Real stunts, relatable emotions: How 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' is fighting superhero fatigue

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Set us as preferred Almost five years ago, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” swung into theaters in the teeth of a COVID-19 surge and did what almost nothing else could that winter: drove cooped-up moviegoers to cinemas and opened to one of the biggest domestic debuts on record, pulling in $260 million.This weekend, Peter Parker is back — a little older, more world-weary and facing a far less forgiving market.The genre’s floor has dropped out since then.Annual box office revenue for superhero movies is down, on average, about $3.5 billion, about half of what it was during the pre-pandemic years of 2017 to 2019, according to data from the FranchiseRe industry newsletter.Sony Pictures is betting that more real-world stunts, a relatable narrative and Spidey’s lasting popularity are enough to put “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” on the other side of that trend.Whatever the approach, the commercial appetite is there.

Pre-sales for the film, which stars Tom Holland and Zendaya, have been robust, and industry tracking estimates an opening weekend haul of at least $195 million in the U.S.and Canada.

If that holds, it would be the year’s biggest domestic debut, beating Walt Disney Co.and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” ($159.7 million).

The movie cost about $225 million to produce and is produced by Sony’s Columbia Pictures, Marvel Studios and Pascal Pictures.“This movie takes a grounded, emotional approach to the story, and I actually believe that’s what audiences are hungry for,” said Tom Rothman, chairman of Sony’s motion picture group.“It’s got all the whiz-bang wow visuals.

But at its heart, it’s more a superperson movie, if you will, rather than a superhero movie.” Hollywood Inc.Sony Pictures’ reopening of the Cinerama Dome shows that the studio -- like many -- see an opportunity with in-person experiences...