Spider-Man: Brand New Day achieved the strongest opening for a U.S. comic-book film in China in at least seven years, reaching more than $16.5 million by midday on Wednesday and tracking toward a first-day total of $37.4 million according to local ticketing tracker Maoyan.
Box-office forecasters project substantial numbers for the film’s complete theatrical run in the market. Maoyan estimated a $255 million total, while competitor Dengta projected over $265 million, figures that would position the title as Hollywood’s largest China gross since Avengers: Endgame in 2019 and ahead of Avatar: The Way of Water’s $246 million. Presales reached $18.6 million, marking the highest for any imported film in the preceding three years.
The performance reflects renewed interest in the Spider-Man franchise following Spider-Man: Far From Home’s 2019 release, which opened to $98 million over its opening weekend and finished at $199 million. Its successor, Spider-Man: No Way Home, never released in China after local regulators objected to the Statue of Liberty’s prominence in the climax. U.S. superhero films have faced significant headwinds in the Chinese market since a regulatory block from mid-2019 to early 2023, with recent Marvel entries generally underperforming compared to earlier years.
Sony and Marvel extended special market considerations for Brand New Day, granting China the world’s earliest release date, two days before North America, along with exclusive Imax screenings. Stars Tom Holland and Zendaya attended the Shanghai premiere, where Holland discussed Jackie Chan’s involvement with the production. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film received strong critical reception with a Rotten Tomatoes score around 90 percent. Industry analysts project a North American opening in the $180 million range and a global launch exceeding $425 million.
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