Pro-Palestine activists call for Spider-Man film boycott
Pro-Palestinian campaigners in Lebanon, Jordan and other parts of the Arab world have urged audiences to boycott Spider-Man: Brand New Day, citing producer Avi Arad’s public support for Israel.
The boycott campaign is focused on Arad’s political views and background rather than the film’s storyline, cast or other members of its production team.
The Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel in Lebanon called on audiences to avoid purchasing tickets for the film. The group argued that spending money on a production associated with individuals who openly support Israel could contribute to what it described as cultural normalisation.
The campaign also urged cinemas and audiences to reject paid screenings of the movie as part of broader efforts to oppose Israeli policies.
A similar call was issued in Jordan by the Taharrak anti-normalisation movement. The group urged the public to boycott the film and called on cinemas to remove it from their screening schedules.
The campaign also appealed to the Jordanian Artists Syndicate, cinema operators and other relevant organisations to take a position against the movie’s screening. Activists and social media personalities in other Arab countries have subsequently amplified the boycott calls.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker and is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Marvel lists Arad among the film’s producers, alongside Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal and Rachel O’Connor.
Arad, a former Marvel Studios chief, holds both Israeli and US citizenship. He served in the Israeli military from 1965 to 1968 and was involved in the 1967 Six-Day War.
Campaigners have also pointed to comments Arad made in 2024 while criticising then-US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Schumer had described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an obstacle to peace and called for new elections in Israel.
In a letter published by entertainment outlet TheWrap, Arad rejected Schumer’s position and argued that US politicians should not seek to influence Israel’s electoral process. He also referred to his military service and opposed Schumer’s position regarding a ceasefire.
Pro-Palestinian campaigners say Arad’s statements reflect his political support for Israel and argue that audiences should avoid financially supporting productions linked to him.
The impact of the boycott campaign on the film’s commercial performance remains uncertain. Despite the calls for a boycott, the movie continued to screen in Lebanon, where a representative of the Grand Cinemas chain said shortly after its release that audience demand remained strong.
