# Tom Rothman on Sony’s ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Blockbuster Success, Being Outbid for ‘Obsession’ and More

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/tom-rothman-on-sonys-spider-man-brand-new-day-blockbuster-success-being-outbid-for-obsession-and-more/
- Published: 2026-09-07T11:13:12+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-07T11:32:00+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/tom-rothman-sony-spider-man-brand-new-day-lumiere-summit-1236853815/
- Topics: Business, Companies, Entertainment, Film, Geopolitics, Politics, Spider-Man: Brand New Day

## Key points

- "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" is 2026's top-grossing film at $2.4bn.
- Sony was outbid by Universal for low-budget hit "Obsession".
- Rothman says specific, human stories drive global box-office success.

## Summary

Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman celebrated the runaway success of "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" during an appearance at the Lumière Summit in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France, where he spoke with Variety about the film industry's stronger-than-expected summer. The picture has become 2026's highest-grossing release, a result Rothman attributed to its emotional, character-driven approach rather than spectacle alone, arguing it works as a relatable "super-person" story about loneliness and friendship rather than a conventional superhero blockbuster. Rothman framed the film's performance, alongside other hits, as evidence that predictions of cinema's decline have been overstated.

Since its 31 July release, the film has taken $2.4 billion worldwide, including $923 million in North America, with Rothman crediting star Tom Holland and the backing of Disney and Marvel. He also discussed missing out on horror hit "Obsession", which cost just $700,000 to make but has grossed nearly $510 million, after Universal's Focus Features outbid Sony by a few million dollars, reportedly paying $14 million for the rights; Rothman said the film disproved claims that young audiences avoid cinemas. He additionally praised Netflix's gamble on "K-Pop Demon Hunters", now the streamer's most-watched film ever, saying culturally specific stories tend to achieve universal appeal.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.