Spider-Man: Brand New Day proves superhero films can still be great
Tom Holland's latest Spider-Man outing delivers heart, evolution, and a Jean Grey twist
Over the past few years, genuinely enjoying a superhero film has become rare, but Spider-Man: Brand New Day breaks that trend. Director Destin Daniel Cretton's latest film starring Tom Holland delivers well-drawn characters and emotional beats alongside CGI action. Picking up after No Way Home, an isolated Peter Parker watches MJ and Ned from afar, develops organic web-shooters, and battles an invisible psionic villain who can hijack bodies.
Cretton cleverly visualized the villain's body-hopping using dance choreography instead of heavy CGI. The big reveal: the cloaked figure is a young Jean Grey (Sadie Sink), seeking her sister kidnapped by the DODC. This twist ties into Peter's coming-of-age arc, showing him question who the real "good guys" are. Brand New Day proves superhero films can still be very, very good.
- Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.
- The film reveals Sadie Sink's character as a young Jean Grey, with a body-hopping psionic villain shown via dance choreography.
- Peter develops organic web-shooters and becomes more aggressive, marking his evolution from teen to adult.
Why It Matters
Shows that superhero films can prioritize character and emotion over spectacle, raising the bar for studio blockbusters.