Spider-Man: Brand New Day Scene Censored in India — and It Could Be a Spoiler
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has had an eight-second kiss scene and some swearing removed from its Indian release, prompting speculation about who the kiss involves and whether it hints at a plot spoiler. The cut has fuelled fan theories about whether Tom Holland's Spider-Man and Zendaya's MJ rekindle their romance, or whether the kiss instead involves MJ and a new love interest played by Eman Esfandi, potentially witnessed by a heartbroken Peter Parker.
This is not the first time Indian censors have trimmed romantic content from major blockbusters: James Gunn's Superman had a 33-second mid-air kiss between Superman and Lois Lane removed for being "overly sensual", while Oppenheimer saw a nude scene digitally altered with a CGI dress in some regions. Such edits have previously drawn criticism as excessive, and it remains unclear exactly why the Spider-Man scene was cut. The film opens in cinemas from 31 July 2026, with early Amazon Prime-linked screenings starting on Wednesday, and much of the pre-release intrigue continues to centre on the mystery surrounding Sadie Sink's still-unconfirmed character.
In short
- Indian release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day cuts an 8-second kiss and swearing
- Fans speculate the censored kiss could reveal a plot spoiler
- Follows similar cuts to Superman and Oppenheimer in Indian cinemas
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
India's censorship standards reflect legitimate cultural values around public displays of affection that differ from Western norms, and the board reasonably ensures content aligns with community sensitivities, particularly for younger viewers. This represents a valid exercise of cultural sovereignty rather than oppressive censorship.
The case against
Censoring artistic content undermines creative freedom and patronises adult audiences as incapable of their own viewing decisions, whilst creating inequitable access where some regions see complete films and others receive censored versions. This raises questions about whether guidelines reflect genuine community standards or outdated attitudes, particularly when identical content is available globally.
Explained simply
Spider-Man: Brand New Day, starring Tom Holland as Peter Parker alongside Zendaya as MJ, is an upcoming superhero film due to release in July 2026. Indian film censors have removed an eight-second kiss scene and some swearing from the country's release, which has sparked online debate about which characters were involved in the deleted moment.
The removal of romantic content from major international films is not unusual in India. Superman had a mid-air kiss scene removed for being considered "overly sensual", and Oppenheimer underwent digital alterations to cover nudity in some regions, with critics arguing such edits can be excessive. The Spider-Man censorship has added to fan theories about the film's plot, particularly regarding which of the main characters might be kissing and whether it hints at romantic developments.