Almost five years after the multiversal crossover hit Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man has returned to the big screen. In sharp departure from the teen-comedy tone of Jon Watts’ Spider-Man Home trilogy, Destin Daniel Cretton’s Brand New Day offers a more mature, grittier version of the beloved superhero character giving MCU fans what they’ve long been asking for.
Picking up where No Way Home left off, Brand New Day finds Peter Parker living alone in his modest New York City apartment. Meanwhile, MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon), Peter’s former girlfriend and best friend who possess zero memory of him (along with the rest of the world), are away studying at MIT. Besides his routine work calls with Detective Jean DeWolff (Liza Colón-Zayas) and his checking up on MJ and Ned via social media updates and occasional bodega run-ins, Peter keeps to himself entirely, completely dialed in on being Spider-Man.
Catching us up to speed on the last four years, the film opens with a montage of fight sequences between Spider-Man and some of his most iconic villains, recreating classic Spider-Man comic book covers such as Amazing Fantasy #15 and those featuring Tarantula, Boomerang, Scorpion, and Ramrod. Notably, Peter’s Brand New Day Spider-Man suit foregoes Stark tech for comic book accuracy, detailed with raised webbing and textured fabric that ripples in the wind. What’s more, the film isn’t shy about including Peter’s web-slinging across New York City, further characterizing him as your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
That said, living in isolation and neglecting his own humanity proves to have major consequences on Peter’s physical and mental state, as he begins to undergo a spider puberty of sorts. His arachnid hormone levels are off the charts, and he’s dangerously slipping into depression. Peter’s battle with loneliness and grief, however, serves as an interesting parallel to that of Jean Grey’s (Sadie Sink), a not-so-well-kept-secret character that carries a share of the film’s emotional weight.
Other supporting characters include Frank Castle/The Punisher (Jon Bernthal), who adds some much-needed comedic relief to the otherwise bleak storyline. As Peter and Frank continually bicker over what really went down on Staten Island, Holland and Bernthal’s chemistry jumps off the screen. There’s also Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), whom many fans will be happy to hear has returned to his Savage Hulk ways, throwing Smart Hulk out the window. Yelena Belova/Black Widow (Florence Pugh) also makes an appearance, with her scenes taking place at a Russian bathhouse being some of the most memorable.
Overall, despite Grey’s inclusion in the film practically coming as a surprise to no one, her powers and skillset do result in a few gasp-worthy moments throughout. As for Peter’s relationship with MJ and Ned, the film does a commendable job of reintroducing him into their lives without rushing into anything too soon. Ultimately, Brand New Day is the grounded Spider-Man story that the MCU has long been missing, encompassing a good amount of action and solid emotional stakes. As for Holland’s performance as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, it’s undoubtedly his best to date, as the character makes a return to his street-level roots.
Although what’s next for the web-slinger isn’t exactly clear, it’s likely we haven’t seen the last of Holland’s Spider-Man, considering Brand New Day set a record for the highest U.S. domestic opening weekend in box office history. The British actor himself has also teased bringing Miles Morales into the MCU, leaving fans with lots to theorize about and much to look forward to.
Featured Image: Courtesy of Sony Pictures – © Sony Pictures
Taylor Graham is a student at Columbia University, majoring in Film and Media Studies with a minor in Political Science. She has reported for numerous publications, including the Valencia Voice, Glitter Magazine, and Heritage Radio Network, and is currently the 150th Arts and Culture Editor for the Columbia Daily Spectator, one of the oldest college newspapers in the nation. With a passion for storytelling in the digital age, Taylor covers all things entertainment, from film and television to media and pop culture, interviewing professional actors, musicians, and content creators alike. When she’s not writing her next film review or feature story on an emerging artist, Taylor can be found playing tennis, reading literary fiction, or thrift shopping in NYC.