Movies Update: ‘Spider-Man’ takes some brand-new swings

July 31, 2026

	By Mekado Murphy

Hey movie fans!

“The Odyssey” continues its epic journey in theaters, and we’ve had a lot to say about it. We popped in to see who was going to see the movie in its coveted IMAX 70-millimeter format at 2 and 6 a.m. screenings. We spoke to one signature performer in the supporting cast, John Leguizamo. Our critics weighed in on how the movie compares to Christopher Nolan’s previous film, “Oppenheimer,” and on how the character Circe is depicted. We also weighed in on the Trojan horse popcorn bucket and Matt Damon’s 4-foot-6 female stunt double.

If you’re ready for a different kind of spectacle at the movies, swing your way over to a non-IMAX screen to check in on Peter Parker. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” the latest in the franchise featuring Tom Holland as the web-slinger, is now also on countless screens at various multiplexes. Though our critic Alissa Wilkinson thinks the web is a little too tangled. In her review, she writes that the film is “bogged down by the same thing that has caused late-stage Marvel Cinematic Universe films to sag: the weight of tying all of the stories together.” But she praises the movie’s star, writing, “Nothing can erase the enjoyment of witnessing Holland’s performance, which remains winsome and wonderfully kinetic.”

Whichever option you decide on this weekend, enjoy the movies!

Tom Holland, as Spider-Man with his mask off, sits on what appears to be a metal beam, looking at his phone. He is on its underside so the skyline descends behind him.

Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Review: Can We Do Whatever a Spider Can?

The Spider-Man series is about growing up. Now its superhero has become an adult.

By Alissa Wilkinson

A black-and-white full-length portrait shows a man in a dark but shiny jacket and dark trousers standing against what look like giant shutters.

Sam Hellmann for The New York Times

John Leguizamo Can Assure You the Puppy Was Safe

The veteran performer is making waves as a blind servant in “The Odyssey.” But he was worried that a scene with dogs would make him the most hated actor in movies.

By Kyle Buchanan

A woman sits with her hands clasped as men in armor stand behind her.

Universal Pictures

Critic’s Notebook

‘The Odyssey’ Should Have Done Better by This Character

One of the fascinating women of early literature, Circe becomes a simple witch in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster.

By Maya Phillips

A group of people walks past large movie posters. A person in a light hoodie holds a bottle, and another talks while gesturing.

Sara Naomi Lewkowicz for The New York Times

Who Goes to See ‘The Odyssey’ at 6 a.m.?

Demand is high for the blockbuster at the IMAX 70-mm. theater in New York City, the largest in the United States, prompting additional screenings at 2 and 6 a.m. That hasn’t deterred audiences from coming.

By Alexander Nazaryan

CRITICS’ PICKS

A black-and-white image of a man against an open window.

Strand Releasing

Critic’s Pick

‘Jimmy’ Review: Inhabiting the World of a Young James Baldwin

The director Yashaddai Owens took his Bolex film camera to Istanbul and Paris to show glimpses of the gifted author before he became a literary quasar.

By Lisa Kennedy

A man dressed as a samurai stands in the middle of a room, with men seated around him.

Janus Films

Critic’s Pick

‘The Samurai and the Prisoner’ Review: Solving Castle Mysteries

Kiyoshi Kurosawa directs a satisfying period piece about the tense collaboration between a lord and a cunning envoy.

By Ben Kenigsberg

MOVIE REVIEWS

A blonde woman leans close to a man wearing a red blindfold. Both are in an intimate, dimly lit setting.

Magnolia Pictures

‘I Want Your Sex’ Review: Working Out the Kinks With Your Boss

Cooper Hoffman and Olivia Wilde explore a tie-me-up, turn-me-on relationship in Gregg Araki’s jolly sex comedy.

By Jeannette Catsoulis

An alert-looking owl perches on a fire escape.

David Lei/Sandbox Films/HBO Documentary Films

Documentary Lens

Flaco on Film (Along With the Community the Owl Inspired)

“Wild Inside” starts off with the director Penny Lane’s characteristic curiosity and winds up being a collective tribute to a bird and his city.

By Alissa Wilkinson

A man and a woman sit in a canoe and hold yellow oars.

Jirathit Saengavut/Amazon MGM Studios

‘The Devil’s Mouth’ Review: Between a Shark and a Hard Place

This Thailand-set vacation thriller is neither silly nor gory enough to chum the waters for audiences at home.

By Beatrice Loayza

George Michael in a blue suit and Andrew Ridgeley in a red plaid blazer with black pants, stand in Tiananmen Square, posing for the camera.

Martyn Goddard/Trafalgar Releasing

‘Wham! 10 Days in China’ Review: Pop Music History With a Secret Goal

The British pop duo Wham! was the first Western act of its kind to play mainland China. This documentary reveals the hidden agenda of the shows.

By Glenn Kenny

NEWS & FEATURES

In a movie scene, Spider-Man, with his mask pulled up to reveal his face, sits on the underside of a metal beam while New York’s skyline descends behind him from the top of the frame.

Sony Pictures, via Sony Pictures Via Ap

Can a Gritty Spider-Man Save the Superhero Movie?

The newest entry in the franchise took a more grounded approach, a departure for a spectacle-focused genre that is teetering at the box office.

By Emmanuel Morgan

A man in Dickensian garb, glares at someone filming him with an iPhone.

Sandy Huffaker for The New York Times

Johnny Depp Steps Onto the Comeback Campaign Trail

Paramount is betting that audiences will re-embrace the star a decade after allegations of domestic abuse and a defamation trial.

By Brooks Barnes

A person leans against a pole while standing on a city street.

Joshua Bright for The New York Times

Glen Hansard, Frontman of Irish Band the Frames, Dies at 56

The popular singer-songwriter won, with Markéta Irglová, an Oscar for the song “Falling Slowly” from the film “Once.”

By Alex Marshall and Isabella Kwai

Film Class

The Movies That Get Dancers on Their Feet

Savion Glover, Honey Balenciaga and other artists from the world of performance share their favorites, from era-defining musicals to art-house dramas.

By Laura Regensdorf

A silver-haired man with a steely gaze sits. A large window is seen behind him.

Tommy Keith for The New York Times

Auteur-core! 9 Great Songs That Reference Filmmakers

Hear cinephile tracks from Charli XCX, David Bowie, SZA and more.

By Lindsay Zoladz

STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS

Three musicians perform onstage, framed by a large circular light. The central musician plays a saxophone, flanked by guitarists on each side. Stage lights shine brightly behind them, creating a dramatic atmosphere.

Milestone Films

Three Great Documentaries to Stream

In this month’s picks, a portrait of a jazz musician, a French archival family film and an Alabama prison exposé using footage from inmates.

By Ben Kenigsberg

A man wearing glasses and an orange harness sits inside a high-tech spacecraft, surrounded by control panels and screens, reaching up toward the ceiling.

Jonathan Olley/Amazon MGM Studios