Spider-Man: Brand New Day First Reactions Are Officially In
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is resuming its big-screen stories this summer.
Since the Spider-Man: No Way Home ending in 2021, the world has waited for half a decade to see what is next for Tom Holland's Peter Parker in the MCU. With Phase 6 set to end in 2027, the web-crawler is finally making his big return in what will be one of his most unique chapters of all time.
After a massive marketing campaign, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set to open in theaters this week. However, as several members of the press have been able to see the summer blockbuster early, reactions are now finally rolling out.
ScreenRant's Molly Freeman: "I don't say this lightly: #SpiderManBrandNewDay is the best Spider-Man movie yet. It's the most lived-in Marvel movie, with its MCU connections, but the story is simple. It's character-driven with real stakes. It's what Marvel movies—what ALL superhero movies—should aspire to be."
Forbes' Laura Sirikul: "#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"
Brandon Pope: "#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"
Gotham Geek Girl's Nadya Martinez: "1) Cretton’s #spiderman #BrandNewday is hands down the best @SpiderManMovie since Raimi’s SM2. Genuinely funny & heartfelt, w/ strong character-driven storytelling wholehearted performances. No unnecessary cameos, everything felt connected & meaningful. 2) #spidermanbrandnewday is Beautifully shot, loaded w/exceptional dynamic, fluid & weightless web-slinging, hardcore acrobatic action sequences & amazing vantage points, it felt straight out of insomniac games! Keep giving @destindaniel whatever CB🎥 he wants"
Nerdtropolis' Christopher Gallardo: "SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY is SENSATIONAL in nearly every aspect. Destin Daniel Cretton brings a strong story with many moving parts, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and all confidently reveal new shades to their characters, and the surprises are quite welcome! #SpiderManBrandNewDay"
The Movie Couple's Wendy Lee Szany: "#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."
Gizmodo's Germain Lussier: "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."
Friendly Neighborhood Assessment · MCU Era
Tom Holland's
Spider-Man Trivia
🏠Homecoming2017
✈️Far From Home2019
🌌No Way Home2021
😈VillainsSinister…
🤖MCUAvengers
01
Before getting his own solo film, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut by being recruited by Tony Stark to help in a massive superhero conflict. In which MCU film did Holland first appear as Spider-Man?
✓ Correct! Tom Holland first appeared as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War (2016), where Tony Stark visits Peter in Queens and recruits him for the airport battle against Team Cap. His quippy, starstruck portrayal instantly won over audiences.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Captain America: Civil War. Holland debuted in the 2016 film before Homecoming (2017). He was recruited by Tony Stark for the iconic airport fight scene, stealing Captain America’s shield with his webs in one of the film’s most memorable moments.
02
In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter faces a blue-collar salvage contractor who turned to arms dealing after being shut out of the Chitauri cleanup by Damage Control. Using an alien-tech wingsuit, he becomes one of Spider-Man’s most grounded villains. Who is he?
✓ Correct! Adrian Toomes, played brilliantly by Michael Keaton, is the Vulture — a working-class father who builds a criminal empire selling alien-derived weapons. The twist that he’s the father of Peter’s date Liz is one of the MCU’s best surprises.
✗ Web miss! The answer is The Vulture (Adrian Toomes). The Shocker and Tinkerer are his henchmen in the film, and Scorpion (Mac Gargan) only briefly appears. Toomes is the main antagonist who personally confronts Peter in the unforgettable car ride scene.
03
Tony Stark built Peter a high-tech suit loaded with features Peter didn’t even know about, including an AI assistant that helps him in combat, provides tactical analysis, and even gives dating advice. What name does Peter give this AI?
✓ Correct! Peter names his suit’s AI “Karen,” voiced by Jennifer Connelly. She assists him with web shooter modes, reconnaissance, and even his love life. Friday is Tony Stark’s AI, and E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark satellite system that appears in Far From Home.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Karen. Friday is Tony Stark’s personal AI, E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark defense satellite Peter inherits in Far From Home, and Jocasta is an AI from the comics. Karen, voiced by Jennifer Connelly, is Peter’s suit assistant throughout Homecoming.
04
In Spider-Man: Far From Home, Peter encounters a seemingly heroic figure who claims to be from an alternate Earth, battling elemental creatures across Europe. In reality, he’s a disgruntled former Stark Industries employee using advanced holographic drones. What is his real name?
