Tom Holland says some earlier movies were ‘sh*t’ during candid confession

Tom Holland has made a surprisingly candid admission about parts of his acting career, revealing that promoting every film has not always been an enjoyable experience. While discussing his latest projects, the actor acknowledged that there were occasions when he struggled to convince audiences to watch certain releases because he personally was not satisfied with the finished result.

Speaking on the Dish Podcast, Holland contrasted those experiences with his current promotional campaign for The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. According to the actor, discussing films he genuinely believes in has made interviews far more enjoyable and authentic.

"I’m absolutely loving it," Holland said. "When you're doing press for movies you're really proud of, it's really easy. Because when they ask you questions about why should people go and watch this movie, you're not lying to anyone. You really think people should go see it."

He then reflected on earlier stages of his career, admitting that promoting some productions felt much more difficult. Holland explained that there had been moments when interviewers asked why audiences should buy tickets, while privately he felt the opposite.

"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,'" he said.

Although Holland chose not to identify which films he was referring to, his honesty quickly attracted attention among fans, many of whom began speculating about the projects he had in mind. The actor has appeared in a wide variety of productions throughout his career, ranging from critically acclaimed dramas to blockbuster franchises and smaller commercial releases. However, he deliberately avoided naming any specific title during the interview.

The timing of Holland's remarks comes as he enjoys one of the strongest periods of his career. Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has enjoyed an impressive start at the global box office, surpassing $300m worldwide during its opening week according to industry reports. At the same time, Holland is also promoting Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which marks his fourth standalone outing as Peter Parker in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Reflecting on this busy period, Holland described the experience as especially rewarding because he feels proud of both productions.

"It's felt really like a bit of a victory lap to be honest," he said. "I've really enjoyed it. I'm super proud of both of the films."

In The Odyssey, Holland stars alongside Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and an ensemble cast in Nolan's adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic. Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Brand New Day continues Peter Parker's story after the memory altering events at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, with Holland once again leading one of Marvel's biggest franchises.