REVIEW: Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026 Film) - Starring Tom Holland

Review by Jon Donnis

After the disaster that was Supergirl, we needed a good superhero film, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day is just that. It is far from perfect, and low expectations have probably helped elevate it, but this is a surprisingly mature and heartfelt Spider-Man film that puts Peter Parker's emotional journey ahead of the wider MCU.

Tom Holland gives a soulful, emotionally strong performance as a Peter who has spent four years alone, protecting New York while the people he once loved have forgotten he exists. The film gives him meaningful development as he gradually realises that being Spider-Man does not mean shutting everyone else out. His loneliness could have been explored more deeply, but the relationship with MJ provides some of the film's strongest emotional material. Peter remembers everything they shared while she remembers nothing, creating a genuinely painful dynamic without resorting to an easy resolution.

Sadie Sink is a standout as Jean Grey. Rather than functioning as a generic Marvel antagonist, Jean is given understandable motivations rooted in grief and loss. Her connection with Peter eventually becomes one of the film's most affecting elements, while the story allows her to remain sympathetic without excusing her actions.

The film also benefits from a strong supporting cast. Jon Bernthal's Punisher is a likeable addition, while Florence Pugh's Yelena and Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner provide entertaining contributions. Unfortunately, there are simply too many characters and plotlines competing for attention. Peter can sometimes feel sidelined in his own film, while several supporting characters never receive enough development.

The action is consistently impressive, with strong set pieces supported by excellent practical effects, visual effects, cinematography and score. Importantly, the film avoids relying on endless CGI spectacle. The action has physical weight, although it lacks the invention of the Spider-Verse films and never approaches the heights of Spider-Man 2.

The biggest problem is the structure. The story feels clunkily episodic, and at 145 minutes it is unnecessarily long. Too much time is devoted to setting up future MCU material, weakening a film that works considerably better when it focuses on Peter and Jean. The final act also veers into a Stranger Things-style supernatural storyline that feels less distinctive than what came before.

In my opinion the film should have been more radical. The premise offered an opportunity for a genuine reboot, but Brand New Day still carries considerable MCU baggage. The post-credits scene does little to justify that baggage, serving primarily as another piece of franchise setup.

Despite those shortcomings, the film gets the important things right. It balances action, humour and emotion effectively, and its emotional stakes generally take priority over franchise building. The result is a Spider-Man film with genuine feeling rather than simply another superhero spectacle.

Superhero fatigue is undoubtedly a problem, but Spider-Man: Brand New Day proves there is still life in the genre when the characters are given something meaningful to lose. It is messy and overstuffed, but Holland and Sink provide the emotional foundation for a film that ultimately earns its place among the better recent Marvel releases.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day scores 8.5 out of 10.

Out in cinemas now!

COMPETITION: Win Hunt For The Wilderpeople: 10th Anniversary on 4K UHD

Visions Home Video has announced the 10th anniversary release of the beloved cult indie comedy directed by Taika Waititi, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, with the opportunity for fans to own the film in glorious 4K for the very first time.

And to celebrate we have a copy on 4K Ultra-HD to give away!

Packed with brand-new bonus features, a double-sided poster, four exclusive art cards, and a stunning new Dolby Vision grade, this is the ultimate edition of the film and the definitive way to experience Ricky and Hec's unforgettable adventure.

Synopsis:

Ricky (Julian Dennison) is a defiant young city kid, placed with a loving rural couple in foster care: the warm and eccentric Aunt Bella (Rima Te Wiata) and her quiet, cantankerous husband, Uncle Hec (Sam Neill). When tragedy strikes, Ricky finds himself on the run with Hec, in the wild New Zealand bush. A relentless national manhunt led by a fanatic Child Services agent (Rachel House) ensues, and the two are forced to set aside their differences in this hilarious, heartfelt adventure.

 

Divided into ten titled chapters, which feature the world’s worst eulogy (courtesy of a fantastic Waititi cameo),a seemingly gigantic wild boar and a climactic car chase that references Thelma & Louise, Hunt for the Wilderpeople presents a comically heightened world. This is the perfect holiday family film and a chance for audiences to rediscover a true cult classic.

 

Hunt for the Wilderpeople was a box office hit, and remains the highest-grossing local film ever in New Zealand box-office history. The film received critical international acclaim, with many critics highlighting Dennison and Neill's performances and chemistry.

Pre-Order from Amazon UK

Enter now for a chance to win.

Who directs Hunt For The Wilderpeople?

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here

1. Closing date 24-08-26

2. No alternative prize is available

3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.

4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

PREVIEW: 49 Miles More (2026 Film) - Starring Reece Henderson and Gregory Fung

Preview by Jon Donnis

Oliver Cox’s refreshing British buddy comedy 49 Miles More is heading to UK digital on 17 August, courtesy of Reel2Reel Films, bringing a warm-hearted story of friendship, growing up and the unexpected adventures that can come from life going completely off course.

Starring Reece Henderson (Lure) and Gregory Fung (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), the film is described as a love letter to coming-of-age classics and the enduring friendships that help us through life’s more difficult moments.

