Spider-Man: Brand New Day came out on July 31, 2026. The film had a star-studded cast, featuring not only the classic Spider-Man cast of Tom Holland and Zendaya, but also returning fan favorite heroes such as Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, Jon Bernthal’s Punisher, and Stranger Things actor Sadie Sink. I went to the film quite excited. Spider-Man is a very popular superhero; the trailers I’d seen had shown a more grounded Spider-Man, which is something that past Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Spider-Man films had lacked. How did the film measure up against my expectations and previous Spider-Men? Did the film suffer from being in a cinematic universe, so called ‘multiverse fatigue’? And did Spider-Man tackle modern-day issues respectfully?
The action did not disappoint. The fight scenes, especially against classic Spider-Man villains such as The Hand and The Scorpion, felt both grounded at times and larger than life when they needed to be. Spider-Man uses his abilities to protect civilians and help the innocent. I could sense when the stakes were high. Many scenes throughout the movie were gorgeous, comparing favorably to Spider-Man (2002) and The Amazing Spider Man 2. The film shows Spidey learning how to use his webs again. While the web-slinging antics were fun, I feel I’ve seen similar scenes too many times in other movies.
In other Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects the inclusion of crossover characters seemed gratuitous. Despite the return of The Hulk and The Punisher, each character earned their place in this movie. Both characters had something valuable to add to Spider-Man’s character; teaching him about responsibility, power, and when to walk away. Spider-Man, and Peter Parker’s character arc in the film warranted the inclusion of these characters. I do not feel that you had to see many MCU projects to understand the main plot points or the message of the film.
Given its nature as a ‘relatable’ superhero film to teens and young adults, this movie has a unique opportunity to take a stance on some of the world’s most pressing issues. I feel that given this opportunity, the supposed return to a more grounded Spider-Man failed to pay off. In the film, Spider-Man uses mass surveillance, which is in my opinion contrary to his character, and his reliance on AI is questionable. However, he does stand up to authority figures when the law gets in the way of doing the right thing. That being said, the ambiguous villainy of one of the antagonists is handled well, and the film’s handling of MJ and Peter’s relationship was done respectfully.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is altogether one of the best movies this year. I think all high schoolers will find something in the movie to enjoy, be it the action, the complex morality, or the drama between Peter Parker and Spider-Man.
Article by Emmett Coughlan