Sony’s latest Spider-Man film, Brand New Day, is swinging into theaters this weekend with a projected global opening of up to $470 million, according to industry estimates. The Destin Daniel Cretton-directed sequel, co-produced with Marvel Studios, has already set a Hollywood record for promotional partnerships, amassing $309 million in campaign deals—the largest ever for a single film.
The movie marks the ninth live-action Spider-Man installment since 2002 and arrives weeks after the underperformance of DC’s Supergirl. In a press tour interview, star Tom Holland revealed that an early cut of the film, which incorporated feedback from test screenings, was widely disliked by the creative team. “We hated it,” Holland said, calling that version a failure that “totally didn’t work.” The final cut, however, has been well-received.
Additionally, the film finally reveals the character played by Sadie Sink, ending months of fan speculation. Sink portrays a comic-book character, though details remain under wraps for those who haven’t seen the movie.
With the record-breaking promotional campaign and strong box office forecasts, Brand New Day is poised to become one of the biggest openings of the year, even as other superhero franchises face challenges.