Coverage spread: 2 sources — 2 unrated
Lean ratings via AllSides / Media Bias-Fact-Check. How this works.
Where they agree
- Both pieces relate to the release of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” a new entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Both confirm the film stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker and Zendaya as MJ.
- Both note the film is currently playing in Arizona theaters, including Harkins locations.
Where they differ
- ABC15 focuses on Harkins’ rollout of Arizona’s first 4D theater technology at its Norterra location; Phoenix New Times doesn’t mention the 4D format at all.
- Phoenix New Times is a film review assessing acting, plot and themes; ABC15 offers no evaluation of the movie’s quality.
- ABC15 includes business details like the Lumma 4D E-motion partnership and future expansion plans; Phoenix New Times includes an unrelated appeal for reader donations to support its journalism.
What opened and where
Harkins Theatres has launched Arizona’s first 4D immersive movie auditorium at its Norterra location, 2550 W. Happy Valley Rd. in Phoenix. The company partnered with Lumma 4D E-motion to build out the format, which adds synchronized motion seating along with coordinated scents, air, water and other environmental effects timed to the on-screen action. Harkins confirmed the auditorium’s opening to ABC15.
The theater is currently showing “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” in two enhanced formats: 4D-E Motion 3D and standard 4D-E Motion. A Harkins representative told ABC15 that showtimes for “The Odyssey” in 4D will be added soon, though no date was given. Harkins first announced plans for the 4D format back in early spring, saying it intended to bring the experience to several Arizona locations. The company has not yet named which additional theaters will get the upgrade.
The movie drawing the crowds
The film inaugurating the new format, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker and Zendaya as MJ, continuing the pair’s real-life and on-screen partnership. According to a review from the Phoenix New Times, the story follows Peter Parker navigating the fallout of “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” in which people close to him have forgotten who he is, while he contends with villains including Scorpion and Kingpin and a mysterious antagonist with a hidden agenda.
The review praises Holland’s performance as the most fully realized take on the character in his decade playing Spider-Man, and highlights Zendaya’s emotional range as MJ in her fourth film in the role. It also singles out Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle (the Punisher), calling his performance gritty and full of heart, and praises Sadie Sink’s turn as Jean Grey. Supporting performances from Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, Florence Pugh in a limited role, and Jacob Batalon and Zabryna Guevara are also called out favorably. The review describes the film overall as a reset for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, driven by emotion and humanity rather than just action.
How the two stories differ
These two pieces cover entirely separate angles of the same cultural moment rather than the same facts from different perspectives. ABC15’s report is a straightforward local business and entertainment news item: it focuses on the mechanics and rollout of Harkins’ new 4D technology, where it’s located, who Harkins partnered with, and what’s playing there. It includes no evaluation of the film itself.
The Phoenix New Times piece is a film review with no mention of the 4D theater technology at all. It’s focused entirely on assessing the performances and storyline of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” including spoilers, and reads as a piece of arts criticism rather than news. Notably, the Phoenix New Times article also includes an unrelated fundraising appeal for the publication’s summer donation campaign, which has no bearing on the Spider-Man story itself.
Why it matters locally
For Arizona moviegoers, the news is really about a first-of-its-kind theater experience arriving in the state, positioning Harkins Norterra as a testing ground before the format expands to other locations still to be announced. The choice to launch with a major blockbuster like the new Spider-Man film, paired with an upcoming rollout for “The Odyssey,” suggests Harkins is betting on high-profile releases to draw audiences into the pricier, sensory-enhanced format. Combined with a strongly positive review of the film itself, the two pieces together paint a picture of a big pop-culture moment landing in the Phoenix area with an added local twist: audiences there can experience it with motion seats, scents, wind and water effects that aren’t yet available anywhere else in the state.
Sources
Featured photo: Jesuiseduardo Jonathan J Tibbs via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)