✓ Correct! Quentin Beck, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is Mysterio — a master of illusion who uses Stark Industries’ B.A.R.F. holographic technology and weaponized drones to fabricate the Elementals and pose as a hero. His final act of revenge shapes the entire third film.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Quentin Beck. William Ginter Riva is one of Beck’s team members, Aldrich Killian is the villain of Iron Man 3, and Justin Hammer is from Iron Man 2. Beck is Mysterio, the illusionist who manipulated Peter’s trust across Europe.
05
In one of the MCU’s most shocking mid-credits scenes, J. Jonah Jameson broadcasts doctored footage from Mysterio’s final moments that completely upends Peter Parker’s life. What does this broadcast reveal to the entire world?
✓ Correct! Mysterio’s doctored footage, broadcast by J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons reprising his iconic role), exposes Spider-Man’s identity as Peter Parker to the entire world. This revelation drives the entire plot of No Way Home as Peter desperately seeks to undo the damage.
✗ Web miss! The answer is that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. While the footage also frames Spider-Man for the London drone attack, the earth-shattering reveal is Peter’s unmasked identity being broadcast globally by The Daily Bugle’s J. Jonah Jameson.
06
With his identity exposed and his loved ones under threat, Peter seeks help from a powerful sorcerer to cast a spell that would make the world forget he is Spider-Man. Peter’s constant modifications to the spell cause it to fracture the multiverse. Which sorcerer casts this spell?
✓ Correct! Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casts the memory-wiping spell at Peter’s request, but Peter keeps asking for exceptions — for MJ, Ned, May, and Happy to still remember him. These constant changes corrupt the spell and tear open the multiverse, pulling in villains from other Spider-Man universes.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Doctor Strange. While Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme and actually warns Strange against it, it is Stephen Strange who agrees to cast the spell. Wanda’s multiverse interference occurs in Multiverse of Madness, not here.
07
Throughout all three films, Peter’s loyal best friend serves as his “guy in the chair,” helping with tech support and keeping his secret. In No Way Home, this character even discovers he can open magical portals using a Sling Ring. Who is Peter’s best friend?
✓ Correct! Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon, is Peter’s best friend and self-proclaimed “guy in the chair.” He discovers Peter’s secret identity in Homecoming, supports him across all three films, and in No Way Home he accidentally uses Doctor Strange’s Sling Ring to open portals to other Spider-Men.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Ned Leeds. Flash Thompson is Peter’s rival and bully who ironically idolizes Spider-Man. Harry Osborn is Peter’s friend in the Raimi and Webb films but doesn’t appear in Holland’s trilogy. Miles Morales is only hinted at. Ned is the irreplaceable “guy in the chair.”
08
At the emotional climax of No Way Home, Peter makes an enormous personal sacrifice to save the multiverse. Doctor Strange completes the spell, and when it takes effect, Peter is left completely alone. What does the final spell do?
✓ Correct! The final spell makes every person in every universe forget that Peter Parker exists. MJ, Ned, Happy, the Avengers — everyone. Peter visits MJ at the coffee shop afterward but decides not to re-introduce himself, choosing to protect them. He starts over completely alone, sewing his own suit in a small apartment.
✗ Web miss! The answer is that everyone forgets who Peter Parker is. The spell doesn’t erase Spider-Man — people still know the hero exists — but nobody remembers Peter Parker the person. This devastating sacrifice means MJ, Ned, and even Happy Hogan have no memory of him at all.
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MovieWeb's Joe Deckelmeier: "#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!"
Sean Chandler: "#SpiderManBrandNewDay is the NYC-centric, more mature Spider-Man movie I wanted. Spider-Man and Punisher are great together. There's lots of fun twists. It is a little overstuffed & I think we have a new CBM 3rd act trope. I walked out VERY satisfied! Fans will be happy!"
With all the excitement surrounding the web-slinger's return to the MCU timeline, it will be fascinating to see how Destin Daniel Cretton's 2026 adventure resonates with general audience members. But from the trailers that have been released to the early buzz, it is looking very promising for Sony and Marvel.
Following the Spider-Man: Brand New Day story, Peter's summer blockbuster is officially the final solo-hero-focused MCU film for Phase 6. On December 18 of this year, Marvel Studios is bringing Earth's Mightiest Heroes back to the big screen, starting with Avengers: Doomsday, followed by Secret Wars on December 17, 2027. Whether or not Holland's titular hero is back for either of those installments remains to be seen for now.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens in theaters on July 31.