The reviews aren’t out yet, but the verdict on Tom Holland already is. Following “Spider-Man: Brand New Day“‘s world premiere at Hollywood’s Dolby Theater Monday night, early reactions have converged on one point almost unanimously: this is Holland’s best performance across four solo outings as Peter Parker, according to Hollywood Reporter.
The film, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and marking the 38th movie in the MCU overall, picks up roughly five years after “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” with Peter having spent that time anonymously protecting New York while dealing with an unexpected, and apparently dangerous, evolution in his powers, according to Dark Horizons.
What Critics Are Saying
Uproxx’s Mike Ryan wrote that it’s “the best Spider-Man movie since Raimi’s Spider-Man 2,” according to Dark Horizons, while ScreenRant’s Molly Freeman went further, calling it simply According to ScreenRant, the film stands out as the franchise’s best Spider-Man entry so far, thanks to its character-first storytelling in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Esquire’s Eric Francisco praised the film’s emotional core and pacing directly, writing that it delivers “strong emotional center, blistering action, deeply sincere,” and calling it “just excellent,” per The Wrap. Hollywood Reporter also cited a reaction describing the movie as juggling roughly five different storylines that ultimately come together despite feeling overwhelming at times.
Holland himself addressed the film’s tonal shift on the red carpet, telling Deadline, “It’s more mature, and it’s a darker theme,” and that the story feels particularly relatable to young audiences navigating change on their own, according to Deadline.
Where the Reactions Diverge
Not every note has been positive. Dark Horizons reported that while fan reactions have trended toward calling it one of the best Spider-Man films ever, more seasoned critics have been comparatively more measured, flagging a script some found too busy, humor that’s been dialed back compared to earlier entries, heavy MCU interconnectivity, and an ending that’s reportedly proven divisive among early viewers.
The staggered rollout adds some context to that split. Social reactions went live late Monday night, but full critic reviews remain under a separate embargo lifting Tuesday morning, according to ComicBasics, meaning the numerical scores and more detailed critiques that usually shape wider public opinion are still to come. ComicBasics also noted that producers Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal have described their own internal reaction to an early cut as unusually strong, calling it a first of its kind for Pascal specifically on a Spider-Man project.
Several attendees also pointed to the film’s use of practical effects and on-location shooting in New York as a standout, a contrast some drew directly with “No Way Home,” which relied more heavily on soundstage work, according to Laughing Place.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” arrives in U.S. theaters on July 31, while select international markets begin advance screenings on July 29.
