‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Presales Are Exploding in China, and Hollywood Hasn’t Seen Numbers Like This Since ‘Endgame’
Marvel’s international box office ambitions have taken a beating in China over the past several years, with superhero films struggling to recapture the massive crowds that once turned every Spidey release into a national event. That decline has left Hollywood studios cautious about betting big on the Chinese market for their biggest tentpoles.
That caution is quickly giving way to genuine excitement as ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ approaches its release. Early signals from one of the world’s most important theatrical markets suggest Tom Holland’s return as Peter Parker could reverse years of disappointing superhero performances there.
According to reporting on the film’s box office trajectory, presales in China for ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ are described as insane, ahead of any other comic book movie since ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ That kind of demand puts the upcoming release in genuinely historic territory for a genre that has struggled significantly in the market since the pandemic.
Official Chinese survey data known as WTS has flagged the film as the most anticipated July release in the country this year, and specifically the most anticipated comic book movie there since 2019’s ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home.’ That comparison carries real weight, since ‘Far From Home’ remains the last superhero film to top $100 million in China, pulling in roughly $199 million during its run.
Current tracking suggests ‘Brand New Day’ is now positioned to become Hollywood’s first live-action film to cross $100 million during its opening weekend at the Chinese box office since 2022’s ‘Avatar: The Way of Water,’ according to Global Box Office. That kind of milestone would mark a genuine turning point for a market that has largely shut out superhero blockbusters in recent years.
The film’s international momentum is being matched by equally strong domestic numbers. ‘Brand New Day’ has already posted the best first-day presales for any film in five years, a mark previously held by ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ with domestic advance sales crossing $40 million well ahead of opening weekend.
Combining that domestic strength with China’s surging demand has pushed some outlets to project a global opening weekend as high as $550 million, a figure that would place the film among the largest superhero debuts ever recorded. Even under more conservative estimates, some trackers believe the film could ultimately surpass ‘No Way Home’s’ massive $600.8 million global opening.
What makes this trajectory particularly notable is that ‘Brand New Day’ is achieving these numbers without access to domestic IMAX screens, which remain committed to Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ through mid-August. Overcoming that premium format disadvantage while still tracking toward historic numbers speaks volumes about the sheer scale of anticipation surrounding Peter Parker’s return.
Do you think Spider-Man: Brand New Day will become the biggest Hollywood hit in China since Avatar: The Way of Water?
Director Destin Daniel Cretton has leaned into that anticipation throughout the promotional rollout, framing the film as a potential emotional culmination for Holland’s version of the character even as the franchise’s future remains uncertain. With six confirmed villains, a returning Hulk, and Frank Castle’s Punisher entering the MCU for the first time, the film’s scale alone has clearly captured global attention.
With ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ set to swing into theaters July 31, these presale numbers suggest the film is on track to become one of the biggest box office stories of the year worldwide. What do you think about Spider-Man potentially reclaiming its box office crown in China? Let us know in the comments.
