The first reactions to Spider-Man: Brand New Day have arrived, and they are fuelling speculation that Marvel Studios may have delivered its strongest Spider-Man film to date. Ahead of the film's 31 July release, critics and entertainment journalists who attended early screenings have overwhelmingly praised the latest instalment, with many arguing that Tom Holland has given his finest performance yet as Peter Parker.
The early verdict has also reignited comparisons with 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home, which remains one of Marvel's biggest box office successes. While fans have long wondered whether Holland could top the emotional highs of that blockbuster, several reviewers now believe Brand New Day not only lives up to expectations but surpasses them in key areas, including storytelling, character development and emotional maturity.
Critics Say It Surpasses No Way Home
Among the strongest endorsements came from Jeremy Mathai of /Film, who described the film as Marvel's best effort in years and claimed it eclipses No Way Home in several respects.
Sharing his first impressions on X, Mathai wrote that the film feels like the Spider-Man PlayStation 5 games brought to life, adding that it is 'the best of the MCU Spidey films by a mile' and praising Holland for delivering his strongest performance as Peter Parker.
The comparison with No Way Home has quickly become one of the dominant talking points surrounding the film's early reception, giving fans even greater reason to anticipate its release.
Tom Holland Wins Widespread Praise
Much of the acclaim has centred on Holland himself, with critics suggesting the actor has fully settled into the role after nearly a decade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Bill Bria of /Film praised the sequel for remaining heartfelt without relying solely on spectacle. He described it as 'a solid, engaging, heartfelt and sincere continuation' of Peter Parker's story, adding that Holland 'owns the role now'.
Reviewers also highlighted how the film explores a more mature version of Peter following the events of No Way Home, allowing Holland to balance humour with heavier emotional moments. Many believe this evolution gives the character fresh depth while maintaining the qualities that have made his Spider-Man so popular.
Balanced Storytelling Impresses Reviewers
Beyond Holland's performance, critics repeatedly pointed to the film's storytelling as one of its biggest strengths. Entertainment journalist Mike Ryan, Heroes Reforged's Adam Hlaváĉ and Anthony Gagliardi of The Movie Podcast all praised director Destin Daniel Cretton for delivering a blockbuster that combines action, emotion and character development without losing focus.
Germain Lussier of Gizmodo and io9 echoed that sentiment, revealing the film left him emotional despite juggling several major storylines. He wrote that Brand New Day successfully balances 'five different through lines' before bringing them together in a satisfying conclusion, describing the experience as both overwhelming and rewarding.
Critics also singled out newcomer Sadie Sink, with several noting that she makes an impressive addition to the franchise alongside Holland's returning cast.
Not Every Review Is Completely Positive
While the overall response has been overwhelmingly favourable, reviewers have highlighted a handful of concerns. Some critics believe Spider-Man: Brand New Day still struggles with a familiar Marvel issue by functioning partly as a bridge towards future MCU projects rather than standing entirely on its own.
Bleeding Cool's Kaitlyn Booth argued that the film occasionally feels like another stepping stone in Marvel's wider cinematic roadmap instead of a fully self-contained story. Meanwhile, Toronto Star critic Peter Howell questioned the film's 145-minute runtime, suggesting that some sequences could have benefited from tighter editing.
Even so, these criticisms have generally been presented as relatively minor compared with the film's broader strengths, with many reviewers agreeing that the emotional payoff outweighs any pacing issues.
Can It Become Marvel's Next Big Hit?
The overwhelmingly positive first reactions suggest Marvel Studios could have another major success on its hands.
Following a mixed reception for several recent MCU releases, Spider-Man: Brand New Day appears to have restored confidence among many early viewers. Strong praise for Holland's performance, Destin Daniel Cretton's direction and the film's more mature storytelling has positioned it as one of Marvel's most anticipated releases of the year.
Whether audiences ultimately agree that it surpasses Spider-Man: No Way Home will become clear once the film arrives in cinemas on 31 July. For now, however, the first wave of reactions paints an encouraging picture, with many critics already declaring Brand New Day the definitive Spider-Man film of Tom Holland's career.
