Both of my kids have gone through a Spider-Man phase. I have the Spider-Man costumes, graphic tees, toys, and cute home videos to prove it. In fact, a fan-favorite show in my household is Marvel’s animated show, Spidey and His Amazing Friends. So, when my 5-year-old asked if we could watch the newest (and highly anticipated) Spider-Man movie, which debuted on July 31, 2026, it had me questioning, “Is Spider-Man: Brand New Day OK for kids?”
While I knew that the newest Spidey flick is rated PG-13, I wondered if the scary scenes, storyline, and themes would be something my son could handle. So, I took it upon myself to preview the film—without him—to decide if it’s appropriate for kids. To cut straight to the point, I won’t be taking my 5-year-old to the theater for a family-friendly movie night this time around. But if you’re wondering what age Spider-Man: Brand New Day is best suited for and why, plus what to expect, I’m sharing all the details that parents should know (without any spoilers!).
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Quick Summary of Spider-Man: Brand New Day
- Rating: PG-13
- Run time: 2h 25m
- Recommended age: 13+
- My parent-age recommendation: 11+
- Violence: high-stakes peril, comic book-style fighting, weapons, bodily injuries, and explosions
- Language: mild profanity
- Alcohol & drugs: one drinking scene
- Frightening scenes: yes
- Positive messages: themes of self-acceptance and value of human connection
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90% critics, 98% audience
What Is Spider-Man: Brand New Day About?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which premiered in theaters on July 31, 2026, is the fourth installment of the Spider-Man movies starring the beloved Tom Holland as *the* Spider-Man. Other well-known actors in the film include the one-and-only Zendaya, Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, Florence Pugh, and more. Previous films include Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).
And if you need a quick refresher before you head to the movie theater, the films are about a high school student named Peter Parker, who accidentally gets bitten by a radioactive spider. He develops superhuman strength and spidey senses that turn him into the crime-fighting, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man we’ve all come to love.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day picks up where Spider-Man: No Way Home left off. Peter is suffering the consequences of Dr. Strange’s memory-wiping spell. He’s left in total isolation when his love interest, MJ (Zendaya), and best friend, Ned (Jacob Batalon), have no memory of him at all. Peter is navigating life alone as he’s mourning MJ and Ned’s college experience without him—until a mind-hopping mutant arrives in New York City. This time, can Spider-Man save the day—all on his lonesome? Themes in the movie include self-acceptance, the value of human connection, and mourning the death of a loved one.
Why Is Spider-Man: Brand New Day Rated PG-13?
If you’re wondering why Spider-Man: Brand New Day is rated PG-13, you’re not the only one. The Motion Picture Association (MPA) film rating system has given the film its PG-13 rating for its high-stakes peril and comic book-style fighting scenes. There are a lot of weapons, some profanity (I mean, the character The Punisher is in the film), and intense action scenes.
Is Spider-Man: Brand New Day scary?
The main question for parents when it comes to movies is whether or not a film is considered too scary for a kid to see. How ‘scary’ something is may be more dependent on your kid’s development, age, and how they personally process things. I will share that there are some jump scares, dark imagery, and suspenseful moments.
And as a mom who has already seen the movie, parents should know that the villain does have the power to mind control or mind hop—that I would consider to be scary. Plus, there are intense emotional moments with characters dealing with death and loss. And while I give 10/10 stars for how these themes are portrayed, they may be too intense for little ones to handle.
What type of violence and action is in the film?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is an action-packed film. I’m sharing what parents can anticipate when it comes to violence and action in this movie installment.
Comic book violence
Given that the Spider-Man flicks are based on Stan Lee’s The Amazing Spider-Man comic book series, it’s no surprise that there’s comic book violence. Parents can expect plenty of punches thrown, fights, and explosions throughout the movie.
Intense action scenes
There are intense action scenes, but that’s also to be expected. And with Bruce Banner in the film, it isn’t a movie without Hulk unless he’s smashing things. Characters throughout the movie also experience intense anger.
Character deaths
While I can’t give any specific spoilers away, as a parent considering taking their kids to the theater, I do think it’s necessary to point out a few things to know. Death and mourning are main themes in the movie. And while the scene is brief, there is a character who gets hit by a car and had me jumping in my seat.
