Spider-Man: Brand New Day Spoilers Ahead
Spider-Man Brand New Day is a worthy and brilliant comeback, and, simultaneously, still a heartbreaking one. It feels comforting to be with Peter again and to know that he’s somewhat doing better for himself, and yet there are still so many things that aren’t resolved that it feels a little odd at times.
Ultimately, though, it’s a grounded, remarkably raw and achingly vulnerable story that makes an admirable point about what it means not to shoulder responsibilities all on your own. There’s a message here tied to loneliness in a way that feels especially relevant in 2026, because the changes we’ve all been through in the last five years since No Way Home are haunting in more ways than one.
There was a lot leading up to Brand New Day with the trailers and secrecy surrounding various characters, and yet the story is quieter than what was anticipated, making it feel that much more relatable. It’s why Tom Holland’s Spider-Man movies continue to stand out, even as the rest of the MCU feels like a mess at times.
The Message in Spider-Man: Brand New Day Is Exactly What We Need Today
At its core, this is a story that centers friendships above all things, and that’s a refreshing thought when we take into consideration what all of this has meant. How the entire meaning of “with great power comes great responsibility” isn’t tied to being a martyr, but to the idea of community. It’s accepting help and being brave enough to ask for it when that’s the hardest part sometimes.
And despite the fact that MJ and Ned don’t remember Peter, and it’s now been four years while they’ve all moved on in college, there’s a real connection still that’s almost instantaneous, but really organic in the way that it pans out even as it’s awkward. (We can make a point about them remembering by the end, or having inklings, but that’s not the point of this review.) It’s a strange feeling watching them, yet it’s gorgeously familiar at the same time, and it’s this feeling I can’t put into words. Without spoilers, there’s a specific sketch and a moment that comes from MJ that sticks the landing with so much heart; it cements that no matter where these characters go and what they do, they’re meant to be in each other’s lives.
It feels comforting to have that, even if at the end, we don’t exactly have the reunion we wanted, which in more ways than one still poses a lot of questions for the future of these movies, what we’ll get in Avengers: Doomsday, and what it’ll look like when Spider-Man returns.
At the end of the day, though, there’s a sadness still lingering in the air, and where we go from here is, I suppose, a brand new day. It’s certainly not the dark night we had in No Way Home, but it’s still bittersweet. It delivers something staggering and relatable in how it explores the idea of taking things one day at a time as we try to understand the pieces of ourselves that are unclear, and how to move forward from our grief and loneliness.
The flashbacks with May and how it ties Peter’s journey to Jean Grey’s is really incredible throughout, and the way it deep dives into the importance of community and touches on what the X-Men represent is also stunning, giving us hints of the exact found family that makes up the best parts of the MCU. It’s going to be exciting to see where we go in the future, and Sadie Sink is already so perfect for the role that I’m eager to see more from her.
The Performances in Spider-Man: Brand New Day Are Everything
The shot of tears streaming down MJ’s face, and how Zendaya plays on her realization, is so staggering that it’s going to haunt me for the foreseeable future. It’s a scene that’ll stay with me, and one I want to know so much more about in every way that I can. The natural chemistry she has with Tom Holland is precious in every way, but it’s how she gives us a different version of MJ that’s remarkable. The MCU might treat its women poorly, but all versions of Spider-Man ensure that every time they’re on screen, we have something incredible to examine.
Liza Colón-Zayas will always be a fan favorite from The Bear, and seeing her in Brand New Day is a treat right from the start. Sure, her name might be hinting at a different character, but I really, really hope we get to see more of the woman we get to know in this film. The same can be said about Marisa Tomei, whose cameo shattered me all over again, and Florence Pugh never misses at Yelena, bringing to life the necessary comedic breaks to cut some of our heartbreak with humor.
The inclusion of Frank Castle in this universe might just be the most perfect way we’ve seen him, and he fits better with Spider-Man than he ever has with Daredevil. The banter and chemistry that Jon Bernthal and Holland have is outright hilarious, and easily makes some of the hardest moments bearable. It doesn’t fill the Tony-sized void, but it gives us something that works organically. And, more importantly, it’s necessary for two people who really are more alone than most other characters.
There’s just a lot to appreciate about what Brand New Day does, and while it’s unclear how many Spider-Man movies we’ll get with Holland’s Peter Parker and all these other characters, there’s something to appreciate about where we go from here and what this new chapter looks like in a cinematic universe that is extremely convoluted at times.
It’s a little heartbreaking to see Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk with a Spider-Man he doesn’t remember, and while every feeling in me is a little sad right now, what these movies do is impeccable in how they touch on kindness and friendship. It’s comforting to see that sometimes, the process of healing isn’t the moment where everything works out the way we want it to, but rather the quiet moments after you make it through the dark, haunting nights. Sometimes, healing is the decision to say hi to an old friend, and the choice to keep pushing through the heaviness trying to weigh you down. And Peter Parker, alongside all his friends, is finally healing. Little by little. One day after the next.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Marvel
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