Spider-Man: Brand New Day Review: Tom Holland's Biggest Action Spectacle Yet – But Is That Enough?

Movie Name: Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Release Date: July 30, 2026
Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando, Mark Ruffalo
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Producers: Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal, Avi Arad, Rachel O’Connor
Music Director: Michael Giacchino
Cinematographer: Brett Pawlak
Editors: Nat Sanders, Gina Sansom, Harry Yoon

Related Links: Trailer

Spider-Man: Brand New Day hit theatres with sky-high expectations, thanks to the massive popularity of Tom Holland's Spider-Man. Packed with action, emotion, and familiar faces, does the latest Marvel outing deliver what fans have been waiting for? Here's our review.

Story:

Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man (Tom Holland), starts experiencing strange changes in his powers and struggles to understand what's happening to him. At the same time, the Department of Damage Control (DDC) comes under attack from an invisible telepath searching for V-MAX. Who is this mysterious attacker? What is V-MAX? How Spider-Man faces this growing threat forms the heart of the story.

Plus Points:

A Spider-Man movie is expected to deliver thrilling superhero action, and Brand New Day gets that part right for the most part. The opening portions establish the conflict well and smoothly lead into a series of entertaining action sequences.

The biggest highlight of the film is undoubtedly its action. Whether it's Spider-Man's massive face-off with Hulk or the stylish battles against The Hand, every action sequence is mounted on a grand scale and packed with energy. These moments keep the entertainment level consistently high.

The emotional moments don't always hit the mark, but a few scenes do manage to connect. Spider-Man's confrontations with the morally grey Jean Grey (Sadie Sink) add some curiosity, while his scenes with MJ (Zendaya) bring warmth and emotional balance to the story.

Tom Holland once again shines as Spider-Man, effortlessly balancing humour, emotion, and action. Zendaya does a decent job despite her limited screen presence, while Jon Bernthal and Mark Ruffalo leave a solid impression in their respective roles.

Minus Points:

The screenplay turns out to be the film's biggest weakness. The story is built around a fairly simple premise, and apart from the action episodes, there are very few surprises. The narrative follows a predictable path for most of its runtime.

The revenge angle had the potential to deliver strong emotional impact, but the writing never explores it deeply enough. Because of this, the central conflict doesn't carry the weight it should. Despite playing a key role in the story, Sadie Sink delivers a fairly ordinary performance, making Jean Grey less memorable than expected.

The screenplay also leaves several important questions unanswered. The DDC's pursuit of the telepathic character isn't explored convincingly, while Hulk's subplot doesn't receive a satisfying payoff. Likewise, Punisher and the new Black Widow feel more like additions to expand the Marvel universe than characters who make a meaningful impact on the main story.

Jacob Batalon performs well as Ned, but the character isn't given enough scope to leave an emotional impact. Although his role improves slightly in the second half, the emotional payoff still feels underwhelming.

Technical Aspects:

Director Destin Daniel Cretton, who earlier impressed audiences with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, delivers a visually impressive film that prioritises spectacle over storytelling. While the action sequences are executed effectively, the screenplay lacks the emotional depth needed to make the overall experience truly memorable.

Brett Pawlak's cinematography stands out as one of the film's strongest technical assets, capturing every action sequence with style and clarity. The visual effects are polished and blend naturally into the narrative. However, the editing could have been tighter, especially during the slower portions.

The action choreography by Peng Zhang and the Jackie Chan Stunt Team deserves special praise for delivering exciting and well-executed set pieces throughout the film. Michael Giacchino's background score supports the action effectively, although it doesn't leave a lasting impact.

Verdict:

Overall, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a decent superhero entertainer that relies heavily on its action. Tom Holland once again delivers a confident performance, and the thrilling action sequences offer enough excitement to keep audiences invested. However, a predictable screenplay, an underdeveloped central conflict, and the limited use of its supporting characters stop the film from reaching the standards set by the franchise's best entries. Spider-Man fans are likely to enjoy the ride, while others may find it a decent one-time watch that works mainly because of its action-packed spectacle.