Early reviews for Spider-Man: Brand New Day are piling in, with critics calling it one of Tom Holland’s best performances yet – but it’s not without flaws.
The latest movie from the Marvel Cinematic Universe sees the studio’s most popular character return to the big screen five years after Spider-Man: No Way Home. Set four years after the memory-wiping climax of that film, Peter Parker is living in isolation while battling a mutation of his own DNA, an invisible telepathic threat, and his attempts to reconnect with MJ.
At the time of writing, Spider-Man: Brand New Day sits at an impressive 88% on Rotten Tomatoes from 102 reviews, while Metacritic currently lists the movie with a generally favourable score of 70/100.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the best Spidey movie since Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2,” said Jake Kleinman of Polygon, who awarded the movie a 92/100 score. “The franchise has finally figured out what some fans knew all along: The best way to make a Spider-Man movie is to make a movie about Spider-Man – and leave behind anything and everything that doesn't serve that one specific purpose.”
Many reviews highlight how much the latest Spider-Man movie attempts to balance, with a packed storyline, multiple character arcs and connections to the wider Marvel Universe. However, critics agree that everything ultimately centres around Peter Parker’s personal growth.
“There is a lot packed into Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and at over two hours and 20 minutes, it is on the longer side for a standalone Marvel movie,” said Charlie Ridgley of Collider. “But somehow, it never feels needlessly overstuffed.”
Liam Gaughan of High on Films added: “Spider-Man: Brand New Day may not offer a ton of surprises, but it’s remarkably faithful to the spirit of the original comics and the trajectory that Holland’s version of the character has been on.”
Another recurring theme across reviews is that the film does not attempt to reinvent the superhero genre. Instead, it embraces the classic Marvel formula – something that some critics praised and others saw as a weakness.
While Jonathan Sim of ComingSoon wrote that the film ‘has all of the great qualities that made the Marvel Cinematic Universe so great in the first place and stands out for being a truly special experience that superhero fans will love’, not everyone shared that enthusiasm.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day, like all MCU movies, always gravitates towards apocalyptic but weirdly temporary destruction in the digitally confected big city,” wrote Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian. “It’s an entertaining spectacle, but really without the novelty of movie iterations like the more experimental Spider-Verse animations. A more radical reboot is needed.”
However, many critics echoed Empire Magazine’s John Nugent, who praised the film’s emotional focus. He said: “A more mature, emotional and distinctly ground-level Spider-Man: Brand New Day doesn’t escape some of the usual MCU pitfalls but finds its heart in an earnest performance from Tom Holland.”
Overall, the early consensus suggests that dedicated Spider-Man and Marvel fans will find plenty to enjoy. The film may have a lot happening at once, but critics believe it delivers a hopeful new chapter for Peter Parker.
For those less invested in the MCU, it may not offer enough surprises – although a Tom Holland and Zendaya reunion on the big screen is likely to be enough of a draw for many fans.
The positive reviews could also be great news for the LEGO Group, which continues to release Spider-Man sets each year. It has already launched three Spider-Man: Brand New Day sets in 2026 with 76346 Spider-Man Hero Figure, 76349 Spider-Man Prison Transport Chase and 76350 Spider-Man vs. Hulk Epic Clash, but fans may not have seen everything yet.
Much like Spider-Man: No Way Home, which eventually received 76261 Spider-Man Final Battle after more of the movie’s biggest moments became publicly known, additional sets could arrive once more details and spoilers from Brand New Day are revealed. That could open the door for new minifigures, vehicles and scenes that the initial wave could not cover.
All three Spider-Man: Brand New Day sets are available now at LEGO.com. 76346 Spider-Man Hero Figure retails for £89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99, while 76349 Spider-Man Prison Transport Chase costs £44.99 / $49.99 / €49.99. 76350 Spider-Man vs. Hulk Epic Clash is priced at £79.99 / $89.99 / €89.99.
Images: Marvel Entertainment/Sony Pictures
Support the work that Brick Fanatics does by purchasing your LEGO using our affiliate links. Thank you!
Comments
Be the first to comment!