Oscars on the mind: Sony boss backs Spider-Man: Brand New Day — '10 films better?'
Sony chief Tom Rothman has a bold Oscar pitch that’s raising Hollywood eyebrows, and the movie behind it isn’t the one you’re expecting.
After shattering records at the box office, Spider- Man: Brand New Day is getting a full-on awards push. Sony Pictures is mounting a substantial Best Picture campaign for the 99th Academy Awards , and studio chairman Tom Rothman is not shy about his expectations.
“Are you telling me that there are 10 films this year that are better than this film? ”
In a conversation with Deadline, Rothman argued that blockbuster status shouldn’t disqualify a movie from Oscar consideration, saying the Academy’s top category is meant to honor achievement in filmmaking whether the hero wears a tux or a mask.
“The Academy is meant to recognize greatness,” he said. “I think it ’s greatness.”
The Oscar push
The campaign follows a run most studios only dream about. Starring Tom Holland , Brand New Day has passed $2.5 billion worldwide, is 2026 ’s box-office champion, and now stands as the highest-grossing film in North American history. Rothman’s stance is that studios shouldn’t assume voters will simply discover a commercial hit’s craft on their own—he plans to make the case directly.
Meanwhile, another Sony win
It isn’t just Spider-Man ringing up big numbers for Sony abroad. The studio is also touting the early global performance of Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, a mythological epic distributed by Sony outside India and led by a trio of major stars:
- Ranbir Kapoor
- Yash
- Sai Pallavi
The film opened to $55.7 million worldwide, good for No. 2 globally on its first weekend behind Godzilla Minus Zero ($63 million), then quickly crossed the $100 million mark with $101.9 million to date. It sold over 11 million tickets during its opening period and set a Diwali opening record for an Indian production.
Territory breakdowns so far include:
- India — $67.1 million
- North America — $17.7 million
- Other Sony-handled overseas markets — $16.9 million
In the U.K. and Ireland, Ramayana also made history as the first Indian film to top the weekend box office, edging out Godzilla Minus Zero locally.
For Sony, the numbers bolster a broader narrative heading into awards season: a year of massive theatrical wins and, if Rothman has his way, a superhero swinging into the Best Picture lineup at the 99th Academy Awards.