“Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has shattered box office records. Beyond its commercial success, the film has garnered significant attention online, with audiences applauding Tom Holland’s impressive physical transformation.
Fans have taken to social media to share side-by-side photos of Holland as Spider-Man, comparing his 2016 debut to his current appearance. Over the course of those 10 years, it is clear Holland has made serious gains, evolving from a body that was already lean and muscular to one that is significantly more defined and powerful.
This visible shift has prompted a broader cultural conversation regarding so-called “physique inflation.” This term describes the growing belief that what was once considered an impressive body just a few years ago no longer meets the standard, creating an expectation that men must continually increase their muscle mass to achieve an exceptional physique.
As evidence of this trend, observers often point to movie superheroes of the not-too-distant past, such as Tobey Maguire in the early 2000s, and compare their builds to the more muscular archetypes seen in modern cinema. One Instagram user, referencing Holland’s look in “Brand New Day,” remarked, “They got to keep up with physique inflation in Hollywood. My guy went from Spider-Boy to Spider-Man.”
Fitness experts suggest the reality of “physique inflation” is nuanced. While it is true that larger, more muscular physiques are currently trending and men are generally seeking to get more jacked than they did a decade ago, fitness standards have historically moved in waves. The bulky physiques of the 1980s, for instance, were quite different from the slimmer, more athletic aesthetic that dominated the 1990s.
Regarding Holland’s specific journey, professionals note that his results are the product of consistent, high-quality training and nutrition over a decade. Jason Walsh, a celebrity trainer and founder of Rise311, notes that Holland is at a prime age for such results. While Walsh did not train Holland personally, he has worked with numerous stars, including Brie Larson, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Pedro Pascal.
Walsh emphasizes that the level of muscularity required for a role often depends on the specific creative vision of the studio and director, making it difficult to definitively label “physique inflation” as a universal Hollywood mandate. “I think it really depends on the movie,” Walsh explains. “It depends on the studio. It depends on the director, the actor, everything.”
Among the general public, trainers report a noticeable shift in the goals everyday clients pursue. Sam Bartlett, an exercise scientist and founder of the New York fitness center Exis, categorizes his clients into those focused on longevity and those driven by aesthetics. For the latter group, the goal is often the lean, muscular look popularized by characters like Christian Bale in “American Psycho.”
Bartlett notes that men are increasingly concerned with their outward appearance, though he warns that aesthetic goals should be balanced with clinical health. “Generally, most of the people who look the fittest are usually not the healthiest when you actually run blood markers,” Bartlett says. “The people who are the healthiest and fittest tend to look middle of the road—a little bit less lean, a little bit less muscular, but they’re able to do everything, and they do it forever.”
While Holland has attributed his physique in part to a CrossFit-style regimen of pullups, pushups, and squats, experts suggest his routine likely involves a more comprehensive approach. Achieving such a transformation naturally is considered feasible for many men, provided they maintain a caloric surplus and consistent training cycles.
Walsh outlines the fundamental requirements for such muscle growth: “Honestly, it’s pretty straightforward. You want to do that every 72 hours, at a minimum. And then you want to make sure that you’re in a caloric surplus, which just means that you’re consuming more food than you’re burning in a day. Otherwise, if you don’t do that, your body won’t have enough energy to create the new muscle.”
Ultimately, the conversation highlights the complex interplay between professional demands, personal health, and the evolving standards of the modern male physique. As Walsh concludes, “There’s just so much benefit to it,” noting that for many, fitness remains a vital lifestyle regardless of the specific aesthetic trends of the moment.
Some have even posted side-by-side photos of Holland as Spider-Man around 2016 and him in the role now.
Though he didn’t train Holland specifically, he has trained Brie Larson for “Captain Marvel,” Jake Gyllenhaal for “Road House,” Matt Damon for “Elysium,” John Krasinski for “13 Hours,” Bradley Cooper for “American Sniper
Because of that, he says, it’s hard to pinpoint whether “physique inflation,” at least as far as Hollywood is concerned, is totally real.
These kind of results happen with hard work and doing things consistently over time.”
Though he didn’t train Holland specifically, he has trained Brie Larson for “Captain Marvel,” Jake Gyllenhaal for “Road House,” Matt Damon for “Elysium,” John Krasinski for “13 Hours,” Bradley Cooper for “American Sniper,” Pedro Pascal for “The Fantastic Four” − and many more.
For guys in the latter camp, he says, the most common reference they give for their physique goal is Christian Bale in “American Psycho.” It’s a shift, he says, that he’s seen unfold over the course of his 15 years in the fitness industry − men, overall, are more concerned with their looks.
“It’s definitely a real thing,” Bartlett says.
“You either have somebody who really wants to have this almost superhero, action, muscle-bulging look, and the other half doesn’t care about aesthetics at all, and they really care about the measurements and the science.”
However, experts say he likely does far more exercises than that.
They also say his transformation is totally doable naturally for most guys, especially over a 10-year timeframe.
“There’s a lot of variables in play there,” Walsh says.
The other thing to keep in mind is bodies fluctuate depending on life circumstances.