Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for movies like Spider-Man: Brand New Day:
Thunderbolts*
Thunderbolts* may not feature the most iconic names in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it finds unexpected strength in its emotional core and character-driven storytelling. Directed by Jake Schreier, making his MCU debut after co-directing the acclaimed series Beef, Thunderbolts* brings together a group of misfit characters from previous MCU movies and television series like Black Widow, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Ant-Man and the Wasp to form a surprisingly effective and introspective superhero team-up.
Predator: Badlands
Predator: Badlands is a baffling turn for Dan Trachtenberg after the clean thrills of Prey and the surprise bite of the animated Predator: Killer of Killers. Coming off those entries in his Predator reboot, I expected craft, tension, and clever constraint. What arrives is scale without spectacle, a loud, CG smeared detour that forgets why this series works.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The Fantastic Four: First Steps makes a case that goopy, comic book looking superhero movies are back. In Superman, it felt like a conscious choice from James Gunn to lean into cartoons and pulp. Here it reads more like a limitation. The visual effects often look unfinished, and the soundstage lighting keeps scenes flat. As a soft reset for Marvel Studios, that is a frustrating place to start, even if the core family arrives with potential.
Superman
I had mixed feelings heading into James Gunn’s 2025 Superman, his latest take on one of the most iconic superheroes in popular culture. Early trailers and previews left me underwhelmed, with so-so CGI and dialogue that didn’t land. Die-hard Superman fans seemed intrigued by Gunn’s approach, especially since this film effectively ends the DCEU and launches a newly defined DCU.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Chris Pine leads a team of ragtag thieves on a journey throughout an expansive world. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a movie that contains a mighty cast and includes many moving parts – all of which excel in harmony.
Read our full review of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania serves as a critical turning point in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie simultaneously introduces Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror and tries to steer the inconsistent MCU back on track. It may not entirely succeed, but Paul Rudd‘s latest movie has a few glimmering pieces.
The Flash
The Flash doesn’t do the skeleton of the DCEU any favors. A cartoonish and goopy visual mess, the movie shows the worst of this expanded universe – cobbled together crossovers and derivative stakes.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse continues what the first film did so well – feel like something you’ve never seen before. An intense thrill ride that explores carving your own path and not staying constrained to the expectations set before you.
Deadpool & Wolverine
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has faced challenges since its peak with Avengers: Endgame in 2019. Public interest has waned, and while Marvel continues striving to recapture that magic, it often comes at the expense of patience and character development. This trend is evident in Deadpool & Wolverine, which prioritizes cameos, quick laugh lines, and flashy action sequences over meaningful storytelling or fully realized characters.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem does just enough to get by, relying on innocent jokes and beautiful art style to win viewers over. While maybe not the overwhelming achievement like the Spider-Verse movies or The Mitchells vs. The Machines (two Sony properties that feel like huge inspirations for this picture), Mutant Mayhem finds its own space by delivering to fans longing for a reimagining of this universe.
Read our full review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
READ MORE: Movies Like Thunderbolts*, Movies Like Predator: Badlands
