she proves a fascinating foil whose abilities force Peter into conflicts that can’t simply be solved with punches or webbing. The psychological nature of their encounters keeps the film feeling fresh while allowing Sink to embody a character who is equal parts unsettling and sympathetic.
Cretton, whose previous work has consistently prioritised character over spectacle, brings that same philosophy here. Even when Brand New Day indulges in Marvel-sized action, it never loses sight of the people caught in the middle of it. Whether it’s Peter wrestling with whether he should reconnect with the people he loves or confronting the emotional scars left by Aunt May’s (Marisa Tomei) death, the film repeatedly finds its greatest victories in conversations rather than explosions.
That’s not to say the spectacle disappoints. There are plenty of thrilling action sequences, inventive visual flourishes and crowd-pleasing surprises, all delivered with the confidence audiences expect from a Spider-Man adventure. But unlike many recent superhero films, the action feels like an extension of the story instead of an interruption.
If there’s a criticism, it’s that the film occasionally lingers a little too long on its emotional beats, flirting with sentimentality in places where a lighter touch may have been more effective. A handful of supporting characters also feel underutilised, existing more to service Peter’s journey than developing arcs of their own.
They’re minor shortcomings in a film that succeeds so thoroughly at remembering what made audiences fall in love with Spider-Man in the first place.
In an era where superhero films often mistake scale for significance, Spider-Man: Brand New Day understands that the most compelling battles are often the personal ones. It’s funny without undercutting its emotion, exciting without becoming exhausting, and heartfelt without sacrificing the escapist joy that has always defined the character.
Most importantly, it proves that after nearly a decade in the role, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man still has somewhere meaningful to go.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now screening in Australian theatres, before opening in the United States on July 31st, 2026.
