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Spider-Man: Brand New Day Review
IGN's review of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, written by Tom Jorgensen, assesses the latest Tom Holland-led instalment ahead of its cinema release. The film, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, continues Peter Parker's story after the world forgot his identity following Doctor Strange's spell at the end of No Way Home, with Peter now isolated but effective as a crime-fighter in a New York setting the review praises for feeling grounded and focused compared with recent cosmic-scale entries.
The review highlights strong performances from Holland, who conveys both Spider-Man's newfound confidence and Peter's yearning for lost relationships with friends like Ned (Jacob Batalon) and MJ (Zendaya), and from Zendaya, whose portrayal of MJ is said to show real development despite a somewhat limited role in the plot, largely serving as a vulnerability exploited by Sadie Sink's antagonist. Peter also develops new, more powerful abilities, including organic web-shooters, following an emotionally charged reunion, though the review notes the central drama of balancing his dual identity feels familiar rather than groundbreaking. The film opens in cinemas on 31 July.
In short
- IGN reviews Spider-Man: Brand New Day ahead of its 31 July release.
- Tom Holland praised; story explores Peter's forgotten identity and isolation.
- Zendaya's MJ shows growth, but plot themes feel familiar overall.
Explained simply
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the latest instalment in the Tom Holland Spider-Man saga. The film picks up after No Way Home, which ended with a spell cast by Doctor Strange that made everyone forget Peter Parker is Spider-Man. Now the superhero continues to fight crime in New York, but nobody knows his true identity.
Completely isolated from those closest to him, Peter struggles with the emotional weight of his secret life. The film explores how he navigates this situation: operating effectively as Spider-Man whilst unable to share this existence with loved ones including his girlfriend MJ and best friend Ned.
The film stars Tom Holland as Spider-Man, alongside Zendaya as MJ, Jacob Batalon as Ned, and Sadie Sink as an antagonist. It continues the story following No Way Home, representing the next major chapter in the Spider-Man saga within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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