“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” achieved a historic milestone during its initial weekend in theaters. The Sony-released superhero film secured the position of the second-largest North American opening, with a remarkable $355 million in ticket sales according to studio estimates released on Sunday. This was only a few million short of “Avengers: Endgame,” which premiered at $357 million in 2019.
Internationally, the film garnered $572 million across more than 73,500 screens, including $121 million from China alone, culminating in a $927 million global debut. This debut ranks second only to “Endgame” ($1.2 billion).
Tom Holland’s portrayal of the web-slinging superhero has consistently impressed audiences. “No Way Home,” his third standalone Spider-Man film, grossed over $1.9 billion globally, ranking as the eighth-highest-grossing film ever, not adjusted for inflation. It was the first film since the pandemic’s onset to surpass the $1 billion mark.
“Brand New Day’s” success follows another significant film starring Holland and Zendaya: Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.” “The Odyssey” ranked second in its third weekend with $51 million. Together, these films contributed to a record $430 million weekend for North American theaters, as reported by Rentrak.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” had a groundbreaking start, earning $168 million on its opening day from 4,487 theaters in the U.S. and Canada, surpassing “Avengers: Endgame’s” $157 million Friday.
The studio projected a $325 million opening weekend. These figures outpaced “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which opened at $260 million in December 2021. Previous top openings in North America include “Avengers: Infinity War” ($257 million in 2018) and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” ($247 million in 2015).
Expectations were high for “Brand New Day,” directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and produced at an estimated cost of $225 million, excluding marketing. Concerns existed about whether it would match the enthusiasm of its predecessor, which featured previous Spider-Man actors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. The film indeed exceeded these expectations.
“Brand New Day” received favorable reviews, with a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, an “A” CinemaScore, and a five-star audience rating on PostTrak. According to exit polls from PostTrak, the audience comprised predominantly male viewers (around 61%) and many younger attendees, with over half under 25 years old. The 18 to 24 age group represented 36% of the audience, and 27% were aged 25 to 34.
EntTelligence, a box office analytics firm, estimated that approximately 24.1 million individuals viewed “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” over the weekend. It marked the largest opening ever for Sony Pictures. Tom Rothman, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, praised Tom Holland’s performance, stating he delayed the film’s production for Holland’s role in “The Odyssey.”
Although superhero films have faced recent challenges, as evidenced by high-profile failures, successful releases, such as “No Way Home” and “Deadpool & Wolverine,” prove that they continue to resonate with audiences.
Marvel Studios president and Spider-Man producer Kevin Feige commented on the film’s debut, highlighting the ongoing connection between Marvel’s characters and fans. Producer Amy Pascal noted the audience’s appetite for both spectacular and human stories.
This year has seen renewed interest from younger audiences in moviegoing. Films like “Obsession,” “Backrooms,” and “The Drama,” featuring Zendaya, have been hits. The momentum from “The Odyssey” helped propel “Spider-Man,” which saw a modest 43% drop in its third weekend. “The Odyssey” has reached $395.5 million domestically and $911.4 million globally. It will soon debut in South Korea, China, and Japan.
Animated PG-rated films rounded out the top five box office spots. “Toy Story 5” claimed third place with $6.3 million, while “Minions & Monsters” and “Moana” occupied fourth and fifth places, respectively.
In sixth place, “Hadestown: The Musical” grossed $2 million, surpassing “Hamilton” to become the highest-grossing live theater capture release at $18.2 million total. Paul Dergarabedian, head of Rentrak’s marketplace trends, speculated that the success of “Spider-Man” might lead the summer movie season to exceed the $4 billion mark for the first time since 2023 and possibly see a billion-dollar August.