Tom Holland: Some Movies 'Sh**', Hard to Promote

Tom Holland, the actor best known for bringing Spider-Man to life in Homecoming and its sequels, offered a brutally candid assessment of his own filmography this week, acknowledging that some of his past projects simply “are sh**” and that those weak links make the promotional circuit particularly painful.

Speaking during a wide-ranging conversation about the realities of Hollywood press tours, Holland didn’t hold back when asked about the obligation to sell movies an actor might not personally stand behind. While he didn’t name specific titles or directors, the actor made it clear that not every entry in his résumé meets his personal standard, and that the experience of having to sit in front of cameras and microphones to champion a film he considers subpar is uniquely uncomfortable. “You know when you’ve made something that just doesn’t work. Everyone on set knows it. The script isn’t there. The direction is off. And then you’re sent out to pretend it’s the best thing you’ve ever done. That is a genuinely hard part of this job,” Holland said.

The remarks quickly spread across social media and industry trade sites, in part because Holland has long been seen as one of the more earnest and diplomatic young stars in Hollywood. His Spider-Man incarnation has been widely praised for its youthful energy and emotional depth, and his work in projects like The Devil All the Time and Cherry showed a willingness to take risks. But the actor’s admission that he considers some of his own movies “sh**” is a rare moment of public honesty from a leading man who usually keeps his internal barometer private.

The tension between craft and commerce

Holland’s comments highlight a perennial tension inside the Hollywood machine. Actors are often contractually obligated to participate in press junkets, global tours, and talk-show appearances regardless of the finished product’s quality. For a performer who cares deeply about his craft - and who has spoken in the past about the emotional toll of acting - the obligation to sell something he doesn’t believe in can feel like a betrayal of his own instincts.

“It’s the part of the job nobody talks about,” Holland continued. “You sign on because you think you see something in the script. Then months later you’re watching the edit and you realize - that thing you thought you saw? It’s not there anymore. And you have to go out and say, ‘Hey, come see this movie I made.’ It feels dishonest. I’ve had to do that a few times, and I hate it.”

His candor stands in contrast to the typical Hollywood playbook, where actors - especially those in franchise tentpoles - stick to approved talking points and avoid disparaging any project, past or present. Holland’s willingness to call a spade a spade has drawn mixed reactions from peers and publicists. Some have praised him for his authenticity; others have quietly noted that such statements can make it harder to secure financing for future independent projects, where trust from investors is paramount.

The Spider-Man factor

Any conversation about Holland’s career inevitably circles back to Spider-Man. His portrayal of Peter Parker across three solo films and several Avengers installments has made him a household name and a box-office magnet. The Spider-Man: No Way Home gross alone exceeded $1.9 billion worldwide, solidifying his status as the face of Marvel’s younger generation. Yet the actor seems determined not to rest on that success. He has repeatedly expressed a desire to take on character-driven dramas and avoid being pigeonholed.

The admission that some of his non-Spider-Man movies “are sh**” may also reflect the inherent unevenness of a young actor’s trajectory. Holland broke into the industry with the tsunami drama The Impossible and then vaulted into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The transition from child actor to adult leading man is rarely seamless, and the period between 2017 and 2023 saw Holland attached to projects of wildly varying critical and commercial reception. Chaos Walking, Uncharted, and The Crowded Room all landed with mixed reactions, and the actor has been open about the pressure of trying to prove he can carry a film outside the websuit.

Industry observers note that Holland’s honesty could actually benefit him in the long run. Audiences increasingly value vulnerability and authenticity over polished celebrity branding. If the public believes that Holland is being genuine - that he won’t just shill for a paycheck - then when he does enthusiastically endorse a project, that endorsement may carry more weight. It is a high-risk, high-reward strategy, and for now, the actor appears comfortable with the trade-off. “I’m not going to lie to people. They deserve better than that,” he said.

As Holland prepares for his next slate of projects - reportedly including a return to the Spider-Man role for a fourth film - his most vocal critics and biggest fans alike will be watching closely to see if the projects he champions live up to the standard he has set for himself. One thing is certain: if he thinks a movie is sh**, he’ll say so. And that, in an industry built on illusion, may be the most refreshing thing he’s done yet.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter