{"id":26502,"date":"2026-08-03T21:28:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T16:28:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=26502"},"modified":"2026-08-03T21:28:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T16:28:34","slug":"sony-pictures-tom-rothman-on-spider-man-brand-new-day-box-office-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=26502","title":{"rendered":"Sony Pictures&#8217; Tom Rothman on Spider-Man Brand New Day Box Office Record"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t\u201cSo I guess movies aren\u2019t dead after all?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThat\u2019s the understated reaction from <a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/t\/tom-rothman\/\" id=\"auto-tag_tom-rothman\" data-tag=\"tom-rothman\">Tom Rothman<\/a>, chairman of Sony Pictures, after \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/t\/spider-man-brand-new-day\/\" id=\"auto-tag_spider-man-brand-new-day\" data-tag=\"spider-man-brand-new-day\">Spider-Man: Brand New Day<\/a>\u201d obliterated box office expectations. The comic book adventure, starring Tom Holland as Marvel\u2019s web-slinging hero, <a data-id=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/box-office\/spider-man-brand-new-day-box-office-opening-weekend-1236825953\/\" data-type=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/box-office\/spider-man-brand-new-day-box-office-opening-weekend-1236825953\/\">ignited to $360 million domestically<\/a> and a mind-blowing $932 million globally, the biggest domestic and second-largest global debut in history. And the latest Spidey entry, with help from Christopher Nolan\u2019s \u201cThe Odyssey,\u201d powered the <a data-id=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/box-office\/the-odyssey-spiderman-biggest-box-office-weekend-history-1236825132\/\" data-type=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/box-office\/the-odyssey-spiderman-biggest-box-office-weekend-history-1236825132\/\">largest collective weekend of all time<\/a>. In other words, movies are back in the center of culture. Hallelujah!<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t\u201cWhat happened is miraculous,\u201d says Rothman, who plans to toast the film\u2019s thunderous start with chocolate ice cream. \u201c\u2018Spider-Man\u2019 is uniting people across cultures and ages. People can piss on theatrical all they want, but that\u2019s one thing that only movies \u2014 and movie theaters \u2014 can do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tSure, there\u2019s been plenty of doom and gloom about the health of the theatrical business in the wake of two destructive forces: COVID and the 2023 labor strikes. But this summer is poised to be the best since the pandemic, and all kinds of hits \u2014 from \u201cThe Devil Wears Prada 2\u201d and \u201cToy Story 5\u201d to \u201cObsession\u201d and \u201cBackrooms\u201d \u2014 have <a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/box-office\/movie-theaters-rebound-box-office-obsession-project-hail-mary-1236810214\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/box-office\/movie-theaters-rebound-box-office-obsession-project-hail-mary-1236810214\/\">restored Hollywood\u2019s confidence <\/a>that people actually, really, truly love the big screen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tBefore rewarding himself with a frozen treat, Rothman spoke to <em>Variety<\/em> about Holland\u2019s future as Spider-Man, Sony\u2019s ambitions for other Marvel characters and the \u201cOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood\u201d sequel that got away.<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-secondary-m   \">\n\t\tTom Holland says there\u2019s a <a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/spider-man-actors-tom-holland-successor-1236824415\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/spider-man-actors-tom-holland-successor-1236824415\/\">succession plan in place<\/a> for Peter Parker. But you\u2019re not really going to let him go after a debut like this, right?\t<\/h5>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tI love these questions. It\u2019s like when a coach wins the Super Bowl and he goes to the press conference and they say to him, \u201cAre you going to win it next year?\u201d The honest truth is we don\u2019t know at this point. This has been the focus of our studio for almost two years. I can tell you this: I certainly, certainly hope. I heard Tom say at some point that he wanted to continue, and we would love it if he did.<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-secondary-m   \">\n\t\tOK, so nothing\u2019s in place, but there is a world in which there will be another \u201cSpider-Man\u201d sequel with Tom Holland?\t<\/h5>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tYes.<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-secondary-m   \">\n\t\tThere\u2019s clearly no such thing as \u201cSpider-Man\u201d fatigue, but what\u2019s going on with other comic book movies? It seems like there\u2019s no middle ground: They\u2019re either <a data-id=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2024\/film\/box-office\/deadpool-wolverine-highest-grossing-r-rated-film-history-joker-1236103888\/\" data-type=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2024\/film\/box-office\/deadpool-wolverine-highest-grossing-r-rated-film-history-joker-1236103888\/\">massive successes<\/a> or <a data-id=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/box-office\/supergirl-box-office-bomb-dc-studios-1236797855\/\" data-type=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/box-office\/supergirl-box-office-bomb-dc-studios-1236797855\/\">major bombs<\/a>.\t<\/h5>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tSuperhero movies have to feel fresh. The glut of all those movies has made it even more important that they separate themselves in terms of quality. If you\u2019re just taking the obligatory steps, the audience is less excited. You have to work against predictability. How do you make movies not feel repetitive? \u201cBrand New Day\u201d is emotionally led, so it feels different.<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-secondary-m   \">\n\t\tI was curious about the status of Sony\u2019s Marvel characters because \u2014\t<\/h5>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tYou and everybody else.<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-secondary-m   \">\n\t\tThe \u201cVenom\u201d trilogy was huge, but other spinoffs like \u201cKraven the Hunter\u201d and \u201cMadame Web\u201d were misfires. Why didn\u2019t those work?\t<\/h5>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tUltimately, the audience wasn\u2019t satisfied enough with them. Whether that\u2019s a fair assessment of those movies, who knows. That\u2019s howling into the wind. The audience is the boss, and they didn\u2019t respond. It\u2019s as simple as that.<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-secondary-m   \">\n\t\tAre there plans to keep developing Sony\u2019s universe of Marvel characters?\t<\/h5>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tRight now, we don\u2019t know. We never looked at it as the \u201cSony-Marvel Universe.\u201d We looked at if there were worthwhile movies to make with other characters. At the moment, there are none in active development.<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-secondary-m   \">\n\t\tDoes this summer give you confidence about your big theatrical bet on the <a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2025\/film\/news\/beatles-movies-release-dates-2028-sam-mendes-1236353434\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2025\/film\/news\/beatles-movies-release-dates-2028-sam-mendes-1236353434\/\">four-part \u201cBeatles\u201d movies<\/a>?\t<\/h5>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tYes. The box office is roaring, and it makes me feel strongly that audiences want diverse, new programming. COVID was bad for the movie business, but the strikes were worse. Now there\u2019s product, and people are remembering what fun it is. But things have to feel special. Everybody wants to make everything into an event, but to make it an event, it has to feel special. And everything about the Beatles is special. It\u2019s a big bet, but if you\u2019re just doing the same old, same old, audiences will stay home. Intentionality makes the audience feel that it\u2019s not just another Friday night.<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-secondary-m   \">\n\t\tWhy is <a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/cliff-booth-movie-release-date-imax-brad-pitt-1236755299\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/cliff-booth-movie-release-date-imax-brad-pitt-1236755299\/\">Netflix releasing \u201cCliff Booth,\u201d<\/a> the sequel to Sony\u2019s \u201cOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood\u201d?\t<\/h5>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tBecause David Fincher is exclusive to Netflix. We were going to make the movie when Quentin [Tarantino] was directing it, but he decided that he didn\u2019t want to do it and changed course. The only other person that he was comfortable directing his script was David Fincher, and David Fincher was exclusive to Netflix, so we were not going to stand in anybody\u2019s way.<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-secondary-m   \">\n\t\tAre you disappointed that Sony doesn\u2019t have the sequel?\t<\/h5>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tYes.<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-secondary-m   \">\n\t\tSony is <a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/cinerama-dome-saved-sony-alamo-drafthouse-reopen-1236818133\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/cinerama-dome-saved-sony-alamo-drafthouse-reopen-1236818133\/\">reviving the Cinerama Dome<\/a>, which has been shuttered since 2020. What does the reopening of the beloved venue mean for Hollywood?\t<\/h5>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIt\u2019s great, and we\u2019re really proud. We are fully committed to theatrical, and this is the Eiffel Tower of that business. It\u2019s sitting there in a derelict state. It was not a good message in the world and a loss of opportunity.<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"heading larva \/\/   lrv-a-font-secondary-m   \">\n\t\tHow does the company plan to preserve the experience of watching a movie in the Dome?\t<\/h5>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tPlans are immaculate. The idea is to restore it to its full former glory, although with every state-of-the-art update possible \u2026 projection, sound. There will be no food service. It\u2019s going to be gorgeous.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cSo I guess movies aren\u2019t dead after all?\u201d That\u2019s the understated reaction from Tom Rothman, chairman of Sony Pictures, after \u201cSpider-Man: Brand New Day\u201d obliterated box office expectations. The comic book adventure, starring Tom Holland as Marvel\u2019s web-slinging hero, ignited to $360 million domestically and a mind-blowing $932 million globally, the biggest domestic and second-largest&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26503,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MCDSPMA_SP145_caa72f.jpg?w=1000&h=563&crop=1","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26502","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26502"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26502\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/26503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}