Tom Rothman, the chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Motion Picture Group, took a well-deserved victory lap at the Lumière Summit in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France. He proudly announced that Sony's 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' has become the highest-grossing film of 2026 to date, amassing an impressive $2.4 billion globally since its July 31 release, with $923 million domestically.

"First of all, I can’t be wrong all the time. It’s against the law of averages," Rothman joked about the film's colossal success. On a more serious note, he emphasized, "For a result like that to happen, everything has to work perfectly." He lauded the "incredibly talented" team behind the production, singling out star Tom Holland, who "has been our partner in this for over a decade now," and acknowledged the vital support from Disney and Marvel.

Explaining the film's widespread appeal, Rothman characterized 'Brand New Day' as more than just a superhero story. "It’s not so much a superhero film, but ‘super-person’ film," he clarified. "The reason that movie has resonated all around the world is because it’s about a lonely guy… It’s like yeah, it’s about friendship. It’s very human. It’s very emotional." He added that while the film boasts plenty of "whiz-bang" action, its true magic lies in its "relatable story that almost everybody has related to."

At the Lumière Summit, which saw French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung unveil a $1.16 billion entertainment industry financing partnership, Rothman playfully remarked on the distinguished attendees. "We had three presidents today: The president of France, the president of Korea. And you have the president of Hollywood," he said, gesturing to George Clooney, who was seated in the front row.

Echoing Mark Twain, Rothman declared that reports of the theatrical business's death have been greatly exaggerated, especially given the past summer's performance. "Movies were cool," he asserted. "They became cultural again… because they were culturally significant."

He specifically highlighted the unexpected triumph of 'Obsession,' a low-budget horror film reportedly made for just $700,000 that went on to earn nearly $510 million worldwide. This success, Rothman noted, disproves the "misnomer that young people won’t go to movies." Sony Pictures had vied for Curry Barker’s 'Obsession' but was ultimately outbid by Universal’s Focus Features, which reportedly paid $14 million for the rights. "I was outraged," Rothman quipped about losing out by "a couple million dollars." He then added, "I would like to have that moment back. I congratulate the worthy opposition."

Discussing Sony’s global film strategy, Rothman praised Netflix for being "brave enough at the time" to finance the animated musical movie 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' which has since become the streamer’s most-viewed film ever. He described it as a "deeply Korean, culturally relevant film."

Rothman shared a crucial principle for creating globally resonant content: "Specificity leads to universality." He explained, "I have seen it many times in my career," citing Sony's flourishing Japanese anime business as a prime example. Ultimately, he believes, "Stories are the things that… become our cultural heritage."

Rothman's extensive career includes joining Sony Pictures in 2013 as chairman of TriStar Pictures, before being promoted to chairman of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group in February 2015, and then chairman/CEO in 2021. Prior to his tenure at Sony, he headed Fox Filmed Entertainment from 2000 to 2012.