Spider-Man: Brand New Day is almost here, marking Tom Holland's fourth solo outing as Peter Parker and the beginning of a brand-new chapter for Marvel's friendly neighborhood hero. With familiar faces returning, new characters joining the franchise, and the story picking up after one of the most emotional endings in the MCU, many fans are wondering whether it is time for a complete Spider-Man marathon. It is an understandable question.

Spider-Man's cinematic history now spans more than two decades, three live-action actors, multiple reboots, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the critically acclaimed Spider-Verse films. For newcomers, knowing where to begin can feel just as overwhelming as trying to untangle one of Peter Parker's webs.  Fortunately, preparing for Brand New Day does not require watching every Spider-Man project ever made.   

While some films are essential to understanding Peter's journey, others simply enrich the experience, making this the perfect opportunity to revisit the web-slinger's greatest adventures before his next chapter begins.

The short answer is no. Although every Spider-Man movie has contributed something memorable to the character's cinematic legacy, Brand New Day builds directly on Tom Holland's version of Peter Parker. If your goal is to understand where Peter is emotionally and how he reached this point, only a handful of films are truly essential viewing.

The journey begins with Captain America: Civil War, where audiences first met Holland's Peter Parker after Tony Stark recruited the teenage hero to join the battle over the Sokovia Accords. While Spider-Man is only a supporting player in the film, it establishes the mentor-student relationship between Peter and Tony that becomes one of the defining pillars of Holland's trilogy. More importantly, it introduces a younger, eager Peter whose excitement about becoming an Avenger could not be further removed from the lonely hero audiences will meet in Brand New Day.

From there, Spider-Man: Homecoming lays the emotional foundation for everything that follows. Rather than revisiting Uncle Ben's death for a third time, the film focuses on Peter trying to balance ordinary teenage life with extraordinary responsibility while proving himself worthy of Tony Stark's trust. It also introduces the "friendly neighborhood Spider-Man" philosophy that many fans believe Brand New Day will revisit after the universe-shaking events of No Way Home. The movie's smaller scale serves as an important reminder of who Peter really is beneath the Avengers-level threats.

The next two essential stops are Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. While these are not Spider-Man movies in the traditional sense, they are impossible to skip because they fundamentally reshape Peter's life. Watching him fight alongside Earth's Mightiest Heroes, disappear during the Blip, and ultimately witness Tony Stark's sacrifice marks the moment Peter loses much of the innocence that defined him in his early MCU appearances. Those experiences continue to influence every decision he makes afterward and remain crucial to understanding the more mature Peter audiences will see moving forward.

Finally, there are Spider-Man: Far From Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home, arguably the two most important films to revisit before Brand New Day. Far From Home explores Peter's struggle to step out of Iron Man's shadow while introducing Mysterio, whose actions permanently change the young hero's life. That story flows directly into No Way Home, where Peter turns to Doctor Strange for help after his identity is exposed to the world.

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What follows is one of the MCU's most emotionally devastating stories, culminating in Peter making the heartbreaking decision to erase himself from the memories of everyone he loves in order to save the multiverse. By the film's final moments, he is living alone in a modest apartment, sewing his own suit by hand and returning to the street-level life that first defined Spider-Man. That ending is not simply another chapter in Peter Parker's story—it is the foundation upon which Brand New Day is built.

If you have extra time after revisiting Tom Holland's MCU appearances, the earlier Spider-Man films are well worth adding to your watchlist. They are not essential to following Brand New Day, but they offer a richer appreciation of the character's evolution across multiple generations of filmmaking and make some of the emotional moments in No Way Home even more rewarding.

Sam Raimi's original trilogy remains the gold standard for many Spider-Man fans. The 2002 Spider-Man introduced Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, while Spider-Man 2 is still widely regarded as one of the greatest superhero films ever made, thanks to its balance of spectacular action and deeply personal storytelling. Even Spider-Man 3, despite its divisive reception, adds valuable context to Peter's growth and the relationships that helped define one of cinema's earliest superhero franchises.

The two Amazing Spider-Man films starring Andrew Garfield deserve another look as well. Although they initially received a more mixed reception than Raimi's trilogy, Garfield's emotional performance found a new audience after Spider-Man: No Way Home, where his return gave long-time fans a heartfelt sense of closure. Revisiting those films before Brand New Day makes that journey feel even more meaningful, particularly because Holland's Peter learns just as much from the other Spider-Men as they do from him.

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The animated Spider-Verse films are also highly recommended, even though they are not required viewing. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse transformed the multiverse from a comic-book concept into one of Spider-Man's defining cinematic ideas, while introducing Miles Morales to millions of viewers. Although Brand New Day appears to be telling a grounded story following the events of No Way Home, the Spider-Verse movies serve as a reminder that Spider-Man's legacy extends far beyond a single Peter Parker, making them a worthwhile addition to any marathon.

Unlike the movies, Marvel's television series are best viewed as optional homework rather than essential preparation. You can comfortably enjoy Brand New Day without watching them, but a few projects could provide extra context for characters confirmed or rumored to play a role in Peter Parker's next adventure.

The most relevant is She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, particularly its opening and closing episodes, as they feature Bruce Banner's latest status in the MCU. With Mark Ruffalo confirmed to reprise his role in Brand New Day, revisiting those moments can help bridge the gap between his previous appearances and wherever the character finds himself when the new film begins. Meanwhile, fans eager to see Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle back in action may want to revisit The Punisher, which remains the definitive R-Rated live-action portrayal of the antihero before his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Another worthwhile addition is Daredevil or the recently released Daredevil: Born Again. Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock has already crossed paths with Peter Parker in No Way Home, and while Marvel has yet to confirm his involvement in Brand New Day, many fans continue to hope the two street-level heroes will reunite. Even if that does not happen, both series offer a darker perspective on protecting New York that complements the direction Peter appears to be heading after losing everything at the end of No Way Home.

Ultimately, the best watch order depends on how much time you have before Brand New Day arrives in theaters. If you are looking for the essentials, start with Captain America: Civil War, followed by Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home. If you have time for a complete celebration of Spider-Man's cinematic legacy, add Sam Raimi's trilogy, Andrew Garfield's two films, and the Spider-Verse movies before diving into the optional Disney+ shows.

Whether you choose the shorter route or the full marathon, you will be more than ready to swing into Peter Parker's next adventure.

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