Tom Holland is confirming that he has previously promoted projects he privately believed audiences were better off skipping. The actor said his latest press tour has been far more enjoyable because he is genuinely proud of both “The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” unlike some of his past work.
Holland did not identify the movies he regretted promoting, but several of his poorly reviewed projects have faced harsh criticism over the years.
Holland has admitted that promoting movies he wasn’t proud of was one of the most difficult parts of his job, revealing there were times he had to convince audiences to buy tickets despite privately believing they were better off skipping the film.
Speaking on the “Dish” podcast, the actor said it’s far easier to promote a movie when he genuinely believes in it.
“I’m absolutely loving it. When you’re doing press for movies you’re really proud of, it’s really easy,” Holland said. “I’ve had experiences before when people say, ‘Why should you see this movie?’ And in the back of your mind, you’re like, ‘You shouldn’t, because it’s sh-t.’”
Holland is currently promoting both “The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” projects he described as a “victory lap” because he’s “super proud” of both films.
Holland Has Endured Several Critical Flops
When talking about movies he has done fans should never watch, Holland did not name any titles specifically. However, like most other actors, the Englishman has several critically mauled projects that could fuel speculation about which movies he privately disliked.
His lowest-rated starring films include “Chaos Walking,” “Cherry,” and “Uncharted,” which hold Rotten Tomatoes scores of 21%, 37%, and 41%, respectively. “Dolittle,” in which he voiced Jip, sits even lower at 15%.
“The Crowded Room” also struggled with critics, but Holland publicly stood behind the Apple TV+ series and its message about seeking help for mental health struggles.
Still, he admitted the production took a serious personal toll. Holland said the role left him struggling to separate himself from his character and contributed to his decision to take a year-long break from acting.
Tom Holland’s Career Has Reached A New Peak
Holland’s days of reluctantly promoting movies he disliked could now very well be far behind him, with the actor seemingly enjoying the biggest high of his career. After several years of balancing Marvel blockbusters with more divisive projects, the British star is now leading two of Hollywood’s most anticipated releases.
Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” opened to a massive global debut and has earned widespread acclaim, while “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is already generating major buzz ahead of its release.
The momentum has also been backed by those around him. Sony Pictures chairman Tom Rothman reportedly described Holland’s work in “Brand New Day” as his “finest performance.”
‘The Odyssey’ Is Already An Oscar Frontrunner
Holland’s role in “The Odyssey” has also placed him closer than ever to Hollywood’s awards conversation.
Although the actor is not currently projected as a leading Oscar contender, Christopher Nolan’s epic has emerged as one of the year’s biggest awards hopefuls, with early forecasts predicting nominations across major categories, including Best Picture and Best Director.
If the film lives up to those expectations, Holland will have played a key role in one of the most acclaimed movies of his career, further cementing his evolution from blockbuster superhero to respected dramatic leading man.
How Christopher Nolan Elevated Tom Holland’s Career
Working with Christopher Nolan also appears to have reshaped Holland’s approach to filmmaking.
Per Variety, the actor was so determined to star in “The Odyssey” that he personally called Sony boss Tom Rothman to request a delay to “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” after the two productions landed on conflicting schedules. The gamble ultimately paid off, with Holland later saying the extra development time helped Marvel make “the best version” of the film.
The London-born star has since credited Nolan’s meticulous process with influencing how he approaches future projects, telling TheWrap there was “a lot more preparation” on the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s sets than he had previously experienced.
“[With Marvel,] sometimes we come to set without scripts and stuff like that, and you’re having to improvise and try and find ways to tell the story. Whereas Chris’s script, I don’t think it really changed at all from the first time I read it to the movie that you saw yesterday,” Holland said, adding that he carried those lessons into the production of his latest “Spider-Man” movie.