'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' passes 'The Force Awakens' as top domestic release

"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" has become the highest-grossing film of all time at the domestic box office in the United States and Canada. The milestone was reported on Tuesday, September 16, 2026, when the film's North American total passed that of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

The numbers

According to ABC Audio and Nerdist, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" had earned $936.773 million in North American theaters, edging past the roughly $936 million earned by "The Force Awakens." Both outlets report that the film reached the mark after 47 days in release.

"The Force Awakens," released in December 2015, had held the domestic record for about a decade, according to the reports.

Worldwide, the film has taken in more than $2.4 billion, according to the outlets, which put it in third place on the all-time global chart. Only "Avatar" and "Avengers: Endgame" have earned more around the world.

The film

"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and stars Tom Holland, with Zendaya also in the cast. ABC Audio identifies Sony as the studio, and Laughing Place reports that the film is a Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios release.

Nerdist notes that it is the fourth Spider-Man film starring Tom Holland and the ninth live-action Spider-Man film overall. The outlet wrote: "Without the added bonus of starring alongside the two other Spider-Man actors, few believed Brand New Day could outperform No Way Home." That was a reference to the 2021 film "Spider-Man: No Way Home," which brought back earlier Spider-Man actors.

Industry reaction

Laughing Place reports that Sony marked the milestone on social media, and that Lucasfilm, the studio behind "The Force Awakens," posted a message of congratulations. Lucasfilm's post opened with the words "Impressive. Most Impressive."

Laughing Place also notes that the result came despite earlier predictions that the film might fall short of its predecessor, "Spider-Man: No Way Home," which had drawn audiences with appearances by multiple Spider-Man actors and returning villains.

Why it matters

The domestic box office record is one of the most closely watched benchmarks in the film business. "The Force Awakens" set its mark in 2015, and no film had passed it in the decade since. Nerdist describes the new record as a sign of theatrical moviegoing's return after the pandemic.

The milestone also gives Sony and Marvel Studios the top spot on both the domestic chart and a place in the global top three. The film was still in theaters when it set the record, so its final total has not yet been reported.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.