10 Best Moments Of Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Spider-Man: Brand New Day

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had an up and down time in the years since the release of Avengers: Endgame. The post-Endgame era started off strong in 2021, but hit more than a few snags afterward. But it's had some key wins too, the latest of which is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has been a record-breaking success for Marvel Studios - and for good reason.

Its box office revenue and positive audience reviews speak volumes about what Marvel was able to put together for Tom Holland's fourth solo outing as the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. In less than a week, Brand New Day already broke $1 billion at the worldwide box office, and, in the process, shattered Avengers: Endgame's opening weekend record.

Those numbers go hand-in-hand with what audiences have been saying about the movie thus far. Brand New Day currently sports an impressive 90% Rotten Tomatoes score, which ranks it quite high in comparison to other MCU movies. And its Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes is even better, as the film now sits at 98%.

Between emotional story moments and epic set pieces, Brand New Day offered all sorts of memorable scenes that contributed to the movie's standing as one of the very best in Spider-Man history.

Jean Grey Speaks With Aunt May

Many suspected that the villain of Brand New Day was Jean Grey, and those fan theories ultimately came to fruition. In the film’s second act, it’s revealed that Jean Grey is the person who is jumping into the minds of other people, controlling them and forcing them to do her bidding.

However, much like in the original X-Men films (and, more broadly, the comics), Jean Grey wasn’t the villain that she was being made out to be. Instead, Grey was just a scared young woman with powers she couldn’t fully control, and hurting over the loss of her sister. That makes Jean Grey’s story a tragedy more than anything else.

Grey eventually turns good with the help of Spider-Man and, in particular, Aunt May. Marisa Tomei reprises her role as the character for a flashback sequence in which she speaks with both Peter and Jean Grey. It’s from this emotional conversation that Grey comes around to what Peter is saying. It’s a heartfelt, gut-wrenching scene, and is one of its most memorable.

Peter Reunites With MJ (But It’s Really Jean Grey)

Brand New Day subverts expectations when it comes to the relationship between MJ and Peter Parker. One would be forgiven for thinking that MJ and Peter getting back together in the new film would be a guarantee, yet the two don’t reunite in the way many fans would have hoped for.

The most that fans get is a scene in which Peter believes he’s speaking with MJ, only to realize that it’s actually Jean Grey. Even if it’s only for a brief moment, the return of MJ and Peter’s relationship is a welcome one, and this scene also hits incredibly hard because of the Jean Grey reveal.

Spider-Man Versus The Hulk

One of the biggest characters in the marketing campaign for Brand New Day is Mark Ruffalo’s the Hulk. He ends up having a smaller role in the film than many would have expected, but the Hulk is given the chance to shine in one big action sequence that takes place in the film’s second act.

In the sequence, Jean Grey takes the restraining device off of Bruce Banner’s wrist, which allows the Hulk to take over. Grey is using the Hulk to cause havoc in the Department of Damage Control building, and the green monster then goes up against both Spider-Man and the Punisher, who both try to stop him. It’s a scene that feels as if it’s been ripped straight from the comics, and in the best of ways.

Spider-Man And Ned Build LEGOs

One of the smaller moments in the film, Spider-Man goes to Ned’s apartment when he brings MJ back. Peter is still reeling from the emotionally devastating conversation he had with MJ, but his spirits are raised when he reunites with Ned. The two go back to their roots when they build a Star Wars LEGO with one another. It’s a small scene, but one that highlights the backbone of the MCU Spider-Man films — the relationship between Peter and Ned.

Spider-Man Speaks To Jean Grey At The Department Of Damage Control

For much of the film, Spider-Man believes that Jean Grey is the enemy. However, he eventually realizes that the Department of Damage Control are lying to him, so he goes back to their headquarters to rescue Grey and take her out of harms way. Grey initially greets Spider-Man with anger, but Peter softly speaks to her to convince her to stop the violence.

The scene is one of Brand New Day’s best, and for many reasons. It perfectly captures not just one, but two of the biggest characters in Marvel history. Peter Parker is not only one of the strongest Marvel heroes, but he’s also one of the kindest as well. His genuine nature shines through in this scene, as does the pain and suffering that go hand in hand with Jean Grey’s story.

MJ And Peter Have A Heart To Heart

When Peter comes back from another battle with Jean Grey, he finds MJ reading the letter he wrote to her. The conversation that follows is gut-wrenching, as MJ declares that her past self loved Peter, but her current self doesn’t even know him. This scene isn’t an easy watch, but it ranks among the film’s best because of the strong emotions attached to it.

Spider-Man Versus The Hand

The Hand are a lingering presence in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. They now work for the Department of Damage Control, and Jean Grey takes over their collective minds when she breaks out of her shackles. Spider-Man then fights The Hand in a tense battle that is one of the best directed action sequences in recent years of the MCU.

Spider-Man Versus Classic Villains Montage

The beginning of Brand New Day feels like it’s pulled directly from a comic book. Spider-Man is seen going up against a number of classic villains, including Scorpion, Tarantula, Tombstone, and more. It’s classic Spider-Man, and in the best of ways.

Peter Walks Out Of Hospital To A Crowd of Spider-Man Fans

After helping Jean Grey escape (and surviving a gunshot wound from Frank Castle), Peter leaves the hospital to a crowd of Spider-Man fans. It’s at this moment that he truly sees what Spider-Man means to the city, and an interaction with a young child who makes the web hand movement caps the scene off. It’s heartwarming and epic all at the same time, highlighting the very best traits of Spider-Man as a character.

Ned Remembers Peter

The best scene in Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the very last. Peter sees Ned at a store, and he initiates their classic handshake. Through muscle memory, Ned remembers the handshake, and it’s through this interaction that he remembers Peter Parker once again.