I didn’t expect to be able to catch Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) in the cinema. When my surgery got cancelled last minute, I was actually very relieved that it meant I could watch both The Odyssey (2026) as the new Spider-Man movie on the big screen.

I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since we first saw Tom Holland take on the mantle of Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War (2016). It’s truly crazy how time flies. Even though Tobey Maguire is still my favorite Spidey, I did catch all of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man movies (including the Avenger related ones) in the cinema. I was eager to find out how his story would continue. So of course I got tickets for the Dutch premiere night in my local cinema.

Did Spider-Man: Brand New Day offer a satisfying continuation, especially after that heavy final act in the previous movie? Is this truly a brand new day? Let’s get into it!

WARNING: This post contains spoilers !

Plot

It’s been four years since the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). Peter Parker dedicates his life to fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man and by doing so he has become a celebrated hero in New York. Even though he still keeps an eye on Ned and MJ, he has decided to not reveal that they were once very close. But as Peter continues to live an isolated life and a new threat emerges, the pressure of being Spider-Man triggers a dangerous change in him.

Thoughts

Because I initially didn’t think I would be able to catch Brand New Day in the cinema, I didn’t look into the overall plotline too much nor did I watch lots of trailers or clips. As the movie began I immediately noticed the color grading. While the previous movies were very warm and bright, Brand New Day is much colder and darker. I understand this is a deliberate choice by the director and cinematographer. It is supposed to match the personal change Peter Parker goes through in the movie and it indeed perfectly matches his colder, grittier, and more solitary reality.

I thought it was really exciting to see how Spidey executed his combat moves and navigated through New York. They actually drew inspiration from Insomniac’s Spider-Man games on PlayStation. I’ve only played Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018) for a short bit, but my heart skipped a beat when I saw the signature moves. The stunt team analyzed screenshots and digital combat loop, specifically focusing on fluid web-combos and stylish finishing takedowns, and translated them into physical wirework and choreography for the film. Pretty cool!

I quite enjoyed the supporting cast in Brand New Day. I was happy to see Tramell Tillman as Metzger, the director of Damage Control. I adored him as Seth Milchick in Severance (2022). Last year I was pleasantly surprised to see him in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025). I’m curious about his other roles in future movies and can’t wait to catch him in season 2 of Murderbot in 2027.

With a total runtime of 2 hours and 25 minutes Brand New Day is a beefy movie. I do feel a lot got packed into one movie. I don’t mind at all, but I can also imagine some casual viewers might feel a bit overwhelmed. I personally love loads of characters, tie ins to other movies or TV shows, and a movie taking it’s time to tell the story and build up further lore.

Seeing Peter watch from the sidelines as MJ and Ned go through their education at MIT, was just so sad. As someone who is dealing with chronic disease and being tied to a medical timeline, I definitely know the feeling of life passing you by. It made me think of the teenagers that have started their Spidey adventures with Tom Holland a decade ago, now being in their twenties and maybe also having experienced the profound heartache of losing a first love or the pressure of making a life changing decision. I quite liked how the movie tackled the relationship between Peter & MJ and their shared friendship with Ned.

It’s interesting that Jean Grey was introduced in this movie, especially since she is part of the X-Men reboot scheduled for a 2028 release. I’ve never been a fan of Jean, because I’m a total Storm fangirl obviously. But, I was very impressed by the way they introduced her in Brand New Day. Her back story and that reveal really hit me hard in the feels. I had to blink hard behind my 3D glasses, trying push back my tears. I definitely didn’t expect Jean to have the most emotional story arch in the movie. It was very well done.

Verdict

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) not only managed to tell a great Spider-Man story that builds upon all the previous movies starring Tom Holland as Spidey, it actually made me excited about the Marvel Cinematic Universe again. I’m eager to find out where Spider-Man is heading, especially after Ned’s Spidey tracker sees him going off world in the post credit scene.