Tom Holland's Peter Parker is back - and this time, the world has completely forgotten who he is. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" hit theaters July 31, and it's already tracking toward one of the five biggest domestic openings in box office history, with early estimates ranging from $230 million to as high as $275 million for its opening weekend.
Here's what to know before - or after - you see it.
The story picks up where "No Way Home" left off. Four years after Peter asked Doctor Strange to erase his identity from everyone's memory to save the multiverse, he's living alone, protecting New York full-time as Spider-Man with no one - not MJ, not Ned, not the Avengers - remembering he ever existed.
Yes, there's a post-credits scene - but it's easy to miss. Unlike past Marvel films, "Brand New Day" skips the traditional mid-credits stinger entirely. The scene only appears after the full credits roll, so audiences have to sit through the entire runtime before anything happens.
The reviews are strong. The film holds roughly 90-91% on Rotten Tomatoes, putting it in line with the franchise's best-reviewed entries. Critics have praised Holland's performance as his most "emotionally gripping" work in the role yet.
New director, returning cast. Destin Daniel Cretton takes over directing duties, joined by Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal, and Mark Ruffalo.
Underneath the spectacle, Peter Parker's arc has always carried a familiar thread - sacrifice for the sake of others, and the weight of responsibility that comes with power meant to serve rather than to be served. It's a theme that's shown up in superhero stories for decades, but it echoes something Scripture has said far longer: that true strength is measured by what we're willing to give up for others.
"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" is now playing in theaters nationwide.
