‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day Review: Tom Holland And Zendaya Forge A Challenging Path Forward In Dark And Thrilling New Chapter From Marvel Superhero

Following the triple home run act of the Jon Watts/Tom Holland era of Spider-Man movies, 2017’s Homecoming, 2019’s Far From Home, and 2021’s No Way Home, would seem quite daunting on the surface of it. And coming back with a movie that has anywhere near the impact of No Way Home’s untoppable uniting of Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield and Holland would seem a fool’s errand. Perhaps that is why Watts, after three knockout at-bats, has turned over the reins to Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings), even as Holland and original screenwriters of the aforementioned trilogy, Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers, remain on board to try to get lightning strike a fourth time.

Smartly taking it all in a more mature, much darker direction, Cretton, with the help of a crackerjack screenplay, has expertly crafted a Spidey flick that returns the character to his roots as a NYC crimefighter focused more on the job at hand and his now somewhat altered ego in that tight red and blue suit. You will recall that at the end of the last chapter of Marvel‘s and Sony’s live action saga (not to be confused with their equally successful ongoing animated Spider-Verse features) Doctor Strange had cast a spell forcing Spider-Man to save MJ (Zendaya) and best buddy Ned (Jacob Batalon) by erasing all traces of Peter Parker and their memories of ever having known him.

This movie jumping ahead four years finds Parker in a strange new world where his sole identity as far as anyone is concerned is as Spider-Man, ace crime fighter up for the job of keeping the city safe. The world certainly knows him, but Peter Parker might as well have never existed. Picking up the pieces, his beloved Aunt May having died two years earlier, trying to move on but having a very hard time doing just that, we join Peter/Spidey in a true life crisis of identity, a young man cheered for heroism but searching in vain for who he truly is behind the mask. This is a key theme sure to resonate strongly with the young fan base that flocks to every iteration of this franchise. It is a smart direction to keep this venerable superhero from the problems that have afflicted other Marvel staples.

Cretton gets things going with a wowser of an action sequence as Spider-Man, in cahoots with police detective Jean DeWolff (a fine Liza Colon-Zayas) sets out to save the day confronting bad guy Scorpion (Michael Mando) who is on the loose. He also finds himself hilariously undressed in the awkward presence of none other than Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh returning to her Thunderbolts persona). This is an AI world where his new nemesis is, not only the standard-issue baddies he must physically dispatch, but an unseen entity who can take over minds. This is not your father’s regular Spidey villain, but a challenge like he has never had. But who is it, and what is behind it?

As he is dealing with his new life he runs smack into his old one, meaning MJ and Ned who have now lived the dream Spidey had for the three of them, graduating from college into young adulthood and now sharing an apartment. Inviting himself to a party he realizes what he knew would happen. They have no idea who this guy is, as he quickly comes up with a fake name, Maynard, not that they would know who Peter Parker was anyway. A brief glimpse of a romantic moment between MJ and her current boyfriend doesn’t help, but soon he is called to duty to once again save MJ, an event that leads to one of the film’s best scenes as MJ gets a strong vibe she has known Spider-Man before. “Did we go to school together, did we know each other?” she asks. The feeling gets stronger and she demands an unmasking, pulling it down just enough to give him a kiss on the lips and hope for Peter that she does remember. Alas the aforementioned entity has invaded MJ’s mind, if not body, and destroys any idea that this passionate moment was actually real.

His own mental state deteriorating as his transformation into a new level of spiderdom wraps him in webs of denial and questioning what is happening, he visits the classroom of Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) to try and find out the deeper meaning of his changing persona. Who better than the Hulk for that? But it isn’t long before Savage Hulk is unleashed in a another wowser of a battle as Spidey doesn’t know what hit him, but for starters it is green.

Also joining the action is fan favorite from the comics, Frank Castle aka The Punisher (a scene stealing Jon Bernthal) who is a frenemie if ever there was one, an intense guy who makes for an odd couple partner to Spider-Man as they both take on a common enemy. Just who is getting into our minds and controlling us from the inside. This is a telepathic villain with abilities that are going to be very hard to tame.

It is great to see Bernthal in this role because he runs away with the movie, the perfect foil to Spider-Man no doubt, as is the introduction of the mysterious character played to the hilt by Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) who proves without question she has the chops to take on a complex three dimensional role of a young woman whose confused mental state, and own personal loss, makes her every bit as alone as Peter Parker himself has become. I will say no more, but WOW. Also lurking in and out of perhaps a few too many competing story strands (the film is an overlong 2 hours and 25 minutes) is Tramell Tillman as Bill, and a host of others including Marvin Jones III as Tombstone, more villains in briefly, and best of all, the dazzling fighting Ninja Clan known affectionately as The Hand. Their martial arts battle with Spidey is a highlight.

At its heart though is the once and again Spider-Man, Tom Holland, who provides all the requisite humor, heart, and high flying style to make this work so well, graduating to a new level but still retaining what we have related to in the series that just seems to keep getting better. What he and Zendaya (now married in real life) manage to still do chemistry-wise in a plot that seeks to keep them at a distance is no easy feat. Kudos to both as this is a screen teaming that still has a lot of juice.

With production elements that are top of the line, including stunning cinematography from Brett Pawlak, this is indeed a Brand New Day in the cinematic incarnation of Spider-Man. The end credits promise, in pure Bondian fashion that “Spider-Man Will Return”. Stan Lee would be proud.

Producers are Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal, and Rachel O’Connor.

Title: Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Distributor: Sony Pictures

Release Date: July 31, 2026

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

Screenplay: Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers

Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal, Jacob Batalon, Tramell Tillman, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Mando, Marvin Jones III, Liza Colon -Zayas, Florence Pugh, Marisa Tomei.

Rating: PG13

Running Time: 2 hours and 25 minutes