The story follows Max (Henderson), an unlucky insurance salesman, and his fun-loving best friend Doug (Fung) as they set off for their university reunion. Their journey takes an unexpected turn when their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, leaving the chalk-and-cheese pair with little choice but to continue their journey on foot.

What follows is a gruelling 49-mile trek that puts their friendship to the test. With bad detours, questionable decisions and plenty of obstacles standing in their way, the pair are forced to rely on each other as they attempt to reach their destination.

At its heart, 49 Miles More looks set to be a character-driven comedy about the sometimes messy transition into adulthood. Max and Doug may not have much in common, but their friendship has endured, and their unexpected adventure gives them the chance to reflect on where life has taken them and whether growing up really means growing apart.

With its combination of British humour, friendship and a long-distance journey that neither man could have planned for, 49 Miles More could offer an entertaining and relatable take on the buddy comedy when it arrives on UK digital this August.

49 Miles More is on UK digital 17 August from Reel2Reel Films

Apple TV - https://apple.co/4xBZ6wK

PREVIEW: Knightfall (2026 Film) - Starring Geoffrey Moore

Preview by Jon Donnis

Geoffrey Moore, son of James Bond legend Roger Moore, returns to the big screen in Knightfall, a new British spy thriller that takes a distinctly old-school approach to espionage, packed with undercover missions, deadly weapons and a siege that puts its central characters in serious danger.

Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott stars as Ros Knight, an MI5 weapons technician who is unexpectedly drawn into a dangerous black ops mission alongside her field-agent boyfriend Hugh, played by Moore. Their task is straightforward enough: intercept a deadly bioweapon before it can reach British soil. Unfortunately, the operation quickly goes disastrously wrong.

With Ros suddenly on the run and enemies closing in, she and Hugh head to her childhood home, where they seek help from the one person she believes she can trust. That turns out to be her estranged father Charles Knight, a legendary retired spy catcher played by Ian Ogilvy.

The reunion is hardly a quiet one. A heavily armed mercenary squad soon arrives, forcing Ros, Hugh and Charles to put their differences aside and fight to defend the house. As the situation escalates, survival becomes only part of the problem. They also need to keep the bioweapon out of enemy hands and work out exactly who they can trust.

Alongside Moore, Sothcott and Ogilvy, Knightfall features Nick Moran and Michael Paré among its cast, bringing together a mixture of familiar British talent and international action-film experience.

The film looks set to deliver a throwback espionage adventure built around practical action, secret agents, mercenaries and a dangerous conspiracy, with the story moving from covert operations to a full-blown fight for survival.

Knightfall is released digitally and on Blu-ray in the UK on 14 September 2026.

Who Are the Early Contenders for the Next Oscars?

Since we’re already halfway through the year, it’s a good time to look ahead to the next Oscars ceremony. Will one of the recently released movies take the top prizes, or will it be one that hasn’t yet hit our screens? The early indicators suggest a fascinating mixture of styles and stories will be leading the narrative this time.

Expecting a Fierce 2027 Oscars Predictions Market

The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is going to take place in Hollywood in March 2027, covering the films released in 2026. The Dolby Theatre is the expected venue, but before then, we can expect an intense campaign as the leading studios and agents make their pitches.

An interesting aspect of this event will be the predictions market. We can expect a lot of attention will be given to assessing the likelihood of specific people winning certain prizes based on the fact that the predictions market is already up and running in the US.

For instance, the Kalshi platform is available in many states, and, looking at the Kalshi promotional details, they're keen to monetise hype well in advance of large events such as the Oscars, with welcome offers already on the table for new users.

While many people associate these platforms with sports games, they also offer the chance to trade on entertainment industry outcomes such as the recipients of the awards. This means that we can follow the markets to see the probability of each outcome fluctuate over time.  

The Leading Entries

The recent release of The Odyssey starring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway has added a major favourite to the list. There have been criticisms of historical inaccuracies and the fact that the director, Christopher Nolan, has changed some aspects of the story. However, this glowing review on the Roger Ebert site confirms the reasons why The Odyssey is still likely to be among the leading contenders next March.

Project Hail Mary is another hugely discussed 2026 release that has had a major impact. Starring Ryan Gosling as a teacher who is sent into space to carry out a daring mission, it has received mixed reviews. Gosling’s strong performance keeps the movie ticking along nicely, although some reviews point out that the plot is a little bit too obvious at points.

As for the upcoming movies that could make it into the list of favourites, Digger is a black comedy by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, while Wild Horse Nine by Martin McDonagh is set for its international debut at the Venice International Film Festival in September. Dune: Part 3 is the final part in this sci-fi series and is set to be released in mid-December.

Actors and Actresses That Are Among the Expected Nominees

Some of the names mentioned earlier are likely to be nominated in the Best Actor or Best Actress categories. Damon’s outstanding performance as Odysseus has made him an early favourite, while Gosling’s likeable turn in Project Hail Mary should earn him a place on the list. As for actresses, Julianne Moore in The Debut and Renate Reinsve in Fjord are among the early contenders being discussed.

Looking ahead to the next Oscars ceremony gives us another reason to enjoy the latest movies while we watch them and assess their impact. Keep an eye on changes in the market sentiment as new films are released and public opinion is swayed by the latest performances.