Spider-Man: Brand New Day Claims Domestic Box Office Crown, Surpassing Star Wars

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Source: Variety
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Claims Domestic Box Office Crown, Surpassing Star Wars
Photo: Variety
TL;DR

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has officially become the highest-grossing film in North American history, surpassing Star Wars: The Force Awakens with a domestic total of $936.7 million. The film, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and starring Tom Holland, achieved this milestone after 47 days in theaters. Globally, it has earned $2.45 billion, ranking third all-time behind Avatar and Avengers: Endgame. The release also set numerous records, including the biggest domestic opening weekend ($360 million) and the fastest ascent to $900 million domestically.

Key points

  • Spider-Man: Brand New Day surpassed Star Wars: The Force Awakens to become the top-grossing domestic film with $936.7 million.
  • The film earned $2.45 billion globally, placing it third on the all-time worldwide chart.
  • It set records for the biggest domestic opening weekend ($360 million) and fastest time to reach $900 million (36 days).
  • The movie is the fourth solo outing for Tom Holland as Peter Parker, following Spider-Man: No Way Home.
  • Sony and Marvel are using this success to bolster the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday release in December.

Background

Our archive indicates that Spider-Man: Brand New Day had previously overtaken Avengers: Endgame in August 2026 to become the second-highest grossing domestic film. By early September, it was within $13 million of the all-time record held by Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The film's sustained performance contributed to the 2026 summer box office becoming the highest-grossing season ever at $4.765 billion.

How outlets are covering it

Variety emphasizes the film's endurance and word-of-mouth appeal, noting that while it may not reach $1 billion domestically without a re-release, it has secured the all-time domestic title. The Hollywood Reporter highlights the strategic decision by Sony to focus on emotional depth rather than just scale, following the previous Spider-Man film. Deadline provides a detailed breakdown of the specific box office records broken, including the fastest times to reach various domestic milestones. All three outlets agree on the final domestic figure of $936.7 million and the global total of $2.45 billion.

Why it matters

This milestone marks a significant shift in the dominance of superhero franchises at the box office, with Spider-Man now holding the top domestic spot. It also signals a recovery for Marvel Studios after a difficult 2025, setting the stage for the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday. The film's success underscores the continued power of established franchises and strong word-of-mouth in driving long-term box office performance.

What to watch

Disney's Avengers: Doomsday, which reintroduces Robert Downey Jr. as the villain Doctor Doom, is scheduled for release in December. The film's performance will be closely watched as it could potentially challenge the global rankings of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Additionally, a re-release of Avengers: Endgame is planned, which could affect the global rankings.

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