It’s finally here, and judging by initial reactions, it’s going to be a monster hit.
Sony and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day held its glitzy, star-packed world premiere at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on Monday night, and not long after the screening ended, the first reactions began to flood social media.
Destin Daniel Cretton‘s Brand New Day is the fourth standalone Spider-Man film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — as well as the 38th film overall in the MCU — and picks up the action after 2021’s near $2 billion-grossing Spider-Man: No Way Home. The films once again are led by Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, as well as Zendaya as Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson and Jacob Batalon as Peter’s best friend Ned Leeds.
The MCU’s Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle/Punisher, Michael Mando’s Mac Gargan/Scorpion and Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner/Hulk also appear in the film. New cast members include Severance‘s Tramell Tillman and Stranger Things star Sadie Sink, the latter of whom is playing an unknown character which has led to feverish speculation online.
“Keeping what Sadie’s doing under wraps, you’ll honestly understand when you see the movie. The movie is a better movie if you don’t know certain things,” Cretton said in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
The plot of Brand New Day follows the end of No Way Home, with the world — including MJ and Ned — having forgotten who Peter Parker is. Four years on, Peter is still protecting New York City as Spider-Man and he links up with street vigilante the Punisher to take on the likes of the Scorpion, all while his own powers undergo a new evolution.
Brand New Day is written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, who both co-wrote the other Holland Spider-Man films, including Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). The film is produced Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal, Avi Arad and Rachel O’Connor. The film is part of Phase Six of the MCU and is followed by December’s Avengers: Doomsday in the Marvel continuity.
Full critics reviews for Brand New Day are embargoed till July 28, the movie hits theaters on July 31. Below see a selection of the early social media reaction to the film posted on Monday evening.
Don’t mind me. I’m just sitting here crying after watching #SpidermanBrandNewDay
It’s a massive movie that balances like 5 different through lines in equal measure, each better than the last. It can feel a little overwhelming but it all comes together so beautifully it works. pic.twitter.com/5dHvcF58Sk
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) July 28, 2026
My flabber has been ghasted. I loved #SpiderManBrandNewDay! Destin Daniel Cretton and Tom Holland put their hearts and souls into this thing, and it pays off HUGE! This movie is going to be massive and we’re going to be talking about it for a while. I was floored by how well… pic.twitter.com/lO0I9thr3m
— Adam Hlaváč (@adamhlavac) July 28, 2026
SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY is a much more cerebral followup than the crowd pleasing No Way Home. It’s Tom Holland’s best performance as Peter Parker and the best Spider-Man movie since Raimi’s SPIDER-MAN 2. Also the costume finally looks incredible #spidermanbrandnewday
— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) July 28, 2026
It really is a brand new day for Peter Parker as Destin Daniel Cretton takes over for Jon Watts in the director’s chair for SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY. Cretton brings a more grounded, back-to-basics approach to the beloved web-slinger, making this fourth standalone film feel like… pic.twitter.com/d3DNxiyBHA
— Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) July 28, 2026
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is an ambitious, mature take on Peter Parker, finally trusting him to (mostly) stand on his own. Cretton crafts excellent scenes of Spidey’s powers, and the emotional beats rank among the MCU’s best. Easily Tom Holland’s most varied, confident MCU work. pic.twitter.com/FQDCM9sXcR
— Brandon Lewis (@blewis1103) July 28, 2026
Peter Parker is changing, and so is the ‘Spider-Man’ franchise. #SpiderManBrandNewDay is the most emotional, most mature and most atmospheric installment in the franchise. It’ll meet your expectations in some places and defy them in others. pic.twitter.com/iA0XsLl9rL
— Brian Davids (@PickYourBrian) July 28, 2026
SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY is absolutely fantastic. Far and away a favorite of the recent MCU installments.
It’s largely about the importance of work-life balance and community, and, OH MY, do writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers ensure those ideas hit hard. Can’t believe how… pic.twitter.com/84rlnO6nl7
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) July 28, 2026
#SpiderManBrandNewDay is not only Tom Holland’s best Spider-Man movie, it’s one of the best Spider-Man films period.
Super emotional and heartfelt, packed with unforgettable moments and an amazing direction, it perfectly captures what makes Peter Parker such an enduring hero. I… pic.twitter.com/HHLJHfDrd1
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) July 28, 2026
Saw Spider-Man Brand New Day tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it. Felt like a throwback to the kind of effortlessly charming and entertaining movie that defined the golden era of the MCU. Excited to check it out again this weekend.
