Spider-Man: Brand New Day has officially surpassed Star Wars: The Force Awakens to become the highest-grossing movie of all time in North America. The film's domestic box office total has reached $936.773 million, placing it slightly ahead of The Force Awakens' $936 million. While inflation is a factor when comparing films released over a decade apart, this milestone represents a significant commercial success for the sequel.
Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman attributed the film's widespread appeal to its focus on a relatable human story. He described Brand New Day not merely as a superhero film, but as a "super-person film," highlighting its exploration of loneliness and emotional resonance as key drivers of its popularity. "The secret is it's a relatable story that almost everybody has related to," Rothman stated.
The film's narrative picks up years after the events of No Way Home, depicting Peter Parker's struggles with isolation following a memory-wipe spell cast by Doctor Strange. The early portion of the movie delves into Parker's inner turmoil and the end of his relationship with MJ, further emphasizing the film's emotional core.
Globally, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has grossed $2.4 billion, making it the third-highest-grossing film worldwide behind Avatar and Avengers: Endgame. It is unlikely to overtake those two titans, which have respective global totals of $2.9 billion and $2.7 billion.
Looking ahead, director Destin Daniel Cretton is reportedly set to return for the fifth Tom Holland-starring Spider-Man movie, a move that comes as little surprise given Brand New Day's box office performance. The potential success of this December's Avengers: Doomsday, which may feature a Spider-Man from this or another universe, remains to be seen in relation to Brand New Day's record-breaking domestic run.