Spider-Man: Brand New Day has broken a record that stood for more than a decade. Tom Holland’s fourth solo Spider-Man film has passed Star Wars: The Force Awakens at the domestic box office, reaching a reported $936.773 million after 47 days in theaters.
The next target is the worldwide crown. Avatar remains first, with Avengers: Endgame second. Spider-Man is third—and would need roughly another $472 million to catch James Cameron’s film, based on the Box Office Mojo totals checked for this story.
Holland has another reason to celebrate. Holland could earn more than $100 million from the film when his reported salary and bonuses are combined. TheWrap’s reporting points to a deal that could put him among Hollywood’s biggest earners from a single film.
Reporting checked September 16, 2026. All money figures are in US dollars. Box office totals change as distributors report new ticket sales.
Spider-Man Breaks the Domestic Box Office Record
Variety reported the record on September 16, putting Brand New Day at $936.773 million domestically. The Force Awakens had held the top spot since its original run following its December 2015 release.
In box office reports, “domestic” means the US and Canada, with Puerto Rico also included in Box Office Mojo’s figures unless noted otherwise. “International” means everywhere else. Add both together for the worldwide total. IMDb’s box office glossary explains those terms.
The record measures ticket sales in dollars, without adjusting for higher ticket prices over the years. It does not tell us which film sold the most tickets.
| Film | Domestic Gross | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Spider-Man: Brand New Day | $936.773 million | New record |
| Star Wars: The Force Awakens | $936.662 million | Previous record |
The latest domestic result comes from Variety’s September 16 report. The worldwide comparison below uses Box Office Mojo’s September 16, 2:11 a.m. PDT chart, which still listed an earlier domestic total. The figures were updated at different times, so the newer domestic number has not been added to the older overseas total.
How Far Is Spider-Man From the Worldwide Record?
The Box Office Mojo worldwide chart places Brand New Day at $2.452 billion. The gap to Endgame is about $347 million; the gap to Avatar is about $472 million.
| Rank | Film | Worldwide Gross |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avatar | $2.924 billion |
| 2 | Avengers: Endgame | $2.799 billion |
| 3 | Spider-Man: Brand New Day | $2.452 billion |
| 4 | Avatar: The Way of Water | $2.334 billion |
| 5 | Ne Zha 2 | $2.271 billion |
For Spider-Man, the next worldwide target is Endgame. Passing it would make Brand New Day the biggest Marvel film worldwide. Then only Avatar would stand above it. Endgame’s lifetime total includes its tracked theatrical releases, not streaming or merchandise sales.
Could It Catch Avatar?
Spider-Man has a shot, but $472 million is a lot of tickets to sell this far into a theater run.
By our calculation, it needs to add about 19.2% to its worldwide total to catch Avatar. A strong finish, a later return to theaters, or both could help close the gap.
| Additional Sales | Spider-Man Total | Result Against Current Totals |
|---|---|---|
| $100 million | $2.552 billion | Still third |
| $250 million | $2.702 billion | Still third |
| $350 million | $2.802 billion | Passes Endgame; behind Avatar |
| $475 million | $2.927 billion | Passes Avatar |
These examples show what extra ticket sales would do to Spider-Man’s $2,452,109,003 total. They are not predictions and assume the other films earn no more money.
The weekly drop in ticket sales will matter more now than the opening-weekend record. Watch how long theaters keep the film, its overseas ticket sales, and any announcement of a return to cinemas.
The first rush of fans has already been through the doors. Now repeat visits and people catching up after weeks of hearing about the film can help keep it playing.
Re-releases also matter when comparing lifetime records. Box Office Mojo lists several separate releases for Avatar, including a 2021 China return and a 2022 release across multiple markets. Its lifetime figure was built over years, not just its first few months. Spider-Man could also add to its total with a future re-release.
Can Spider-Man Reach $1 Billion Domestically?
The domestic milestone is much closer. Subtracting the reported $936.773 million from $1 billion leaves $63.227 million still to earn.
