5 ways Spider-Man: Brand New Day has redefined the MCU’s superhero storytelling [Spoilers alert]

Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the latest offering in Marvel Studios' onset of the upcoming multiversal climax of Avengers: Doomsday is a film that actually steps away from the current status quo.

Being the 'street-level' Spidey film that fans have wanted from the Tom Holland-led franchise for years, the film not only reinvents the live-action version of the character but also redefines the superhero genre to pay a simple ode to the human-ness of characters underneath the grandeur and spectacle. With the film now out for a week Spider-Man: Brand New Day has bagged the global box office record of 2nd highest opening weekend collection — $932 million, right behind Avengers: Endgame (2019).

To understand what makes this fourth Spider-Man film (directed by Destin Daniel Cretton) set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) have such an impact in the superhero genre, we look at some of the key plot details and narrative and thematic areas. Spoilers ahead!

While the odd superhero (and a much younger Tom Holland Spider-Man) have been seen revelling in their power often without fully realising the real-world implications of them wielding it, the weight of it may often seem lost. Peter's isolated life in the film brought about by the ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home has induced has caused significant emotional and pysiological stress. This has led to the mutation of his arachnid DNA, splurting his powers and abilities out of his control. Peter navigates absorbing the overloaded and heightened, almost painful sensory across various points of the film

While multiple superhero films today do not often provide more detailed shades to the antagonist. Jean Grey, who is primarily a portganist in the X-Men storylines, begins her journey in the MCU as a sister who is in search of her sister, who was abducted for cruel experimentation because of her powers. The film matches Spider-Man's journey with Jean's mirroring identical internal crises — social isolation and loss of control over their own powers. This conflict between the two ultimately requires compassion and understanding for resolution rather than a large throd-act battle of powers and wits.

Ned Leed's who once took pride in being Spider-Man's guy in the chair, now becomes a vital force for the web-slinger's actions in the film. Rather than just being a tech genius whose Spidey-Tracker invention eventually helps The Punisher track down Spider-Man in the third act, Ned's friendship is what seeimngly seeps through the magical spell that erased Peter's memory as Spider-Man from his mind — become a vital bookend to this story.

While superhero films often highlight and celebrate the coming together of lead characters who are romanticlly involved, Spider-Man: Brand New Day involves an important scene between MJ and Peter, when she re-learns of his true identity as the web-slinger. MJ highlights how the memory wipe has affected how she views her relationship with Peter now — not that of a partner. While we as the audience learn of what it means to Peter, his acceptance to the end makes for a more sensitive approach to writing relationship in a superhero film.

Peter's selflessness is costing him dearly. The deterioration of his sleep, health and relationships are real-world consequences he faces as a result, often giving into his Spider-Man moniker more than his own.