Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) – Review

Quick Non-Spoiler Thoughts:

1. Good movie.
2. The lack of multiple CGI smack-em-ups is nice. 
3. The on-location work is appreciated
4. The characters have time to exist and be likable.
5. It’s obvious that everyone involved wanted to create something ambitious. Spider-Man: Brand New Day still fits nicely in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but it also stands apart because of its dedicated to developing characters and relationships. 
6. Director Destin Daniel Cretton is 3-for-3 in the MCU.
7. Grade – 7 out of 10 on the MCU scale. 

One of the reasons why Iron Man (2008) is my favorite MCU film is because it allows Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) to exist on his own (16.41 minutes to be exact – read my data article). Throughout the film, Stark is left to his own devices as he tests tech, builds suits, and deals with life after captivity. The film rests on his shoulders, and it kicked off a massive cinematic universe that pulled in billions of dollars and captured the world’s attention. The only other MCU character that could be trusted to exist alone for long periods of time is Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. In Spider-Man: Homecoming, he has 20.5 minutes of alone time (#1 overall in MCU), and the movie was a tremendous success. Moviegoers loved Holland’s portrayal of Peter Parker/Spider-Man, and the films work when it’s just Peter (the cast is great too. Props to director Jon Watts). Whether it’s being stuck in a massive warehouse or dealing with Mysterio’s nonsense, the guy can be trusted to hold the screen. After the bombast and game-changing ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home, it’s nice that Brand New Day scales things back by focusing on Peter’s self-imposed solitude and the effects of his alienation from the world. 

The film opens strong with a Spider-Man kicking butt montage that’s fueled by the TV on the Radio song “Wolf Like Me” (the segment is easily the best in the Spidey franchise). Peter’s focus on crime fighting has been good for New York City, but bad for the amiable kid, as his body starts changing due to depression and stress. He’s holed himself up in a loft where he spends his days tinkering with equipment and developing more efficient ways to defeat criminals like Scorpion (Michael Mando). The only time he leaves his fortress of solitude is when he visits Aunt May’s grave, or to grab the Little Caesars pizza left at his front door. His social interactions are limited to his phone chats with Detective Jean DeWolff (Liza Colón-Zayas – super likable) and occasionally bickering with Frank “The Punisher” Castle (Jon Bernthal) when they’re fighting crime. He also follows Ned’s (Jacob Batal0n) TikTok page, where he catches glimpses of MJ (Zendaya) in Ned’s videos that highlight their time at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The plot kicks in during a tank chase involving a body-swapping antagonist who has been attacking the NYC-based Department of Damage Control (DODC) facilities. Sharing more wouldn’t be cool, but know that there are several well-executed action scenes and a generous heaping of quiet moments dedicated to developing relationships and characters. 

Between Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Wonder Man, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, director Destin Daniel Cretton has proven himself to be a capable director who understands how to play in the big-budget world of the MCU, while still being able to focus on character development (watch Short Term 12). He was originally supposed to direct The Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, but was able to pivot to the box office-friendly world of Spider-Man when Kang’s Dynasty collapsed. Shortly after joining the production, the film was delayed for six months, so Holland and Zendaya could work on The Odyssey. The extra time benefited the film as it gave the crew and writers time to tighten the script and focus on ways to take the production outside to real locations.

The nice thing about Tom Holland is that he could’ve coasted on his charm, but he was driven to take Peter Parker into adulthood. Holland cares about the character, and wasn’t satisfied with phoning it in. He pushed for more practical effects, and the streets of Glasgow, Scotland were well-tread during the production. The action scenes push the narrative forward, and it’s refreshing that there aren’t multiple CGI smack-em-ups. 

The nice part about including The Punisher (Jon Bernthal) in the proceedings is that he grounds the action and adds stakes whenever he’s around. Certain characters could smash with him easily, so watching Spider-Man keep him safe while trying not to get flattened works really well. Bernthal and Holland worked together on 2017’s Pilgrimage and 2026’s The Odyssey, and their familiarity pays on-screen dividends as they seem to genuinely like each other. 

The cinematography by Brett Pawlak (Short Term 12, Just Mercy, Wonderman) leans into his indie sensibilities while still maintaining the clean look of an MCU film. His handheld camera work and close-ups of Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, and Tramell Tillman provide intimacy for their characters (They can all hold the screen), and occasionally make audiences forget that they’re watching a massive blockbuster.

Final Thoughts – It’s worth a trip to the theaters.