WNN Monday Movie Review: Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Cherryville, NC (WNN) - Released in theaters on July 31, 2026, by Sony Pictures - Marvel Studios, Spider-Man: Brand New Day stars Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Mando, and Tramell Tillman. Holland returns as Peter Parker and Spider-Man, while Zendaya and Batalon reprise their roles as MJ and Ned.

No Spoiler Plot

The movie begins with a promising idea: Peter is living alone and fighting crime in a world where MJ, Ned, and everyone else have forgotten him. That setup should have produced an emotional and focused Spider-Man story. Instead, the film is surprisingly slow to start, somewhat boring, and overstuffed like a soap opera.

Holland remains convincing as Peter Parker, particularly in the quieter scenes that deal with loneliness and isolation. Unfortunately, the movie repeatedly strays from those moments to introduce more characters, action sequences, and connections to the larger Marvel universe.

Spider-Man Poster 2 (2026)

Marvel Studios

Lack of Memorable Villain

The film's greatest weakness is the absence of a memorable new central villain. Spider-Man's best movies have featured opponents such as the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, the Vulture, and Mysterio. This movie contains threats and antagonists, but no memorable villain emerges.

The soundtrack is equally forgettable. There is no standout theme, song, or musical moment that remains with the audience after leaving the theater.

Rated PG-13, the film also contains profanity; parents of younger children should be aware. Because Spider-Man naturally attracts families and little ones, some of the language may come as an unexpected and unnecessary surprise.

Box Office Financial Hit

Despite its weaknesses, the film was a commercial success. It earned approximately $360.1 million domestically this past weekend and approximately $932 million worldwide, giving it one of the largest global debuts in movie history.

Those numbers demonstrate the tremendous popularity of Spider-Man and the loyalty of Marvel's audience. They do not necessarily make the movie itself memorable.

Die-hard Marvel and Spider-Man fans may enjoy the familiar actors, characters, and franchise connections. Casual viewers may find little reason to revisit a film with a dull storyline, no memorable villain, unexpected profanity, and an unremarkable soundtrack. It seemed more like a filler movie to continue the Spider-Man and Marvel universe. 

Spider-Man Poster 3 (2026)

Marvel Studios

The Hoot Review Scale

• 5 Hoots - Outstanding filmmaking with emotional or cultural impact
• 4 hoots - Great movie with some minor flaws.  Would recommend to a friend.
• 3 Hoots.  Enjoyable, but not groundbreaking. 
• 2 Hoots - It was okay, but it falls short of expectations or potential. 
• 1 Hoot - Weak story and/or poor execution. 

It's rated 3 Hoots out of 5 

In the end, I give Spider-Man: Brand New Day 3 Hoots. The record-breaking box-office opening may be more memorable than the movie itself. I'm sure Spider-Man fans anxiously await the next one, which may be "out of this world." If you see this Spider-Man movie, let us know what you think and share it with the links below.