That makes $1 billion at home the next big number to watch. Variety raised the possibility, while noting that it might take a re-release.
Spider-Man needs about 6.7% more than it has already earned domestically to get there. The worldwide record is a much longer climb.
How Much Did Tom Holland Earn?
TheWrap reported on August 18 that Holland received an upfront salary of at least $20 million and could make more than $100 million once backend bonuses are included. It cited three people with knowledge of his deal.
One source said there was no cap on those extra payments. Sony declined to discuss cast pay, and Holland’s representatives did not respond to the outlet’s request for comment. His full contract and final pay have not been made public.
| Part of the Deal | What Has Been Reported |
|---|---|
| Upfront salary | At least $20 million |
| Salary plus bonuses | Potential total above $100 million |
| Bonus limit | No cap, according to one source |
| Exact amount already paid | Not made public |
What Is a Backend Bonus?
“Backend” is extra pay an actor can earn after the upfront fee. The contract sets the rules, which may tie those payments to how well the film does.
That is why the reported $100 million-plus figure is a possible total, not his starting salary. Without the contract, we cannot work out his exact cut from the ticket sales.
A hit this big could help Holland ask for more on his next film. So far, though, no confirmed pay deal for Spider-Man 5 has been announced.
How Brand New Day Built Its Lead
Box Office Mojo lists a domestic opening of $360.092 million. The film’s first overseas releases began on July 29, ahead of its July 31 domestic opening. Its title record also lists Sony Pictures Releasing as the domestic distributor.
The opening gave the film a huge start, but the later weeks made the record possible. Its domestic total is now more than two and a half times that first weekend’s ticket sales. Most of that money came after opening weekend.
By its third weekend, the film had passed $2 billion worldwide. Variety’s August 17 report described it as the second-fastest film to reach that mark, behind Endgame.
In early September, it was still holding first place at the domestic weekend box office. TheWrap reported a sixth straight weekend at No. 1.
The Overseas Audience Is Doing Most of the Work
The same Box Office Mojo snapshot shows that about 61.8% of the film’s worldwide ticket sales came from overseas. North America accounts for about 38.2%.
Selected market totals on the film’s Box Office Mojo page show where some of that overseas business came from. These figures are rounded because markets do not all report on the same schedule.
| Market | Reported Gross, Rounded |
|---|---|
| China | $225.7 million |
| United Kingdom | $130.5 million |
| Mexico | $91.8 million |
| France | $86.5 million |
| South Korea | $67.8 million |
China and the United Kingdom alone account for more than $356 million in the reported totals. Those audiences will help decide whether Spider-Man catches Avatar. Overseas ticket sales are converted into US dollars; exchange rates and reporting schedules can also affect the totals.
How It Compares With Holland’s Earlier Spider-Man Films
Each of Holland’s four solo Spider-Man films has earned more worldwide than the previous one. The latest film has already passed No Way Home, the earlier high point.
| Film | Release Year | Worldwide Lifetime Gross |
|---|---|---|
| Spider-Man: Homecoming | 2017 | $880.978 million |
| Spider-Man: Far From Home | 2019 | $1.133 billion |
| Spider-Man: No Way Home | 2021 | $1.921 billion |
| Spider-Man: Brand New Day | 2026 | $2.452 billion — still playing |
Source: Box Office Mojo’s lifetime chart, checked September 16, 2026. Totals are rounded and include tracked re-releases.
The comparison does not include Civil War or the Avengers films, where Spider-Man appears as part of a larger cast.
Holland and Zendaya’s Emmys Night — and a Dinner Invitation
Two days before the domestic record was reported, Holland and Zendaya were together at the September 14 Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. Zendaya walked the arrivals carpet in a crystal-covered Prada gown, then joined Holland inside the Peacock Theater.
Saturday Night Live comedian Marcello Hernández turned his award presentation into a chance to meet his favorite stars. He admitted he could not keep his cool around Zendaya, then brought Holland into the joke.
