‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’: First Reactions From the Premiere

It’s finally here, and judging by initial reactions, it’s going to be a monster hit.

Sony and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day held its glitzy, star-packed world premiere at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on Monday night, and not long after the screening ended, the first reactions began to flood social media.

Destin Daniel Cretton‘s Brand New Day is the fourth standalone Spider-Man film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — as well as the 38th film overall in the MCU — and picks up the action after 2021’s near $2 billion-grossing Spider-Man: No Way Home. The films once again are led by Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, as well as Zendaya as Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson and Jacob Batalon as Peter’s best friend Ned Leeds.

The MCU’s Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle/Punisher, Michael Mando’s Mac Gargan/Scorpion and Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner/Hulk also appear in the film. New cast members include Severance‘s Tramell Tillman and Stranger Things star Sadie Sink, the latter of whom is playing an unknown character which has led to feverish speculation online.

“Keeping what Sadie’s doing under wraps, you’ll honestly understand when you see the movie. The movie is a better movie if you don’t know certain things,” Cretton said in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

The plot of Brand New Day follows the end of No Way Home, with the world — including MJ and Ned — having forgotten who Peter Parker is. Four years on, Peter is still protecting New York City as Spider-Man and he links up with street vigilante the Punisher to take on the likes of the Scorpion, all while his own powers undergo a new evolution.

Brand New Day is written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, who both co-wrote the other Holland Spider-Man films, including Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). The film is produced Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal, Avi Arad and Rachel O’Connor. The film is part of Phase Six of the MCU and is followed by December’s Avengers: Doomsday in the Marvel continuity.

Full critics reviews for Brand New Day are embargoed till July 28, the movie is release in theaters on July 31. Below see a selection of the early social media reaction to the film posted on Monday evening.

Don’t mind me. I’m just sitting here crying after watching #SpidermanBrandNewDayIt’s a massive movie that balances like 5 different through lines in equal measure, each better than the last. It can feel a little overwhelming but it all comes together so beautifully it works. pic.twitter.com/5dHvcF58Sk

My flabber has been ghasted. I loved #SpiderManBrandNewDay! Destin Daniel Cretton and Tom Holland put their hearts and souls into this thing, and it pays off HUGE! This movie is going to be massive and we’re going to be talking about it for a while. I was floored by how well… pic.twitter.com/lO0I9thr3m

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY is a much more cerebral followup than the crowd pleasing No Way Home. It’s Tom Holland’s best performance as Peter Parker and the best Spider-Man movie since Raimi’s SPIDER-MAN 2. Also the costume finally looks incredible #spidermanbrandnewday

It really is a brand new day for Peter Parker as Destin Daniel Cretton takes over for Jon Watts in the director’s chair for SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY. Cretton brings a more grounded, back-to-basics approach to the beloved web-slinger, making this fourth standalone film feel like… pic.twitter.com/d3DNxiyBHA

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is an ambitious, mature take on Peter Parker, finally trusting him to (mostly) stand on his own. Cretton crafts excellent scenes of Spidey's powers, and the emotional beats rank among the MCU's best. Easily Tom Holland's most varied, confident MCU work. pic.twitter.com/FQDCM9sXcR

Peter Parker is changing, and so is the 'Spider-Man' franchise. #SpiderManBrandNewDay is the most emotional, most mature and most atmospheric installment in the franchise. It'll meet your expectations in some places and defy them in others. pic.twitter.com/iA0XsLl9rL

From a visual perspective, #SpiderManBrandNewDay is the BEST MCU #SpiderMan movie by a LONG SHOT.The cinematography is phenomenal, the action sequences are so dynamic and well-choreographed, and the movie has the same colorist as DRIVE, 12 YEARS A SLAVE, and EUPHORIA. pic.twitter.com/sLPcmf9Ad9

#SpiderManBrandNewDay is not only Tom Holland's best Spider-Man movie, it's one of the best Spider-Man films period.Super emotional and heartfelt, packed with unforgettable moments and an amazing direction, it perfectly captures what makes Peter Parker such an enduring hero. I… pic.twitter.com/HHLJHfDrd1

