The Newest Spider-Man Film Is a Brand-New Day for Peter Parker and the MCU

Since Spider-Man: No Way Home, a film that managed to pull off the seemingly impossible feat of bringing together three generations of Spider-Man cinematic history, fans have been clamoring to see what was next for their favorite wall-crawler. Almost five years later, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man returns in a new film that marks a brand-new day not just for him but for the MCU as a whole.

Note: This review is spoiler-free for the overall plot of the film but does reference characters and plot points shown in the trailers.

Jay Maidment/Courtesy of Sony Pictures

Following the events of No Way Home—in which the entire world was made to forget the existence of Peter Parker (Tom Holland), including his loved ones—Peter is now more devoted than ever to his life as Spider-Man. In a four-year time jump, we see him protect New York from threats like Scorpion (Michael Mando) and the Hand and form an uneasy alliance with fellow vigilante the Punisher (Jon Bernthal). After interfering with the plans of a mysterious force, Peter is forced to confront the past to protect the woman he loves, MJ (Zendaya), from this mystery foe, all while his spider powers begin to evolve in a way that he is unable to control.

Michael Mando as Scorpion. Jay Maidment/Courtesy of Sony Pictures

If you have at any time in your life have been a fan of Spider-Man, no matter what iteration, you will have a great time with this film. It follows a similar character driven-story to that of the Sam Raimi trilogy as well as the action and movement style of the Andrew Garfield films, where you as the audience actually feel like you are web-slinging with Spider-Man. The film also makes references to famous comic books, fully embracing the fact that this is a superhero movie—and speaking of that, it also fully embraces the fact that the story takes place in a shared universe. It isn’t just the Punisher that makes an appearance: Major players from past movies outside of Spider-Man make appearances, like Mark Ruffalo‘s Hulk. But instead of these characters being there for fan service or a cheap cameo, each one ends up serving a purpose for Spider-Man’s story and growth, because at the end of the day he is the heart of the story.

Jay Maidment/Courtesy of Sony Pictures

While this movie is titled Brand New Day, audiences still have to have a bit of background before watching the film. The events of the first three Tom Holland Spider-Man movies are pivotal to understanding his version of the character and where he is now. Characters like the Punisher also fall into this trap, as the character’s history and lore have been established though multiple TV series. So you might have to do a bit of homework if you really want to feel the impact this story has on these characters.

Jay Maidment/Courtesy of Sony Pictures

By the end of the film, I felt something I hadn’t felt from a Marvel movie in a long time: true excitement about what is to come for the MCU’s future. With a thought-provoking plot, engaging characters, and exciting action sequences, Spider-Man: Brand New Day shows audiences that superhero movies don’t always have to be about saving the multiverse. Sometimes the best stories are about the hero saving themselves so they can go on to help others.

Jay Maidment/Courtesy of Sony Pictures