“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” revives the superhero genre as no other.

Motion picture industry pundits were bemoaning superhero fatigue among movie-goers.

Then along comes “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” spinning the superhero genre into a brand new day for blockbuster movies at the theatrical box office.

Marvel Studios’ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” was expected to pass the $2 billion mark globally and $800 million domestically at the box office Aug. 18.

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” had the biggest-ever Domestic Opening Weekend with $360.1 million for the three-day July 31 weekend. The previous record was held by “Avengers: Endgame” (2019) with $357.1 million.

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” reached the $1 billion milestone in six days, the fastest-ever.

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” grossed $144.5 million, Aug. 7-9, its second weekend and $70.7 million, Aug. 14-16, its third weekend.

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” knocked it out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

How to explain the phenomenal success of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”?

“Movie Maven” Michael Gontkosky put it this way: “The fan base for the ‘Spider-Man’ franchise is probably equal to the fan base of ‘Superman’ and ‘Batman’ combined.”

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is a commercial success.

Is “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” a critical success?

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Director, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” 2021; “Just Mercy,” 2019; “The Glass Castle,” 2017; “Short Term 12,” 2013).

The “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” screenplay is by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers (screenplay, “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” 2021; “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” 2019; “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” 2017) based on the Marvel comic book character created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

Director of Photography is Brett Pawlak (Director of Photography, “Just Mercy,” “Short Term 12”).

Soundtrack composer is Michael Giacchino (Oscar winner, Original score, “Up,” 2010; Oscar nominee, original score, “Ratatouille,” 2008).

The majority of movie critics gave “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” positive reviews. I found the movie to have the usual superhero movie shortcomings, some specific to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Take The Hulk, for instance. The Hulk (a very CGI Mark Ruffalo) gets into a ridiculous skyscraper-smashing fight with Spider-Man.

The Hulk, aka Bruce Banner, now a professor at Empire State University teaching quantum mechanics, fights Spider-Man because a mind-controlling mutant, Jean Grey aka Gene (Sadie Sink), infiltrates Bruce Banner’s mind and destroys the gamma inhibitor device keeping him stable.

The inhibitor device technology was introduced in the mid-credits scene of the movie, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and explained in the Disney+ television series “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” (2022). The “Savage Hulk” persona was last seen in ”Avengers: Infinity War” (2018).

Got that?

The inhibitor is the MacGuffin in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

The MacGuffin is a film term for an object, place or secret that drives the characters and the plot forward. The object itself is beside the point. Film director Alfred Hitchcock frequently used the device.

The appearance of The Hulk serves MCU fans. The “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” film-makers inclusion of The Hulk falls into the category of so-called “fan service.” And it provides one of the film’s big action scenes.

Another action scene that serves the fan base is the martial arts style fight scene between Spider-Man and The Hand, a supernatural group of ninja assassins from Marvel comics and the Netflix “Daredevil” (2015-’18) series (before it moved to Disney+ in 2022), led by Snow (Xiaoshuang Fan).

Another character from the MCU is Mac Gargan aka Scorpion (Michael Mando), from “Spider-Man: Homecoming” with a mechanized scorpion-like tail. His appearance provides another opportunity for a fight scene with Spider-Man.

Providing an opportunity for a Spider-Man side kick is Frank Castle aka Punisher (Jon Bernthal), behind the wheel of his Battle Van.

Few of these characters are full integrated into the plot of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” Scenes with the MCU characters seem tangential and not part of the film’s through-line. The film-makers lost the plot.

This might be because the main theme in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is that Spider-Man is isolated.

The story line in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” picks up four years where ”Spider-Man: No Way Home” left off when Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) erased Spider-Man’s identity from the world.

In “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” Spider-Man is seen alone in his New York City apartment. His only friend seems to be E.V., his AI assistant (voiced by Naomi Watts).

The fight scenes aside, and they are plentiful and quite impressive, as are the Spider-Man web-spinning flying scenes, the most memorable scenes in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” are between Peter Parker aka Spider-Man (Tom Holland) and Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson (Zendaya).

