What Is Spider-Man: Brand New Day About?

Four years have passed since the events of No Way Home. Peter Parker is still operating anonymously as Spider-Man, protecting New York City with nobody knowing his identity. The film follows Parker as he investigates a powerful new threat while his superpowers begin undergoing a surprising and potentially dangerous evolution.

The "Brand New Day" title is a direct reference to the controversial 2008 Spider-Man comic arc that reset Peter's life and relationships. The MCU version appears to be drawing from that spirit rather than the specific details, using it as a launching point for a fresh chapter of Peter's story rather than a continuation of the No Way Home saga.

Who's in It?

Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker alongside Zendaya as Michelle "MJ" Jones and Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds. The major new addition is Jon Bernthal, reprising his role as Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, from Netflix's Daredevil series. Bernthal's Punisher was last seen in Daredevil: Born Again, and his appearance here suggests the film will carry some of the street-level tone that series established.

Sadie Sink also joins the cast in a role that has not been fully disclosed. Sink, known for her role as Max in Stranger Things, is one of the most anticipated new additions to the MCU, and her role in Brand New Day has been closely guarded ahead of release.

Mark Ruffalo appears as Bruce Banner, bringing some Avengers-level connective tissue to what is otherwise a street-level story.

Who Directed It and Why It Matters

Destin Daniel Cretton is one of Marvel's most trusted directors after delivering Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021 - a film widely praised for its emotional depth, action choreography, and a standout performance from Simu Liu. Cretton also directed the first two episodes of Loki for Disney+ before departing the Kang Dynasty project.

His approach to superhero storytelling tends to prioritize character and family dynamics alongside action spectacle, which fits well with where Peter Parker is in his story: isolated, anonymous, and rebuilding.

Production on Brand New Day was confirmed to start in mid-2025 in London, and Cretton announced the film had wrapped on December 19, 2025. The film is tracking as one of the summer's largest box office releases.

Milly Alcock, who introduced the character in a brief but memorable cameo in 2025's Superman, steps into the lead role here, and by most accounts she is the best thing in the movie. The film itself sits at 57% on Rotten Tomatoes as of opening day, with critics landing somewhere between "decent enough" and "frustrating missed opportunity" depending on the outlet.

What Critics Are Saying

The throughline across reviews is consistent: Alcock is excellent, the film is not. The Hollywood Reporter's chief critic David Rooney called it "an uninspired slog" while still acknowledging Alcock's "hard-edged performance making her an appealingly punky protagonist." That tension - strong lead, weak vehicle - is the defining note of Supergirl's critical reception.

Critics who responded more warmly to the film tend to focus on its Krypton sequences, which offer the kind of alien world-building that DC films do not always invest in properly, and on the chemistry Alcock brings to the character regardless of the material she is working with.

Critics who responded less warmly point to a generic villain with no memorable motivation, a plot structure that hits expected beats without subverting or elevating them, and a second act that loses momentum at exactly the moment it should be building it.

Director Craig Gillespie - who made the sharp, stylish I, Tonya and the surprisingly effective Cruella - does not seem to have had the same creative latitude here that defined his best work.

Who Is Supergirl in the DCU?

This is only the second feature in James Gunn and Peter Safran's relaunched DC Universe, following the well-received Superman earlier in 2025. Milly Alcock's Kara Zor-El is being positioned as a central figure in the new continuity - a version of Supergirl that Gunn has described as more complicated and less straightforwardly heroic than the classic portrayal.

The film's story involves Kara's arrival on Earth and the tension between her Kryptonian identity and the world she finds herself in. Whether those themes land emotionally depends largely on the viewer's patience with the execution. Alcock makes you care. The screenplay does not always give her the moments the performance is reaching for.

Box Office Projections and the Stakes

Supergirl took in $7.8 million in Thursday night previews, which puts its opening weekend trajectory at roughly $47 million to $50 million domestic. The film carries a $170 million production budget. Industry analysis puts its break-even point somewhere around $315 million worldwide, accounting for the production budget and a marketing spend that Warner Bros. has not disclosed publicly.

A $47-50 million domestic opening, assuming a reasonable global multiplier, makes that target achievable but not comfortable. Superman, for comparison, had a significantly larger opening and a more enthusiastic critical reception. Supergirl does not have the same tailwind.

