We are three days away from the release of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” and the review embargo has just lifted on the film, which is expected to gross more than $300M in its opening weekend. I’m actually being conservative with that estimate.
The reviews? Mostly positive. That’s how I would assess them, though they’re certainly not as enthusiastic as those for “No Way Home,” which surprised many by reinventing the formula. So far, “Brand New Day” holds a 70 on Metacritic and 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.
For comparison, “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” released in 2017, earned a 73 on Metacritic, “Spider-Man: Far From Home” scored a 69, and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” landed at 71. In other words, critical reception has been fairly consistent across Tom Holland’s Spider-Man films.
Sony must just be happy that reviews were not lukewarm. Now the momentum can continue on as box office tracking continues to hold strong.
Many critics are praising Destin Daniel Cretton’s direction, which steers the franchise back to a smaller-scale, character-focused story centered on Peter Parker’s life rather than multiversal spectacle. It serves as a reset following the more ambitious “No Way Home.”
However, the reviews aren’t without reservations. Several critics cite an overstuffed narrative, uneven pacing, and a reliance on familiar MCU formulas, while others lament a lack of genuine surprises, underdeveloped supporting characters, and an emphasis on setting up future instalments—a Marvel specialty.
Returning to the role, Holland once again suits up as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, with Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk also making an appearance. The film marks the first “Spider-Man” outing directed by “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton. Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Michael Mando, and J.K. Simmons reprise their roles, while Jon Bernthal’s Punisher, Sadie Sink (reportedly playing Jean Grey), and Tramell Tillman (“Severance”) join the cast as newcomers.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” opens in theaters this Friday, with Sony and Marvel hoping the latest chapter breaks many box office records (which it will).