Weapons
Spider-Man uses his wit, spidey powers, physical strength, and web shooters to defeat his villains. However, his enemies are known to use more intense weapons against him. If you’re wondering if there are weapons used throughout the movie, the answer is ‘yes.’ As for what types of weapons you’ll see? Parents can expect military tank guns, pistols, rifles, AR-15s, machine guns, grenade launchers, swords, shurikens, and more.
Blood and gore
Sure, Spider-Man can definitely take a hit, but that doesn’t mean he’s left unscathed. There is some blood, cuts, and bruising in the film, but I wouldn’t consider the film gory by any means.
Is there bad language?
My kids have heard profanity before, and when it happens, I try not to call attention to it. But in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, there is some language and religious profanity parents can be aware of. I clocked in a total of 18 times that expletive words and phrases were used, including:
- “Bullsh-t”
- “Jack—”
- “Mother f–cker” (entire word is not said)
- “Hell”
- “Sh-t”
- “Jesus Ch—”
- “God da—”
- “God da— it”
- “Ass”
- “Horse Sh—”
- A—hole
Tip for parents: Any time Jon Bernthal’s character, Frank Castle, otherwise known as ‘The Punisher,’ is in a scene, you can expect profanity to be heard.
Is there sexual content, romance, and nudity?
Should parents be concerned about sexual content, romance, and nudity? With real-life husband-and-wife Tom Holland and Zendaya playing on-screen love interests, there’s no denying that they have chemistry on the big screen. *Tiny spoiler alert*: there are two kissing scenes that are brief, but that’s all I’ll say.
As for sexual content, there’s nothing for parents to be worried about. And the most nudity you’ll get is Spider-Man in his boxers.
Should parents be concerned about drinking and drugs?
In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, there is one casual drinking scene. However, it’s brief. It’s up to you as a parent whether the topic of drinking is worth having with your child. It’s also mentioned that Ned is addicted to an energy drink in the film.
Are there positive messages?
Are there positive messages in the new Spider-Man movie? Absolutely. In the film, parents can appreciate that characters learn to accept themselves for who they are, that maintaining human connection and having support is important in life, and that friendship and family can be found in the least expected places.
My final verdict
I do think Spider-Man: Brand New Day is OK for kids—but not for all ages. I’ll admit, I am bummed that I won’t be taking my 5-year-old to see it. I think the themes and action scenes are too intense, and for a young kid who asks a lot of questions, I know I’ll have to do a lot of explaining in real time.
While the MPA rating is PG-13, I would say it would be OK for kids who are 11 and up to watch. And if your kiddo, around this age, has already enjoyed the previous Spider-Man movies, they may be comfortable watching Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Since I’m a parent with younger kiddos, we’ll be sticking to Spidey and His Amazing Friends on Disney+ and watching Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse on Netflix, for now. But I do highly recommend going on a solo mom date and enjoying the movie with some peace and quiet!
FAQs
Is Spider-Man: Brand New Day scary?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day may be scary for young kids. It has high-stakes peril, comic book-style fighting scenes, profanity, weapons, and themes of death and loss.
Does Spider-Man: Brand New Day have bad language?
Parents should be aware that the film contains some language and religious profanity. I personally counted 18 instances of expletive words and phrases.
Is there blood?
Yes, there is some blood in the movie, but it isn’t particularly gory.
Is Spider-Man: Brand New Day too scary for an 8-year-old?
Yes, I would recommend the film for kids ages 11+.
Is Spider-Man: Brand New Day appropriate for elementary school kids?
No, the movie is not appropriate for elementary-aged kids.
Is Spider-Man: Brand New Day better for tweens or teens?
Yes, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is better suited for kids who are 11 and up.
Is there a post-credit scene?
Yes, there is one post-credit scene.
Patty Schepel, Associate Editor
As the Associate Editor, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, editing freelance articles, and more. With Patty’s passion for writing, experience as a mother of two, and expertise as a pediatric nurse, she brings a thoughtful and informative perspective to The Everymom.
