Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can…and that includes trapping bigger enemies. For everyone’s friendly neighbourhood superhero, the global box office proved to be his greatest threat, but Spider-Man: Brand New Day swung past expectations with spectacular ease.
The highly anticipated pic starring Tom Holland and Zendaya scored a worldwide opening of US$927 million, with US$355 million coming from North American screens. Among the slew of brand-new records, it marks the second-biggest debut in both domestic and global box office history behind 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, which sits at US$357.1 million and US$1.2 billion, respectively, and Sony’s highest-grossing opening to date.
Between the lack of IMAX screenings and initial projections of US$465 million globally, the feat is particularly impressive, especially when compared to its predecessor. Now ranked No. 8 all-time with a US$1.9 billion haul, No Way Home collected $587.2 million worldwide during its opening weekend in 2021 — itself already a high bar to meet, with cameo appearances by Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire’s iterations of Spidey adding to the hype. The sequel’s debut outperformed 2017’s Homecoming (US$117 million), making Holland’s 10-year run a rare display of improved box-office performance over the last.
“This is a truly phenomenal opening, and we are grateful to audiences everywhere for coming out and experiencing our film the way it was meant to be seen,” said Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, who produced the movie (via Variety). “This debut reflects the enduring power of Marvel’s characters, and the connection they continue to have with fans around the world — and, as audiences saw, it sets up exciting things to come.
Directed by Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings helmer Destin Daniel Cretton, Spider-Man: Brand New Day follows the “most truthful version” of the webslinger as he continues to protect New York City anonymously and investigates a powerful new threat, all while his superpowers undergo a surprising and potentially dangerous evolution. Also reprising their roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) are Mark Ruffalo, Jacob Batalon, and Jon Bernthal, joining newcomers Sadie Sink, Tramell Tillman, Liza Colon-Zayas, Marvin Jones, and more.
It’s hardly the only victory for the trio of Bernthal, Zendaya, and Holland. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, in which they co-star, is still going strong in second place. The adaptation of Homer’s classic epic has surpassed US$911 million globally after just three weekends in theatres, and is on track to break into the 2026 billion-dollar club alongside Spider-Man: Brand New Day, following Toy Story 5 (US$1.02 billion), The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (US$1.001 billion), and Michael (US$1.001 billion). All eyes are on the combined staying power of the two films, which will determine whether this summer’s box office can cross the US$4 billion milestone for the second time since COVID.
Matt Damon plays Odysseus in the action-fantasy, who undergoes a long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War and encounters mythical beings as he attempts to reunite with his wife, Penelope (Hathaway), and his son, Telemachus (Holland). Other members of the star-studded cast include Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Elliot Page, John Leguizamo, and Samantha Morton.
Trailing behind its US$51 million domestic weekend gross are Toy Story 5 (US$6.3 million), Universal’s Minions & Monsters (US$5.8 million), and the live-action Moana, rounding out the top five. The remake of the 2016 animated feature was off to a poor start and has racked up US$261 million worldwide so far — just slightly higher than its US$250 million production budget.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
