SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY – Review by Susan Kamyab
Like many fans, I thought Spider-Man: No Way Home was the perfect conclusion to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy. It also seemed like both Holland and his co-star—and now real-life wife—Zendaya were ready to move on to other projects, a decision that has clearly paid off given their continued success. While I still believe No Way Home wrapped up this version of Spider-Man’s story beautifully, I must admit that the latest installment is a surprisingly solid sequel. It expands the character’s journey in an unexpected way and, by the end, left me genuinely interested in seeing where this Spider-Man goes next.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set several years after the events Spider-Man: Now Way Home and finds Peter Parker embracing life as New York’s anonymous, full-time friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. With the world having forgotten who he is, Peter struggles to move forward while watching the people he once loved continue their lives without him. But when a mysterious new threat emerges, one with the ability to jump from person to person and take obsession of them, Peter is forced to confront not only a dangerous enemy, but also the emotional weight of the life he sacrificed. As the stakes continue to rise, Brand New Day shifts its focus from multiversal spectacle to a more grounded, character-driven story about identity, loneliness, and what it truly means to be Spider-Man.
Right off the bat, I was grateful that the multiverse was left completely out of this story. We’ve had enough Marvel movies jumping through timelines and alternate dimensions. I appreciated the simplicity of the plot here, and while some fans may be taken aback by the film’s mellow, almost therapeutic approach, it makes sense. Considering everything Peter Parker sacrificed in the last film, it is only natural that this chapter would focus on how those events have impacted him emotionally.
The addition of Frank Castle, brilliantly portrayed by Jon Bernthal, serves as an excellent mirror for Peter—a glimpse into just how lonely the life of a hero can become. While the film’s sentimental tone is prevalent and may keep it from being one of the franchise’s most rewatchable entries, it is also what makes this story resonate.
Even though the film maintains a steady pace throughout, there are several moments that swing high enough to make Brand New Day stand out. First one being, Tom Holland’s performance. He continues to effortlessly embody Peter Parker, bringing empathy, vulnerability, and heart to the role. While Holland and Bernthal deliver plenty of laughs together, it is Peter’s reunion with his longtime friends, Ned (Jacob Batalon) and MJ (Zendaya), that provide the film’s biggest emotional highs. The way things are left between Peter and each of them by the end is exactly why I’d love to see the trio together one more time in another Spider-Man movie—or even see their friendships continue to grow in another Marvel film.
When the action does kick in, the film is thrilling, but those moments are few and far between. This is far more of a character study than a traditional superhero blockbuster. The humor is sprinkled throughout, the action satisfies when it is needed, but it is the emotional journey that ultimately carries this thoughtful and heartfelt story about our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
