Spider-Man: Brand New Day First Reviews: The Most Grounded, Mature Spider-Man Story Yet
Critics say Tom Holland's fourth outing as Peter Parker is another winner, with emotionally satisfying performances, ambitious action, and a few surprises.
Tom Holland and Zendaya star in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which opens this weekend, and the first reviews are now online. The 38th installment of the MCU also loops in Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), The Punisher (Jon Bernthal), and Stranger Things actress Sadie Sink for the latest adventures of the titular web-slinging superhero. Holland is the first Spider-Man to go four solo movies, and the reviews are supportive of the effort, calling it one of the actor and character’s most mature installments yet.
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Here’s what critics are saying about Spider-Man: Brand New Day:
Is it another must-see Marvel movie?
As one of 2026’s most anticipated feature films, Spider-Man: Brand New Day certainly doesn’t disappoint. – Allison Rose, FlickDirect
Brand New Day is a remarkably coherent, often joyful film, dedicated to giving the character some growth and grace. – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
It should give fans what they want, which is a good start. – David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
Brand New Day is watchable without ever being transporting. – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
How does it compare to other Spider-Man movies?
Coming after No Way Home, Spider-Man: Brand New Day can feel like a balm of contemplative drama. – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
It’s the closest the MCU’s Spider-Man has come to capturing the heart and spirit of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, and I can’t think of higher praise than that. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
Of all the Spider-Man films, Brand New Day is the most invested yet in the biological… uniqueness of spiders. – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
What’s the best thing about Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
The entertaining new entry has the good sense to stop banging on about the damn multiverse. – David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
Brand New Day doesn’t aim for galaxy-saving drama; it instead explores what, exactly, keeps Spider-Man swinging — and it’s a better movie for it. – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
Peter’s relationship with M.J. and Ned, because those scenes really deliver to anyone who has been following their story through three previous films. – Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
How is the action?
Destin Daniel Cretton stages the Spidey action with a clever, leaping grandeur that delivers what these movies need to. – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
Destin Daniel Cretton [leans] more heavily into practical filmmaking whenever possible. The result is a series of ambitious set pieces that demand remarkable precision from everyone involved, and the execution is consistently outstanding. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
[There’s] some spectacularly choreographed, gravity-defying wire-fu fight action. – David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
Is it a more emotionally moving Spider-Man movie?
It offers… some of the strongest emotional moments of any MCU movie to date. – Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
It’s Peter Parker’s most personal and emotionally resonant journey to date. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
The spiky camaraderie between this more mature Spider-Man and rough-hewn vigilante Frank provides an extra dose of heart. – David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
The movie is more busy and self-serious than it is emotionally involving. – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
How is Tom Holland’s performance as Peter Parker this time around?
Never better. – David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
Holland once again delivers a strong performance as Spider-Man. – Allison Rose, FlickDirect
Holland delivers his most grounded and emotionally resonant portrayal of the character to date. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
Is there enough of him with Zendaya and Jacob Batalon?
The trio delivers some of their finest work together yet, proving once again why they’re among the MCU’s most endearing ensembles. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
The scenes between Holland, Zendaya, and Batalon are the film’s best, even if those three together is far less than in any previous movie. – Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
Who else stands out in the cast?
Bernthal might be the cast highlight: It’s pure pleasure to watch Frank and Peter yell at each other. – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
Mark Ruffalo’s brief but effective return as Bruce Banner continues to reinforce why he remains one of the MCU’s most valuable supporting players. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
Is there anything you’re allowed to say about Sadie Sink’s intro in the MCU?
Sadie Sink is absolute perfection in her “wink wink” role. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
As it turns out, Sink was some of the most inspired casting for the MCU maybe since Holland was cast as Spider-Man. – Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
She is extremely well cast, making her character all the more believable. – Allison Rose, FlickDirect
How does the movie look?
Cinematographer Brett Pawlak deserves tremendous credit for crafting one of the MCU’s best-looking films in years. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
It’s one of the better-looking mostly daylight superhero films, avoiding some of the problems of so many MCU movies all looking the same. – Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
The special effects are very well done for the most part, with only a few moments here or there that shout green screen. Otherwise, the cinematography and effects are great. – Allison Rose, FlickDirect
How is the music?
Another killer score by Michael Giacchino. – Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
Cretton’s biggest asset in balancing the tone between excitement and tenderness is Michael Giacchino’s excellent score. – David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
While I still rank it as the weakest of his four Spider-Man scores, “weakest” is relative here, as it remains stronger than most superhero scores produced today. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
Does it have any major problems?
If the movie is fun at times, it’s also arduous, overly episodic and half an hour too long. – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
The screenplay occasionally feels overstuffed, leading to an unnecessary two-and-a-half-hour runtime. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
Will it tide us over until Avengers: Doomsday?
If this truly is the blueprint for Marvel’s future, then perhaps a brand new day has finally arrived. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in theaters on July 31, 2026. Buy tickets on Fandango.
