Early screening reviews for Spider-Man: Brand New Day have seen critics reacting positively to the highly anticipated film. Tom Holland’s performance has received immense praise, alongside the movie’s grounded tone and emotional narrative, with many describing it as one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s strongest standalone Spider-Man movies to date.
However, Marvel fans have been wondering whether Spider-Man would spend much of its runtime setting up Avengers: Doomsday. Marvel has often leaned into that strategy of releasing films before major crossover events to build anticipation about what’s coming next. Fortunately for fans, early reviews are suggesting otherwise.
Critics say Spider-Man: Brand New Day focuses on Peter Parker’s next chapter after the events of No Way Home. Rather than laying a foundation for Avengers: Doomsday, the film reportedly follows a satisfying and self-contained story that lets Spider-Man excel on his own.
Why Spider-Man might not be part of Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars
Several critics who watched the movie reported Spider-Man 4 feels like a standalone Spider-Man adventure instead of a bridge connecting to the upcoming Avengers film.
Film critic Mike Ryan described the movie as a strong standalone story, while Blue-ray Angel praised its emotional journey and focus on Peter Parker rather than future MCU events. Molly Freeman also highlighted the film’s character-driven narrative, calling it a satisfying Spider-Man story that stands on its own.
Producer Amy Pascal previously told Entertainment Weekly that the film marks “a new beginning” for Peter Parker after Dr. Strange’s spell wiped all memory of his existence. As per the early reviews, that promise seems to have paid off, with critics praising the movie based on Peter’s emotional journey rather than using it to launch the next Avengers event.
Marvel has not confirmed Tom Holland’s appearance in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. While it remains to be seen, many fans believe Spider-Man will be making an appearance in Doomsday.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day will arrive in theaters on July 31, 2026.