— Eric Vespe (@EricVespe) July 28, 2026
#SpidermanBrandNewDay is an absolute thrill ride that is bumpy along the way. Destin Daniel Cretton brings us a side of the webslinger we haven’t seen explored since Raimi in Spider-Man 2. Holland is given a chance to share beautiful one-on-one moments with everyone on screen 1/2 pic.twitter.com/Weo789fsqT
— Matt Thomas (@WATmovies_Matt) July 28, 2026
#SpiderManBrandNewDay is the Spider-Man movie WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. Destin Daniel Cretton delivers a purely Spidey focused story that swings the franchise in a fresh, mature new direction. It’s the superhero film of THIS GENERATION and Tom Holland’s best outing yet. pic.twitter.com/2vdXTHmdug
— Daniel Baptista • The Movie Podcast (@dbapz) July 28, 2026
My reaction to Spider-Man Brand New Day — no spoilers don’t worry!
An emotionally meaty dwelling on loneliness and suppressing what we truly are. With incredible stunts, VFX, and coloring, it’s the best looking Spider-Man film since the Raimi era. The webbing has never been… pic.twitter.com/hK9MpIaWRv
— Erik Voss (@eavoss) July 28, 2026
Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day injects a ferocious energy into Spidey’s latest adventure, delivering all the thrills you’d expect from a Tom Holland Spider-Man movie while feeling deeper, more thoughtful and more mature than the previous trilogy.
That… pic.twitter.com/ejzaeoVape
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) July 28, 2026
#SpiderMan Brand New Day is a mixed bag. It evokes the very best and the very worst of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. The first 20 minutes are quintessential comic book Spidey and do for Spider-Man what the first 20 minutes of Matt Reeves’ The Batman did for Batman. The film… pic.twitter.com/Ou2HbF3Wlh
— The HoloFiles – Movie/TV News & Reviews (@theholofiles) July 28, 2026
Review embargo on Tuesday morning.
But I can say… this is, with due respect to 3 very good directors, the best directed Spider-Man movie today. Destin Daniel Cretton delivers a movie that feels less like IP – as broad as the action is – and more like a movie. Very impressive.
— David Poland (@DavidPoland) July 28, 2026
#SpiderManBrandNewDay definitely has some thrilling action sequences that are very well shot, thankfully, and some solid emotional character moments. My review sometime tomorrow.
— Gene Park 🔜 OTAKON (@GenePark) July 28, 2026
#SpiderManBrandNewDay might be the best live-action film since Spider-Man 2. A patient, character-driven blockbuster that humanizes Holland’s Peter more than ever. Significant action and significant emotion. pic.twitter.com/hacx5zSYCr
— 𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣 𝘿𝙤𝙩𝙨𝙤𝙣 (@JohnMovieWatch) July 28, 2026
Definitely an improvement from the last two. Very very messy but still very fun. Kinda disappointing that the Spidey villains are more like afterthoughts here.
Holland and Bernthal are so great together, that should have been the whole movie. https://t.co/r1vXDyfhAS
— Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) July 28, 2026
#SpiderManBrandNewDay is an emotional triumph. A juggernaut of a film that truly feels like a comic book come to life.
Tom Holland’s Peter Parker is at the top of his game. Jon Bernthal’s Punisher shines on the big screen. No need to stress about too many villains. Man, it’s… pic.twitter.com/4SHggQHkNR
— Pamela Gores (@pamelagores) July 28, 2026
SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY — Marvel dials back the multiverse tedium for a grounded Spider-Man tale that’s back to the grungy city roots of the comic book hero we knew and loved. Tom Holland finally nails the sarcasm, angst and love hassles of Spidey/Peter Parker as Stan Lee… pic.twitter.com/EuliPdmkqo
— Peter Howell 🖊 (@peterhowellfilm) July 28, 2026
Spider-Man: Brand New Day simply FEELS like Spider-Man stories should. Grounded, earnest, and fun, with a strong moral core. Tom Holland reminds audiences why his Peter Parker is so beloved, and Jon Bernthal is a huge standout—letting The Punisher be funny was a fantastic choice. pic.twitter.com/FeOTNsHpvQ
— Gillian Blum (@GillianBlum) July 28, 2026
Brand New Day is a banger. I’d say second-best Spider-Man movie after Raimi’s Spider-Man 2
— Brian Hiatt (@hiattb) July 28, 2026
Spider-Man: Brand New Day somehow manages to top No Way Home as my new favorite Spider-Man film and the best Marvel movie to date. The secret sauce with this one is the emotional weight of the screenplay. You really feel the pain and sorrow that Peter is feeling and the scenes… pic.twitter.com/Ox8jIR4IpL
— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) July 28, 2026
Just saw Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
It’s the most “OMG THEY ACTUALLY NAILED THE SPIRIT OF SPIDER-MAN IN LIVE ACTION,” movie since The Amazing Spider-Man 2, except it’s not a BAD movie and it is actually AWESOME.