The film is also opening against Toy Story 5, which is in its second weekend after a record-breaking $160 million debut. Toy Story 5 is projected to earn $80-90 million this weekend. Supergirl will be competing for the same family-adjacent audience in some markets.

Milly Alcock's DCU Future

One question the mixed reception raises is what it means for Alcock's long-term role in the DC Universe. The short answer, per most industry analysis, is: not much. Gunn and Safran have publicly committed to Alcock as Supergirl regardless of how this film performs at the box office, and that position is consistent with how they have handled other early DCU introductions.

The performance itself makes that commitment easy to understand. Whatever reservations critics have about Supergirl as a film, there is broad consensus that Alcock has the presence, the physicality, and the emotional range to carry a superhero franchise. The foundation is there. The right film just needs to be built on top of it.

What Works and What Does Not

To be fair to Supergirl, there is genuine craft on display in the film. The action sequences are well-executed, the visual approach to Krypton is distinctive, and Alcock's performance grounds scenes that the script does not earn on its own. There are moments that suggest what this film could have been with a sharper screenplay.

The villain problem is real though. A superhero film is only as compelling as its antagonist, and Supergirl's primary antagonist fails to leave an impression. They have motivation in the sense that the script explains what they want, but no menace, no specificity, no sense that this particular character could only exist in this particular story.

Conclusion

Supergirl is worth seeing for Milly Alcock's performance alone. She is doing something real in a film that does not fully meet her effort. Whether that is enough to recommend a theater ticket depends on how much you value watching a great lead performance versus how frustrated you get when the movie around it underdelivers. For DCU fans, the Alcock era is clearly going to be something - this just was not the ideal introduction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Supergirl 2026 good?

Mixed reviews. Critics widely praise Milly Alcock's performance but find the film itself generic, with a bland villain and an underwritten second act. It currently holds a 57% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Who plays Supergirl in the 2026 movie?

Milly Alcock, best known for playing young Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon.

Who directed Supergirl 2026?

Craig Gillespie, director of I, Tonya and Cruella.

How much did Supergirl cost to make?

The production budget is $170 million. It needs approximately $315 million worldwide to break even.

How much did Supergirl make in previews?

$7.8 million in Thursday night previews, with opening weekend projected between $47 million and $50 million domestic.

Is Supergirl connected to the 2025 Superman movie?

Yes. Milly Alcock's Supergirl appeared in a cameo in Superman (2025) before headlining this film. Both are part of James Gunn and Peter Safran's new DC Universe continuity.

Have you seen Supergirl yet? Let us know what you thought of Milly Alcock's performance in the comments.

The Opening Weekend Numbers

Toy Story 5 launched to $160 million domestically in its opening weekend - the biggest opening of 2026 so far and the second-best opening ever for an animated film in North America, trailing only Incredibles 2's $183.6 million from 2018. Internationally, the film added $152 million for a global debut of $312 million.

For context, Toy Story 4 - which was itself considered a strong performer - opened to $120.9 million in 2019. Toy Story 5 has already surpassed that number in its domestic opening weekend alone. Audiences gave the film an A CinemaScore, and it holds a 93% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling exceptional word of mouth that should sustain strong numbers through the summer.

What the Film Is About

Toy Story 5 is directed by Andrew Stanton, a Pixar veteran whose credits include Finding Nemo and Wall-E. The film reunites Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and the rest of Bonnie's toy collection for a new story built around a genuinely modern anxiety: Bonnie has become increasingly attached to her Lilypad, a kiddie smart tablet that is pulling her attention away from her toys.

The setup positions technology and childhood imagination in direct conflict - a theme that lands differently depending on how old you are when you watch it. For kids, it is a story about a toy feeling left behind. For the parents in the audience who grew up with the original trilogy, it carries a pointed and slightly uncomfortable reflection on what screens have done to the ways children play.

Whether the film earns its emotional payoff in the same way the original trilogy did is a matter of some debate among critics, but the broad consensus is that Stanton's direction brings Pixar's craft to bear on a story that has real things to say.

Second Weekend Projections

Toy Story 5 is projected to earn $80 million to $90 million in its second weekend - a hold that would be remarkable even by strong film standards. That number comes despite the film facing two significant new wide releases: Supergirl and Jackass: Best and Last, both opening today.

Supergirl is projected at $47-50 million domestically. Jackass: Best and Last is expected to land around $20-25 million. Neither threatens Toy Story 5 in terms of head-to-head competition - the film is playing to a different audience with a level of goodwill that opening weekend releases rarely carry into their second weekends at this scale.

If the $80-90 million second weekend projection holds, Toy Story 5 will have crossed $250 million domestically in two weekends, putting it firmly on a trajectory toward the franchise's best domestic run ever.

Why This Matters for Pixar

The studio's original films have had a rough few years commercially. Lightyear, Elemental, and Turning Red all underperformed theatrically for various reasons - a mix of pandemic-era streaming releases that conditioned audiences to expect Pixar on Disney+ and a string of films that, despite often receiving solid critical reception, did not generate the kind of theatrical urgency that the IP sequels reliably produce.

Toy Story 5 arriving with a $160 million opening sends a clear message about what Pixar's theatrical ceiling still is when it brings back its most beloved franchise. It also raises the now-familiar question of how much runway original Pixar films have in a market that increasingly rewards recognizable IP above everything else.

The Franchise Record Context

Toy Story 5's opening pushes the franchise into new territory across every meaningful metric:

• Biggest domestic opening in the Toy Story franchise, surpassing Toy Story 4's $120.9M
• Biggest global opening in the franchise
• Second-best animated opening ever in North America
• 93% on Rotten Tomatoes - on par with Toy Story (100%), Toy Story 2 (100%), and Toy Story 3 (98%), and above Toy Story 4 (97%)

Strong critical scores for animated sequels tend to correlate with very long theatrical runs, driven by repeat viewings from families and word-of-mouth that sustains admissions through the summer.

Is It as Good as Toy Story 3?

Every Toy Story sequel since Toy Story 3 has faced the same unanswerable critical question, and Toy Story 5 is not immune to it. Toy Story 3 is widely considered one of the most emotionally complete animated films ever made and one of the best trilogy-cappers in cinema. Toy Story 4 took the franchise to a different emotional place and divided longtime fans who felt the trilogy had its ending.

Toy Story 5 is not trying to be Toy Story 3. From what critics describe, it is making a more specific argument about technology and childhood rather than reaching for the same generational catharsis that the third film provided. What is not in question is that audiences are responding. $160 million in a single weekend does not happen by accident.

Conclusion

Toy Story 5 is a certified hit and one of Pixar's biggest moments in years. Whatever the long-term critical conversation looks like once the dust settles, the film has already done something significant: it reminded audiences that a Pixar theatrical event is still worth leaving the house for. That is not nothing in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did Toy Story 5 make opening weekend?

$160 million domestically, $312 million worldwide. The second-biggest animated opening ever in North America.

What is Toy Story 5 about?

Woody, Buzz, and the rest of Bonnie's toys face a new challenge when Bonnie becomes increasingly attached to a smart tablet called a Lilypad, pulling her away from her toys.

Who directed Toy Story 5?

Andrew Stanton, director of Finding Nemo and Wall-E.

What is Toy Story 5's Rotten Tomatoes score?

93% as of its opening weekend.

How does Toy Story 5 compare to the other Toy Story films?

It is the highest-grossing domestic opening in the franchise's history, surpassing Toy Story 4. It holds a critics score on par with Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3.

Is Toy Story 5 on Disney+?

As of opening weekend, Toy Story 5 is a theatrical-only release. No Disney+ date has been announced.

Have you seen Toy Story 5 yet? Is it up there with the original trilogy for you? Tell us what you thought in the comments.

The new He-Man movie was supposed to be Amazon MGM Studios' summer tentpole. Masters of the Universe had a $170 million production budget, a cast that includes Nicholas Galitzine, Jared Leto, Idris Elba, Kristen Wiig, and Annette Bening, a director with genuine credits in Travis Knight, and the full weight of one of the most recognizable toy and cartoon franchises from the 1980s. It opened June 5, 2026, and earned $29.43 million domestically in its first weekend. That is not a misprint.

Three weeks later, the film has a worldwide total of $104 million against a production budget that almost certainly required north of $300 million in global receipts to break even once marketing is factored in. Masters of the Universe is one of 2026's most expensive box office failures, and the reasons for it are worth examining.

What the Film Is

Masters of the Universe is a live-action adaptation of the Mattel franchise directed by Travis Knight and written by Chris Butler, Aaron Nee, Adam Nee, and David Callaham. Nicholas Galitzine plays Prince Adam, the reluctant heir to the throne of Eternia who becomes He-Man. Jared Leto plays Skeletor, the film's primary antagonist. The story follows Prince Adam returning to Eternia to claim his destiny and defend the planet from Skeletor's forces.

Travis Knight is a genuinely good filmmaker. Bumblebee is a well-regarded blockbuster that exceeded expectations by treating a Transformers movie with actual care. Knights of the Round Table was an ambitious period epic. The presence of his name on Masters of the Universe suggested a film that might do for He-Man what Bumblebee did for Bumblebee - find the soul of the property beneath the noise of the franchise.

The critical reception suggests that did not happen. The film currently holds a score on Rotten Tomatoes that places it in the same range as a movie that audiences and critics tolerate rather than embrace. Empire called it "delightfully silly" in one of the more charitable reads. Other reviewers were less generous, citing a tonal mismatch between the film's campy aspirations and its budget-driven obligation to function as a serious blockbuster.

What Went Wrong

The Jared Leto factor. This is not a minor consideration. Tron: Ares in 2025 was one of last year's most prominent box office disasters, and that failure landed clearly at the feet of casting. There is no meaningful evidence at this point in Leto's career that his presence in a blockbuster generates ticket sales. His casting as Skeletor was controversial from the first announcement, and the film's marketing was unable to effectively reposition him as a draw.

The nostalgia gap. Masters of the Universe the cartoon ran from 1983 to 1985. Its core audience is now in their 40s and 50s - a demographic that does not drive box office openings the way it once did, particularly for a property that has not had a major cultural moment in decades. The film needed to generate enthusiasm from Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences who have no personal connection to the source material. It failed to do that.

The budget versus the market. A $170 million production budget in 2026 is a significant bet on a franchise with uncertain mainstream appeal. For context, that budget is in the same range as films built around established, proven IP with continuous cultural presence. He-Man does not have that. The math required to justify a $170 million investment was never clearly there.

The 1987 shadow. The original 1987 Masters of the Universe film with Dolph Lundgren is remembered, if it is remembered at all, as a campy disaster. Rebooting a franchise with that legacy requires either fully embracing the camp or decisively leaving it behind. The 2026 film, by multiple critical accounts, did not commit to either direction cleanly.

What It Means for the Franchise

Amazon MGM has not publicly commented on whether Masters of the Universe will receive a sequel. Given the box office performance, the path to a sequel is extremely narrow. Mattel had been building toward a cinematic universe approach following the Barbie phenomenon in 2023, and Masters of the Universe was positioned as one of the anchors for that strategy. That strategy will need to be significantly reconsidered.

Nicholas Galitzine, for his part, is not the story here. He is a talented actor who acquitted himself well enough in a film that did not give him the material to work with. His career will not be defined by this.

Conclusion

Masters of the Universe is the kind of box office disappointment that raises uncomfortable questions about what IP actually means in 2026. The franchise name recognition that looked like an asset in the pitch room turned out to be less valuable at the ticket window than a $170 million budget required it to be. The film is not unwatchable - but it is not the kind of thing audiences felt compelled to leave the house for. In a summer where Toy Story 5 opened to $160 million and Supergirl cleared $47 million on mixed reviews, He-Man's $29 million is a meaningful verdict.

FAQ

How much did Masters of the Universe 2026 make? $29.43 million domestically in its opening weekend, with a current worldwide total of approximately $104 million.

What was the budget for Masters of the Universe 2026? The production budget was $170 million. Breaking even likely required over $300 million worldwide including marketing costs.

Who plays He-Man in the 2026 movie? Nicholas Galitzine, best known for Red, White and Royal Blue and The Idea of You.

Who plays Skeletor in the 2026 movie? Jared Leto.

Who directed Masters of the Universe 2026? Travis Knight, who previously directed Bumblebee.

Is Masters of the Universe 2026 getting a sequel? No sequel has been announced, and the box office performance makes one unlikely in the near term.

“Predator: Badlands,” which stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, is set in the future on a remote planet, where a young Predator (Schuster-Koloamatangi), outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia (Fanning) and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary. The film is directed by Dan Trachtenberg and produced by John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt, Brent O’Connor. In Theaters Nov. 7th

Rotten tomatoes made a great compilation video adding all the new movie trailers for this week April 15th. I am looking forward to Tron and Predator as they tend to lean into my wheel house when it comes to movie genres, but Havoc looks really good along with Home Sweet Home: Rebirth are looking like they might be pretty good exciting movies. What are your thoughts on some of the new release trailers?

Tron: Ares
Predator: Killer of Killers
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
The Phoenician Scheme
Culpa Nuestra
Havoc
G20
Ponyboi
Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie
I Don’t Understand You
Juliet & Romeo
Sketch
The Kingdom
Unit 234
Home Sweet Home: Rebirth

"The Electric State," directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, has garnered predominantly negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a low critic score of 15%, indicating widespread disapproval. Critics have pointed out issues such as excessive exposition, lackluster storytelling, and underdeveloped characters. For instance, a review from InSession Film describes it as "an expensive story about collective synergy and the idea that 'family is what you make it.' Yet, it lacks cohesion and, even worse, fun—pure cotton candy cinema at its worst." ​

Despite the critical panning, audience reactions have been more favorable. The film has achieved a 79% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6/10 rating on IMDb, suggesting that some viewers found it entertaining. However, it's worth noting that the film's viewership declined rapidly after its initial release, dropping from Netflix's No. 1 spot to No. 5 within a week. ​Tom's Guide

In summary, while "The Electric State" boasts impressive visual effects and a star-studded cast, it has been criticized for its storytelling and character development. Potential viewers may want to consider both the critical reviews and audience opinions before deciding to watch the film.​

Critics Pan 'The Electric State' Despite Audience Approval

So Which Movies are you more excited to see this year? there are just so many that im dying to see and some that dont really feel like they should be made. but 28 years later is going to be dope! Now this isnt a full list of all the movies coming out but definitely alot that has the potential to become blockbusters

Let us know in the comments which ones you are most excited for?

28 Years Later is an upcoming post-apocalyptic horror film produced and directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland. The third in the 28 Days Later film series, following 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007), it stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes. The film marks the returns of Boyle, Garland, and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle to the series, all of whom worked on the original 28 Days Later film, with that film's star Cillian Murphy also serving as an executive producer.

It is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom and the United States by Sony Pictures Releasing on 20 June 2025. It was shot back-to-back with its sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple which was directed by Nia DaCosta, written by Garland, and produced by Boyle and Garland.

Jurassic World Rebirth hits theaters this July 2nd, with Godzilla and Rogue One director Gareth Edwards at the helm, hoping to bring the franchise back to its terrifying roots.

Jurassic World Rebirth takes place after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, on a version of Earth that has been filled with dinosaurs. In the years between the films, most dinosaurs have retreated to some islands near the equator, where the climate is still hospitable for them. A team is sent in to take some DNA from the dinos, in order to help create a potential cure for human heart disease.

Plot summary

Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet's environment has shown itself to be mainly inhospitable to dinosaurs. The survivors now live in remote tropical regions with conditions similar to those in which they were formerly abundant. Zora Bennett, a covert operative, is hired to work with paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis and team leader Duncan Kincaid on a top-secret mission. Their goal is to locate the three largest creatures within the tropics and acquire their DNA, which contains the key to a drug that will miraculously save human lives.^[

The team crosses paths with a civilian family whose boating adventure was overturned by roving aquatic dinosaurs, leaving them all stranded on an island. Once the site of Jurassic Park's research laboratory, the group discovers that the island is home to failed, mutated dinosaurs which have thrived there for decades

What are your thoughts on the continuation of the Jurassic Series? Is it a good series to continue moving forward with or should we have left it the way it was? Let us know in the comments down Below