Holland and Zendaya, of course, have powerful, charming and believable chemistry on screen and off screen. Each has wonderfully-expressive faces. Their scenes will pluck your heartstrings.

Holland and Bernthal have several solid scenes of male bonding and camaraderie. Bernthal is one of those actors whose presence can be felt in every scene he is in.

There’s excellent casting throughout “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

Sadie Sink (Jean Grey aka Gene) isn’t so much a villain as a victim of circumstances. She is emotionally-convincing.

Jacob Batalon (Ned Leeds), Peter Parker’s best friend and MJ’s friend, provides many of the film’s humorous moments. He has great droll timing.

Also memorable: Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova aka Black Widow) and Marisa Tomei (May Parker: Peter Parker’s aunt, who appears in flashbacks).

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is the 38th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the fourth film in the MCU Spider-Man film series after “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

At the very end of the end credits for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” a title card states: “Spider-Man will return.”

With the phenomenal box-office success of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” you can set your web sights on that.

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” MPA rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13) for sequences of action, violence and some language; Genre: Superhero Action Adventure, Science Fiction; Run time: 2 hours, 25 minutes. Distributed by Sony Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous: “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is dedicated to the memory of comic book writer Gerry Conway, co-creator of The Punisher (first appeared in ”The Amazing Spider-Man” No 129, February 1974). Peter Parker wears a T-shirt for Delmar’s Deli, which he frequents and saves in “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Ned Leeds’ Spider Tracker plays the theme music from the “Spider-Man” (1967) animated series. The end credits have a montage of New York. The Marvel Studios logo at the beginning of the film has scenes of Spider-Man from “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” was filmed in Glasgow, Scotland; London, Hampshire, Kent, Hertford, Dorchester and Surrey, England, and New York City, Aug. 3 to Dec. 19, 2025.

At The Movies: “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” was seen in Dolby at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, Aug. 21-Aug. 23: “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” continued at No. 1 for a fourth week in a row with a still strong $39 million in 4,006 theaters, $854.9 million, four weeks.

It’s the fourth film to pass $800 million in North America and is the third-highest grossing domestic release ever, behind 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” ($858 million) and 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” ($936 million), according to Variety, the entertainment publication.

2. “Insidious: Out of the Further,” a supernatural horror film sequel to “Insidious: The Red Door” (2023) and sixth in the franchise, $25.3 million in 3,303 theaters, opening. 3. “The Odyssey” dropped one place, $19.5 million in 3,091 theaters, $539 million, six weeks. 4. “PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie” stayed in place, $9.1 million in 3,609 theaters, $35.4 million, two weeks. 5. “The End of Oak Street” dropped two places, $9 million in 3,478 theaters, $37.9 million, two weeks. 6. “Mutiny,” an action thriller starring Jason Statham, $7.5 million in 2,703 theaters, opening. 7. “Tony,” a biographical film about Anthony Bourdain’s early years starring Dominic Sessa, Emilia Jones and Antonio Banderas, moved up 11 places, $5 million in 1,642 theaters, $6.6 million, three weeks. 8. “The Fast and the Furious,” $3.1 million in 1,561 theaters, re-release. 9. “Spa Weekend,” a comedy starring Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher and Anna Faris, $3 million in 2,009 theaters. 10. “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma,” a satirical surrealist psychological slasher film, $1.9 million in 1,036 theaters, $3.6 million, three weeks.

Movie box office information is from Box Office Mojo as of Aug.23.

Unreel, Aug. 28:

“The Dog Stars,” MPA rated R; 1 hour, 58 minutes. Ridley Scott directs Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, Jacob Elordi, Allison Janney, Guy Pearce and Benedict Wong in the Science-Fiction Action Thriller. Synopsis: In a post-apocalyptic world, a virus wipes out humanity. Survivors face roaming scavengers called Reapers. Protagonist Hig, a pilot, survived the flu but lost his wife.

Movie opening date information is from Internet Movie Database as of Aug. 23.

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes