Woah, the first Spider-Man: Brand New Day reviews call Sadie Sink the film’s biggest surprise

It looks like Tom Holland’s next outing as Peter Parker could be one of Marvel’s most ambitious Spider-Man films yet, at least according to the reviews from the first wave of critics who have seen it.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day made its debut at a Hollywood premiere on Monday night. Since then, early reviews have started appearing online, and one thing keeps coming up: Sadie Sink.

The Stranger Things star appears to be one of the biggest surprises in the film, with critics praising her performance and describing her role as “devastating.”

Alongside Sink’s performance, reviewers have highlighted how different Brand New Day feels compared to previous entries in the franchise.

Brian Davids from The Hollywood Reporter said the film represents a major shift for the character, writing: “Peter Parker is changing, and so is the ‘Spider-Man’ franchise.”

He praised the sequel as “the most emotional, most mature and most atmospheric instalment in the franchise”, while warning that it “will meet your expectations in some places and defy them in others.”

The new film follows Peter after the devastating ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where the world has forgotten who he is, including his closest friends MJ and Ned. Years later, he’s still operating as Spider-Man, but this time he finds himself working alongside the Punisher while facing villains such as Scorpion and dealing with changes to his own powers.

Fandango correspondent Erik Davis also gave the film a glowing response on X, saying director Destin Daniel Cretton has pushed the franchise into a more mature direction.

He wrote that Brand New Day “feels deeper, more thoughtful and more mature than the previous trilogy.”

Davis added: “That maturity extends beyond the story to the action, with Cretton crafting some of my favorite Spider-Man fight sequences of the Holland era.”

He described the film as a mix of genres, writing: “Part detective story, part psychological thriller, part buddy comedy (the Spider-Man/Punisher banter is so much fun), it stretches in exciting new directions before becoming a genuine love letter to the fans. When you see it, you’ll get it.”

With early reactions already praising its emotional storyline, darker approach and standout performances, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is shaping up to be one of Marvel’s most talked-about releases.

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Featured image credit: Sony Pictures