This is a tweet for people that know me.
This movie RULES. pic.twitter.com/nFp3X6Aes1
— Tim Gettys (@TimGettys) July 28, 2026
#SpiderManBrandNewDay swings high as one of the MCU’s strongest films yet. Awesome camerawork, stunning visuals, heartfelt performances, and surprises that genuinely land. It captures everything that makes Spider-Man special while pushing the character forward. pic.twitter.com/4KEcaUixO8
— alex 👽 (@alexkokz) July 28, 2026
#SpiderManBrandNewDay is the most grounded, emotional, and mature Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man story the MCU has delivered.
This is the Spider-Man movie fans have been waiting for. A relatable story about grief, loneliness, and the burden of pushing yourself too far, not… pic.twitter.com/35VI5xgC63
— Nibbles & Flicks (@NibblesNFlix) July 28, 2026
#SpiderManBrandNewDay is easily the best Spider-Man movie yet. Incredible action, real emotional stakes, huge surprises, and Peter & Frank steal every scene together. This is THE summer movie of the year! Tom Holland and Sadie Sink are incredible in this film! pic.twitter.com/6o96kUoWwW
— Joseph Deckelmeier (@joedeckelmeier) July 28, 2026
#SpiderManBrandNewDay is exactly the refresher Marvel needed. Tom Holland has never been better and the Spidey-Punisher pairing is pure gold. Destin Daniel Cretton outdoes himself, but the script is the real superhero- thrilling, heartfelt and confidently character driven. pic.twitter.com/HjxUeVO59n
— Kevin Verma (@KevOnFilm) July 28, 2026
In #SpiderManBrandNewDay, Peter Parker finds himself in need of a helping hand as he fights to keep his forgotten identity from succumbing to a grab-bag script of MCU growing pains. Certainly not amazing nor spectacular, but maybe the funniest Takis commercial ever produced. pic.twitter.com/1xWuZxljLJ
— Eric Marchen (@EM6211) July 28, 2026
#SpidermanBrandNewDay: Folks, Marvel has made a Real Movie™ for the third time since 2018. Basically the PS5 games brought to life, and EXTREMELY Matrix: Reloaded-coded (complimentary). The best of the MCU Spidey films by a mile, and Tom Holland’s best effort as Peter Parker pic.twitter.com/bEeJxhWpdr
— Jeremy Mathai (@Somthin_Tookish) July 28, 2026
SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY is amazing. Major beats weave together in a shockingly cohesive way for a comic movie of this scale. It’s about charting a future for Spidey – less focus on nostalgia (e.g. No Way Home). Finally a great NYC Spidey MCU movie! #Spidermanbrandnewday pic.twitter.com/Cg9mYXQJVh
— Drew Munhausen (@drewmunhausen) July 28, 2026
#SpidermanBrandNewDay may be the most Marvel Marvel movie I’ve ever marveled. Destin Daniel Cretton honors beloved #Spiderman media – especially Raimi- to create something soulful + thrilling. Hulk, Punisher deliver. Big reveal lives up. The best of the Tom Holland spidey series pic.twitter.com/3fstVjrszd
— Brandon Pope TV (@BpopeTV) July 28, 2026
#SpiderManBrandNewDay is truly a special watch. You really understand why Spider-Man is such an important character after watching. The way it navigates mental health and friendship is so well done. A really fun, emotional and beautiful time at the cinema 🥹
— Cam Walsh (@CamWalsh27) July 28, 2026
#spidermanbrandnewday is Tom Holland’s Spidey at his absolute best… Peter’s struggles here, in the vein of Tobey’s in SM2, are as emotionally resonant as they have ever been. This is far and away his most personal journey. It also features the BEST action we have ever seen from… pic.twitter.com/TLjVaZEY0W
— Austin Burke (@theBurk3nator) July 28, 2026
I’m under embargo for #SpiderMan
Going to post my review at 9am est
Do I… maybe have a favorite new movie for the year?!?! It’s a tight race…
— Grace Randolph (@GraceRandolph) July 28, 2026
https://twitter.com/helloimjlaw/status/2081969082467815739?s=20
