Spider-Man: Brand New Day Test Screening Reactions Reportedly Excellent

Spider-Man: Brand New Day may already be in strong shape, as new chatter claims the movie recently had a test screening that left viewers happy with what they saw.

According to scooper MyTimeToShineH, there was a recent test screening for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and the reaction was “overwhelmingly positive.” Cryptic HD Quality also weighed in, saying they had only heard about one screening and that it was internal, but added, “The people who saw it were very pleased.”

That lines up with what John Campea says he has heard, while also noting that fans should usually be careful with test screening rumors.

John Campea Says He Heard The Reaction Was “Beyond Excellent”

On The John Campea Show, Campea first warned fans not to believe every test screening report that pops up online.

“Whenever you see a report about test screenings, don’t believe them,” Campea said, adding that most of that chatter is “BS” unless it comes from a studio exec, the director, or an actor involved in the movie.

However, Campea said this case is different because director Destin Daniel Cretton has apparently acknowledged that small test screenings have taken place.

Campea said he had already heard about the screenings before Cretton’s comments. According to Campea, he spoke with someone “pretty well connected” who told him there had been “a couple of test screenings,” and the word he was given was that reactions were “better than they hoped” and “beyond excellent.”

He later repeated the two biggest takeaways from what he had heard: the test audience responses were “better than they were even hoping for,” and the short descriptor was “excellent.”

Destin Daniel Cretton Reportedly Confirms Small Screenings

Campea also pointed to comments from director Destin Daniel Cretton, who said he is excited about how the movie is connecting with audiences.

“I can’t say what happens, but I am very, very excited about the movie,” Cretton said, according to Campea’s recap. “I’m really excited about the small test screenings and how it’s connecting with the audience. Of course, it’s a big blockbuster. It’s super fun. It’s got all the heart and humor you’d want from a Spider-Man movie.”

Campea admitted that a director praising his own movie is not exactly shocking, comparing it to a chef saying his own dish is delicious. But his bigger point is that Cretton’s comments appear to confirm that screenings have happened, which makes the earlier buzz more interesting.

A Different Kind Of Spider-Man Movie

Campea also said the footage shown so far has a clear tonal shift from Homecoming, Far From Home, and No Way Home.

He said the change feels “appropriate,” “right,” and “earned” because Peter Parker is in a completely different place in his life after Doctor Strange’s spell. Peter is no longer just a high school kid, and Ned and MJ have also moved on with their lives.

The discussion also touched on the movie bringing Spider-Man back to a more grounded, street-level place. The Punisher is involved, Scorpion is expected to return, and Peter is no longer leaning on Stark tech or Doctor Strange.

Campea said one of the movie’s promises is that it could be “the most Spider-Man of the Spider-Man movies,” because Peter has been reset and is struggling again. He also noted that Peter now has “just a Spider-Man costume,” not an Iron Man-style armor suit.

More Emotional, More Neighborhood Spider-Man

The reaction makes sense with the script pages EW recently released, which show Peter alone after the events of No Way Home, still holding onto memories of MJ, Ned, and Aunt May.

Those pages revealed Peter in his apartment, building his own gear, dealing with headaches, and reading from the letter he never gave MJ. The scene also showed him watching Ned and MJ from afar as they move on with their lives, while Peter chooses to continue as Spider-Man.

Campea said the material shown at CinemaCon was “legit emotional” and “really got you in the feels.”

Test Screenings Don’t Guarantee A Hit

As always, test screening buzz should be treated carefully. Positive internal reactions do not guarantee the final movie will work for everyone, and test screenings can also lead to changes.

Campea made that point himself, saying the response so far “doesn’t guarantee” the movie will be fantastic. It only means the limited number of people who have seen it seem to enjoy it.

Still, the early word is encouraging. Between the reported positive screenings, Cretton’s comments, the emotional script pages, and the more back-to-basics Spider-Man setup, Brand New Day looks like it may be taking Peter Parker exactly where many fans wanted him to go after No Way Home.

Release Info

Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters July 31, 2026.

The movie stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, with Destin Daniel Cretton directing. The cast also includes Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Mando, Sadie Sink, and Tramell Tillman.