#SpiderManBrandNewDay is one of Tom Holland’s best Spidey films yet. Packed with heart, humor, Punisher chaos, and some of the MCU’s best action in years, this is a thrilling, emotional, crowd pleasing Spider-Man adventure. #SpiderMan #MarvelStudios pic.twitter.com/WMYHwXKPZD

#SpidermanBrandNewDay is an absolute thrill ride that is bumpy along the way. Destin Daniel Cretton brings us a side of the webslinger we haven't seen explored since Raimi in Spider-Man 2. Holland is given a chance to share beautiful one-on-one moments with everyone on screen 1/2 pic.twitter.com/Weo789fsqT

#SpiderManBrandNewDay is the Spider-Man movie WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. Destin Daniel Cretton delivers a purely Spidey focused story that swings the franchise in a fresh, mature new direction. It’s the superhero film of THIS GENERATION and Tom Holland’s best outing yet. pic.twitter.com/2vdXTHmdug

Destin Daniel Cretton's Spider-Man: Brand New Day injects a ferocious energy into Spidey's latest adventure, delivering all the thrills you'd expect from a Tom Holland Spider-Man movie while feeling deeper, more thoughtful and more mature than the previous trilogy. That… pic.twitter.com/ejzaeoVape

#SpiderMan Brand New Day is a mixed bag. It evokes the very best and the very worst of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. The first 20 minutes are quintessential comic book Spidey and do for Spider-Man what the first 20 minutes of Matt Reeves’ The Batman did for Batman. The film… pic.twitter.com/Ou2HbF3Wlh

Just saw Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It’s the most “OMG THEY ACTUALLY NAILED THE SPIRIT OF SPIDER-MAN IN LIVE ACTION,” movie since The Amazing Spider-Man 2, except it’s not a BAD movie and it is actually AWESOME. This is a tweet for people that know me. This movie RULES. pic.twitter.com/nFp3X6Aes1

#SpiderManBrandNewDay is a bold swing in the right direction for an evolving character and franchise. It keeps what you love while balancing a more mature tone that meets the characters where they are. And the action scenes look phenomenal! @SpiderManMovie pic.twitter.com/2Gc8hzNAme

#SpiderManBrandNewDay swings high as one of the MCU’s strongest films yet. Awesome camerawork, stunning visuals, heartfelt performances, and surprises that genuinely land. It captures everything that makes Spider-Man special while pushing the character forward. pic.twitter.com/4KEcaUixO8

#SpiderManBrandNewDay is the most grounded, emotional, and mature Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man story the MCU has delivered.This is the Spider-Man movie fans have been waiting for. A relatable story about grief, loneliness, and the burden of pushing yourself too far, not… pic.twitter.com/35VI5xgC63

#SpiderManBrandNewDay is easily the best Spider-Man movie yet. Incredible action, real emotional stakes, huge surprises, and Peter & Frank steal every scene together. This is THE summer movie of the year! Tom Holland and Sadie Sink are incredible in this film! pic.twitter.com/6o96kUoWwW

#SpiderManBrandNewDay is exactly the refresher Marvel needed. Tom Holland has never been better and the Spidey-Punisher pairing is pure gold. Destin Daniel Cretton outdoes himself, but the script is the real superhero- thrilling, heartfelt and confidently character driven. pic.twitter.com/HjxUeVO59n

#SpiderManBrandNewDay is fun! Probably the best one starring Holland. Nice to see a Spider-Man movie that actually looks like it takes place in New York again! pic.twitter.com/sZ9Xx5fXMT

In #SpiderManBrandNewDay, Peter Parker finds himself in need of a helping hand as he fights to keep his forgotten identity from succumbing to a grab-bag script of MCU growing pains. Certainly not amazing nor spectacular, but maybe the funniest Takis commercial ever produced. pic.twitter.com/1xWuZxljLJ

#SpidermanBrandNewDay: Folks, Marvel has made a Real Movie™ for the third time since 2018. Basically the PS5 games brought to life, and EXTREMELY Matrix: Reloaded-coded (complimentary). The best of the MCU Spidey films by a mile, and Tom Holland's best effort as Peter Parker pic.twitter.com/bEeJxhWpdr