“I would like to invite you and Spider-Man to have dinner at my house.”
The camera caught Holland smiling behind her. Hernández was presenting the comedy directing award, and the invitation was part of his playful greetings to celebrities in the audience. Variety reported the exchange.
Holland has previously explained why he stays out of Zendaya’s solo red-carpet appearances. In a 2025 Men’s Health interview, quoted by Vanity Fair, he said: “It’s not my moment, it’s her moment, and if we go together, it’s about us.”
Who Gets the Box Office Money?
A $2.45 billion gross does not mean Sony has $2.45 billion in profit.
Ticket money is shared between the theaters and the film’s distributor. Each deal is different. The studio also has to cover the cost of making and promoting the movie. Digital rentals, home sales and TV deals bring in more money, but they do not count toward the theater box office record. IMDb explains what goes into the totals.
Take a $20 ticket. All $20 goes into the box office total, even though the theater and distributor split the money. A Spider-Man figure bought on the way home does not count at all.
The split is not always the same for every film. AMC’s 2024 annual report explains that the fees it pays to show movies can change with their performance. It does not give the deal for this Spider-Man film.
Why Sony and Marvel Both Matter
Spider-Man’s movie business is not as simple as seeing the Marvel name and assuming that every dollar goes to Disney.
In its 2015 announcement of the Sony–Marvel collaboration, Sony said it would continue to finance, distribute, own and have final creative control of the Spider-Man films under that agreement. The partnership brought Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige into the next solo film alongside Amy Pascal.
That deal helped bring Holland’s Spider-Man into the Marvel films, though it does not tell us how the companies split the money today. For Brand New Day, Sony’s official film page lists both Feige and Pascal among the producers. The current profit split has not been laid out on that page.
For Sony and Marvel, the appeal is easy to see: Spider-Man can bring huge crowds to his own films and still play a part in the wider Marvel story.
SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAYThe Film Behind the Numbers
Director Destin Daniel Cretton picked up Peter Parker’s story at a lonely point: the world no longer remembers him. Sony’s official description puts him back at full-time crime fighting while the people he loves move on without him.
The film stars Holland alongside Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando and Mark Ruffalo. Sony credits Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers as its writers.
In an interview with the Motion Picture Association’s The Credits, the writers described their choice to leave Peter without the older hero he could once turn to for help. Cretton’s interest in stories about young people dealing with painful experiences helped shape the film.
Holland also gave fans a look at the work behind the finished film, sharing footage of his first day on the Glasgow set. The shot below shows him in costume beside a camera rig. Coverage of that first-day footage gave fans an early look at filming.
BEHIND THE SCENESWhat Happens Next for Spider-Man?
The writers are already thinking about where Peter could go next.
In a September 16 interview with Forbes contributor Anhar Karim, McKenna and Sommers said key details for a fifth film were not yet set. They talked about letting Peter guide other heroes and pass on what he has learned.
Peter spent the earlier films looking to older heroes for help. Next time, he could be the one giving advice. The writers have not announced a finished plot, a new cast or a release date. Their comments do not say Holland is leaving the role.
Marvel does have another major film on its official calendar: Avengers: Doomsday is set for December 18, 2026. Disney’s current cast list does not name Holland. For now, a Spider-Man appearance is unconfirmed.
What This Means for Spider-Man Collectors
For Hot Toys collectors, there is another part of the film to get a closer look at: the new suit. Hot Toys’ MMS893 Deluxe version pairs the Spider-Man suit with a Tom Holland portrait, streetwear pieces and a Scorpion-tail battle diorama.
Our Hot Toys Spider-Man MMS893 Deluxe preorder guide covers the included parts, edition differences and expected figure release. For readers interested in the cost of making those figures, our guide to why Hot Toys are so expensive follows the work from sculpting and paint to licensing and shipping.
The Next Box Office Milestones
The Force Awakens has fallen. Next up: $1 billion at home, then the worldwide totals of Endgame and Avatar. Spider-Man has already made history. The question now is how much further this run can go.
