Spidey’s Sense for Success
Despite a general decline in the popularity of superhero films, the latest Spider-Man sequel, 'Brand New Day,' has achieved significant box-office success. The article attributes this to a more streamlined, street-level narrative that contrasts with the broader, fatigue-inducing Marvel Cinematic Universe entries.
Why it matters
The success of this film suggests that audiences may be shifting their preferences toward more focused, character-driven superhero stories rather than expansive cinematic universes.
The masked web-slinger has been setting box-office records for decades, even as the popularity of superhero movies wanes.
Illustration by Paul Spella / The Atlantic. Sources: Getty; Shutterstock. August 14, 2026 Share Save This has been a terrific year for movie theaters. Cinemas are on course for their best financial year since before the coronavirus pandemic, powered by large-scale hits such as The Odyssey and surprise small-budget smashes, particularly Obsession and Backrooms . Fears about the decline of the big-screen experience amid the rise of at-home streaming seem to have begun dissipating. But one theatrical stalwart is showing serious signs of weakness: the superhero movie, which helped keep blockbusters afloat for most of the 2010s. Marvel’s most anticipated title last year, The Fantastic Four: First Steps —which reintroduced the fan-favorite comic-book team—failed to meet the studio’s lofty expectations; this June’s DC Comics adaptation of Supergirl was an out-and-out bomb.
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