Spider-Man: Brand New Day has officially received a 90% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, according to Forbes; While this is the lowest score among the recent Spider-Man trilogy, it still outperforms many other Marvel films released in the post-Endgame era. Spider-Man: No Way Home remains the highest-scoring film in the series with a 93% critic score and a 97% audience score, released in 2021.

A New Director, New Challenges

Jon Watts stepped back from directing Spider-Man: Brand New Day after helming No Way Home, with Destin Daniel Cretton taking over the director’s chair. Cretton, known for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, aimed to focus on the core of the Spider-Man character—Peter Parker’s struggle to balance his personal and notable lives. Hobby Consolas notes that this is a serious time for the MCU, with the universe in the middle of a soft reboot following Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

Plot and Themes

Spider-Man: Brand New Day follows Peter Parker, who has chosen a life of anonymity after the events of No Way Home — he is now a full-time hero with little time for his own life, according to IGN Deutschland. His powers have become unpredictable. And a new threat emerges involving a force that takes control of human minds, as the plot also involves Damage Control, a mysterious government agency that may hold the key to the new threat. IGN Deutschland criticizes the film for predictable twists and overused Marvel terminology, which may alert even casual viewers to the plot’s intentions.

Despite the predictability. The film explores Peter Parker’s mental health and his struggle to cope with the isolation of being a superhero. IGN notes that the film’s emotional core is strong, and it avoids the nostalgia-driven approach of No Way Home, offering a more mature and introspective take on the character. Hobby Consolas highlights that Peter is now a more adult figure, a protector of New York, though the city is unaware of his personal struggles.

Reception and Controversy

La Razón’s review of the film gives it three stars out of five, calling it “peor solo que bien acompañado” (worse alone than well accompanied). The review praises the character development of Peter Parker and his relationship with MJ (Zendaya), but criticizes the film for a lack of surprise and a disappointing romantic subplot that ends anticlimactically. Hobby Consolas notes that the film attempts to explore Peter’s emotional state, particularly in how he deals with being forgotten by those close to him.

Sony has been actively removing leaked footage of the film’s post-credits scene from social media using copyright claims, as reported by IGN; the footage, which had been posted on platforms like X, has already spoiled key elements for some viewers. IGN warns fans to avoid social media and comment sections until they’ve seen the film to avoid spoilers, and For those interested, the film is now showing in select theaters following its July 27 premiere and will officially release on July 31.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is also making waves in the gaming world, with Insomniac Games adding the film’s costume to its Spider-Man 2 game; Fans can now play as Tom Holland’s Peter Parker in the game’s updated look. IGN’s review praises the film for its emotional depth and its return to the core values of Spider-Man, though it notes that some plot elements are predictable.