It’s not every day a film can be described as “crowded” in a complimentary way, but Spider-Man: Brand New Day definitely deserves the distinction. Marvel’s latest film surrounds Peter Parker (Tom Holland) with a healthy ensemble of characters from every corner of its cinematic universe, and it’s all the better for it.
After a trilogy of films that didn’t feel like a true part of the MCU, Brand New Day gets Spider-Man just a little closer to that goal. Spidey gets assistance from Punisher (Jon Bernthal) and Black Widow (Florence Pugh), fights the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and even briefly mentors a future member of the X-Men. It’s finally starting to feel like our friendly neighborhood hero is actually... well, part of the neighborhood. That said, Brand New Day almost went the extra mile to connect his corner of the MCU to another beloved pocket of New York City.
