Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)

My "cool person" Letterboxd review: I'm torn.

My real review:

This film proves one thing: Spider-Man is the heartbeat not only of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) but of all comic book movies and media writ large.

The first part of that statement is also responsible for the lower star rating for 'Brand New Day'.

My "cool person" review is a nod to this film's schizophrenia.

As a Spider-Man film, I would give this 4.5 stars if it had simply been that... a film reconciling everything this Spider-Man has been through in six films.

But because this is the MCU, it became a launchpad for the next phase while also being a phenomenal Spider-Film. And shoehorning Jean Grey into this film does a tremendous disservice to the performances by all the stars.

While the way Jean and her introduction were handled was phenomenal (and Ms. Sink is going to crush this role and maybe just give us a true Phoenix story), it should have been a standalone film. Not only would that allow this Spider-Man story to be fully fleshed out, but it would also have been a one hell of a launchpad for Mutants into the MCU if it were her own story.

And I feel this way most because I NEEDED more of Zendaya and Holland dancing around memories. I NEEDED more Jacob Batalon and Holland reconciling their history. I NEEDED more mutating Pete and his battle with himself!!!!

They could've still used Florence Pugh/Yelena in that story. Jon Bernthal/Punisher still could've been a focus... and then they could've used Daredevil!!! And Banner/Hulk was shortchanged yet again.

The cinematography was phenomenal in this one. The first time Holland's Spidey has felt like Spider-Man during fight scenes, and it was glorious. So many classic 70's covers, so many classic moves, and the quips kept coming!!

I can't wait to see it again on a bigger screen with better sound and to truly see if these feelings stick after the second viewing.

But for now, while I had a blast with this film, I felt like I was watching two different films expertly stitched together.