Spider-Man: Brand New Day Reviews: Mature, But Busy

Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the 38th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, opens this weekend with first reviews hailing it as the most mature and grounded Spider-Man story yet. Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker, now isolated after the memory-erasing events of No Way Home, with Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), The Punisher (Jon Bernthal), and Sadie Sink joining the cast. According to Rotten Tomatoes' roundup, critics describe it as 'emotionally stirring' (Hoai-Tran Bui, Inverse) and 'one of the highlights of the whole franchise' (William Bibbiani, TheWrap).

However, not all reviews are unqualified. Owen Gleiberman of Variety calls the film 'watchable without ever being transporting,' while Time magazine's excerpt criticizes the 'excessively busy mechanics' and 'elaborately fake-looking special effects.' The Time review notes that the plot is hard to explain without spoilers but emphasizes that the movie 'is so filled with truisms, plot machinations, and ricocheting feelings that it’s sometimes hard to focus on the core story.' Despite this, many agree it offers a different kind of fan service than No Way Home, honoring the character's legacy (Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics).

The narrative picks up four years after the end of 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Peter's best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) and girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) had their memories of him erased. He now lives in isolation, though still dedicated to crime-fighting. Director Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi) and writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers craft a story that 'gives us the Spidey we want,' per Inverse. This marks Holland's fourth solo Spider-Man movie, a first for the character on screen.

Brand New Day arrives amid ongoing discussions about superhero fatigue, but its strong early reviews suggest it may reinvigorate interest. The film's emotional focus on Peter's loneliness and growth contrasts with the multiverse spectacle of No Way Home, potentially broadening its appeal. As one critic notes, 'We don’t get many great MCU movies anymore. That this is one of the highlights of the whole franchise feels amazing' (William Bibbiani).