#spidermanbrandnewday is so damn good. It’s heartfelt & so well written as well as the pacing. The VFX and action is spectacular — like it didn’t feel like a video game like the past. It does give us more questions than answers for the future. #spiderman
— Laura ลอร’า 劳拉 🍥 (@lsirikul) July 28, 2026
#SpiderManBrandNewDay is SPECTACULAR & proves there’s still plenty of fresh web to spin. It’s a personal, grounded story that dives into darker themes while channeling the energy of the Insomniac games through its slick style & exhilarating combat. A SENSATIONAL new chapter! pic.twitter.com/v971JZhBrC
— Shahbaz 🎬 The Movie Podcast (@shayhbaz) July 28, 2026
Spider-Man Brand New Day was exhilarating. The twist reveal was amazing. And those POV web-slinging sequences were super fun. The story this time was extra powerful, it went straight for the jugular. This may well have been the best Spider-Man movie ever. #SpiderManBrandNewDay pic.twitter.com/3tYa5JytuC
— Rama’s Screen (@RamasScreen) July 28, 2026
#SpidermanBrandNewDay is fantastic, no notes. Top tier action! Love how deep the story goes into the consequences of Peter’s choice (from NWH) and how it affects his life as Peter and as Spider-Man. Definitely some tearjerker moment in there. Felt like a mini Avengers film. pic.twitter.com/aRXpXbfDPW
— Wendy Lee Szany (@WendyLeeSzany) July 28, 2026
#SpiderManBrandNewDay! An instant top-ten MCU film for me. Cretton delivers with dynamic action and a surprisingly layered journey for Peter. It takes the classic “broke and lonely” trope and makes it the emotional core of the film. Why do we want this for a hero so selfless? pic.twitter.com/YzxCtTnZOZ
— adam! (@adumbsandler) July 28, 2026
Spider-Man Brand New Day is the best live-action film in the franchise. Destin Cretton reinvents Spidey into the street level relatable hero he was meant to be with NYC * stakes that feel real. Tom Holland feels reinvigorated in the best written & exciting Spidey film #spiderman pic.twitter.com/ZFpXiCH0bz
— Cult Classics (@CultClassicsAZ) July 28, 2026
#SpiderManBrandNewDay runs a little too long as it juggles several storylines, but it’s a fine enough Spider-Man adventure that does show him being a friendly-neighbourhood hero dealing with his own issues, a few of which even call to mind the Raimi films. pic.twitter.com/9f6ceF4bxi
— Stefan Ellison (@MisterCoat) July 28, 2026
#SpiderManBrandNewDay reminded me why the story of Spider-Man resonates w/ me so much. He’s hope. But he’s also painfully human so bring tissues 😭
Also the Tom/Zendaya chemistry was rom-com levels. And we need more Punisher in everything. And Sadie Sink… just wow! Liza too! pic.twitter.com/68jgm3htfs
— Lyra Hale 🇵🇷🏳️🌈✍🏼 (@MsLyraHale) July 28, 2026
Really enjoyed ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’. Director Destin Daniel Cretton understood the assignment. Emotional stuff really hit, and not always undercut by humor. The jokes made also landed too. Character additions all worked great, toed “overstuffed” line but didn’t cross it. pic.twitter.com/KjzCdpIOc5
— Jeff D. Lowe (@JeffDLowe) July 28, 2026
#SpiderManBrandNewDay is easily my favorite Holland-led Spider-Man movie. It isn’t CGI goop or a bunch of fan-service nonsense. It’s exciting, emotional, and the best-looking MCU movie in a long time.
Really good stuff. Had a blast! pic.twitter.com/p4NAkd7yMO
— Kevin Wozniak (@kevflix) July 28, 2026
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a solid new entry for Marvel. The story and themes of loneliness, change, and friendship all hit incredibly hard. It’s a bit overstuffed with too much going on at points. Sadie Sink’s story is the most weighty and shocking. #SpiderManBrandNewDay pic.twitter.com/QO6EKTkgXC
— Hunter Bolding (@HunterBVideo) July 28, 2026
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