‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ Star Iman Vellani Finally Shares Her ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Review, and Fans Are Saying the Same Thing

Marvel actors reviewing Marvel movies is rare enough on its own, but there’s one MCU star who’s built an entire reputation around doing exactly that in the most unfiltered way possible. Between blunt one-liners and star ratings that don’t play favorites, this particular actress has become something of an unofficial critic within her own cinematic universe.

That reputation belongs to Iman Vellani, the actress behind Ms. Marvel, who has spent years building a devoted following on Letterboxd through reviews that read less like PR-approved praise and more like genuine fan reactions. She’s previously handed out a mere half star to ‘Madame Web,’ called her own film only two stars while defending Brie Larson’s honor in a ‘Captain Marvel’ review, and unabashedly declared 2007’s ‘Spider-Man 3’ “unironically great.”

That track record made her latest review one worth watching for, and Vellani delivered right on schedule. Her Letterboxd verdict for ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day‘ reads simply: “Aggressively nodding, chef’s kissing, flower throwing,” a review that manages to convey glowing enthusiasm without a single traditional sentence.

The three-part phrase captures exactly the kind of playful, meme-literate commentary Vellani has become known for across her Letterboxd history. It’s the same energy that led her to write “actual footage of the girlies and I having fun” for ‘The Marvels’ rather than assigning it a conventional star score, choosing vibes over numbers when the mood strikes her.

Vellani’s Letterboxd presence has become something of a cultural event within Marvel fandom precisely because she doesn’t pull punches, even when reviewing projects tied to the same studio that employs her. Her 0.5-star rating for ‘Madame Web’ generated headlines on its own, as did her decision to give ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ a lower score than the much-maligned ‘Spider-Man 3,’ a comparison many fans found genuinely surprising.

What makes her reviews resonate isn’t just the honesty but the specificity of her language, favoring quirky, internet-native phrasing over traditional film criticism. That style has turned her into something of a trusted voice for fans trying to gauge whether a new Marvel release is actually worth the hype, precisely because she doesn’t seem to be performing enthusiasm for anyone.

Her ‘Brand New Day’ review arrives as the film continues its record-breaking opening weekend, backed by strong critical reception and an A CinemaScore from opening-night audiences. For a movie already generating this much buzz, having one of Marvel’s own actors publicly gush about it in her signature style only adds another layer of goodwill to an already triumphant release.

It’s also a small reminder of just how connected Vellani remains to the broader Marvel fan community despite her own standing within the franchise. She reviews these films the same way any devoted moviegoer would, treating her Letterboxd account less like a press tool and more like a personal diary that happens to have a massive audience attached.

Whether or not ‘Brand New Day’ ends up matching the acclaim of her all-time favorites, Vellani’s three-word verdict has already given fans plenty to nod, chef’s kiss, and throw flowers at in return.

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