Some trailers generate excitement. Some generate anticipation. The trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day generated history. Released March 17 by Sony, the promotional clip for Tom Holland’s fourth MCU Spider-Man film became the first in all of cinema to hit one billion views — a milestone achieved in just four days. What the entertainment world had never seen before has now been seen, and Spider-Man is the one who delivered it.
The comparative context is important. The 24-hour record had been held by Deadpool & Wolverine at 365 million, surpassing No Way Home‘s 355.5 million. Grand Theft Auto VI had brought the gaming world into the comparison with 475 million first-day views. Brand New Day posted 718.6 million in its opening 24 hours, a number so far ahead of its competition that the gaps between them are essentially categorically different.
WaveMetrix confirmed the cumulative total at 1.1 billion by Tuesday, marking the first time in the history of movie trailers that a film had crossed the ten-figure threshold in views. The announcement has been met with widespread celebration in entertainment communities worldwide, as well as serious analytical scrutiny from those trying to understand what drove the record and what it means for the industry’s future.
The trailer gave audiences something worth returning to multiple times. At its heart is a story about what it means to keep going when no one is watching — when MJ doesn’t know your face, when Ned doesn’t remember your friendship, and when the entire city you protect can offer you neither thanks nor recognition. Peter Parker’s quiet determination, his search for Bruce Banner/Hulk, and his preparation to face a looming new threat make for a trailer that functions as a miniature film in its own right.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens July 31, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton from a script by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. The cast includes Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando, and Mark Ruffalo. Indian audiences will watch it in six languages from the first day of release.