From Queens to Ithaca: “Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey” Could Make for One Historic Weekend at the Movies

Spideysseus might not quite have the same ring as Barbenheimer, nor does it make the same kind of sense given the two films aren’t opening simultaneously, but Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey sharing a weekend at the box office together could still be historic.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters with projections that could place it among the biggest openings ever, while Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey continues its remarkable run across premium screens and theaters, defying expectations all the while. And Tom Holland and Zendaya find themselves at the center of a rare cinematic phenomenon, with major roles in both films. It’s a potentially record-setting weekend that could serve as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when two radically different blockbusters capture audiences’ imaginations simultaneously.

Let’s start with the latest offering; Destin Daniel Cretton and his Spider-Man: Brand New Day team wisely leaned on the true superpowers they had in their possession—the capacities of their cast, led by Tom Holland in his fourth turn as Peter Parker. The result is one of the most critically admired MCU films in years, a grounded, soulful superhero movie that leans on the years of goodwill and connection the film’s cast has built up with audiences, including Zendaya as MJ and Jacob Batalon as Ned, the love of Peter’s life and his best friend, respectively. “Brand New Day offers a maturation not only of its hero, but of the franchise’s entire vision, too,” writes the Independent‘s Clarisse Loughrey. “Now alone and facing dangerous foes, Spider-Man must grow up, a rewarding transformation befitting a consistently smart, thrilling blockbuster,” says Screen International‘s Tim Grierson. “Cretton brings both indie cred and superhero chops to the assignment, but once again, it’s Holland who makes this iteration of Peter Parker/Spider-Man so achingly vulnerable and balletically agile,” writes The Film Verdict‘s Alonso Duralde.

Now, Cretton’s film, set to swing into theaters on July 31, is poised to make history. While much has been made of superhero fatigue over the past few years, it seems that Holland and company are about to sling a big, fat asterisk against that supposition. Current estimates for the opening haul range suggest that Brand New Day could have one of the biggest opening weekends in film history. How big? Box office experts suggest the film could join the ranks of other mega-hits, including the Russo Brothers’ colossal 2019 hit Avengers: Endgame, 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, and 2019’s Avengers: Infinity War, as well as 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens. One major global boost is that Brand New Day is landing day-and-date in China, an advantage over No Way Home, which didn’t play in the country at all.

Brand New Day is set four years after the events in No Way Home, when Peter was forced to make a terrible choice. After having botched Doctor Strange’s spell to wipe Spider-Man’s identity from the minds of millions—Peter kept asking for changes, like making it so MJ, Ned, and Aunt May remembered him—a tear formed in the multiverse, unleashing villains and Peters from alternate universes. No Way Home gave fans the thrill of watching Holland interact with the men who previously played Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire, as the three web slingers battled iconic villains like Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock and Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin. Only now, in Brand New Day, Peter is utterly alone. Neither MJ nor Ned remember him, nor does anyone else. He lost Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) in No Way Home, leaving him facing a new threat and a lonely future without the love of his life or his best friend.

The film also boasts a stellar supporting cast, including Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher, Mark Ruffalo returning as Bruce Banner/the Hulk, Tramell Tillman, and Sadie Sink, in a very mysterious, undisclosed role.

Brand New Day is set to screen on premium large formats except IMAX, where Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey commands the entire network for three weekends. Now, with Brand New Day and The Odyssey sharing a weekend, box office prognosticators are eyeing what could be a truly historic weekend. 

Peter Parker, meet Telemachus; MJ, meet Athena—this is the stuff movie dreams are made of.

L-r: Zendaya and Tom Holland in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” Courtesy Sony Pictures; Matt Damon and Zendaya in “The Odyssey.” Courtesy Universal Pictures.