Spider-Man: Brand New Day2026

96/100 The thing casual moviegoers don't realize is that a Spider-Man movie becomes more likely to be objectively good the worse it makes Peter Parker's life, which is why I'm glad to announce this movie drags Peter through the mud so hard I'm surprised the kid doesn't have depression. I was nervous going into the film due to the large amount of characters involved. However, the film actually utilizes these characters very well, and keeps the focus mostly on Peter and Jean Gray, with the other characters feeling real while also fulfilling their narrative purpose to assist these two in their growth. Peter's growth throughout the film is great, as the age-old saying about responsibility is reinterpreted in a new way: the responsibility of balance, to be both Peter Parker and Spider-Man, both protecting the people he cares about while allowing himself into their life. Jean Gray also is a great character here, with her arc connecting directly to Peter's arc about letting himself back into his loved one's lives, as he needs to make her realize that just because she's suffering doesn't mean she's alone, a lesson he himself needs to learn. However, it wouldn't be one of my reviews without me proclaiming that my actual favourite is a random side character, so I'll go ahead and say it. I love John Bernthal as the Punisher, especially how they keep the essence of the character while under restrictions such as not letting him shoot people, and I especially love how he comes off almost as a surrogate father to Peter. The action here is also great. There are tons of scenes here with great choreography, from the battle with the Hulk to the final battle against the Hand, all of which are very high energy and fun while still flowing smoothly. The effects also help with this, as despite Marvel's current reputation, all the effects here are actually pretty good and look pretty real, with no real bad effects. This, combined with a story that adds proper buildup to these fights, only improves them immensely. This movie is what I feel Spider-Man movies should be, a new standard of quality to look up to. It's very sincere and you can feel a love for the character there that helps bolster the immense story to even greater heights and makes for a superb movie overall. Also, shoutout to the scene in Yelena's office for making me try the hardest I've ever had to to keep looking at both actors' faces.