For much of the past decade, Tom Holland has been inseparable from the image of a wisecracking superhero swinging through skyscrapers. His portrayal of Spider-Man turned him into one of the most recognizable faces of his generation. Yet when asked which role best represents his true range—and the one he feels remains deeply underappreciated—Holland doesn’t point to a blockbuster. He points instead to a dark, divisive film that nearly broke him.
That role came in Cherry, a harrowing character study directed by Joe Russo and Anthony Russo. Reflecting on the experience, Holland summed up the cost with brutal honesty: “I gave my soul to show the cycle of a broken soldier.”
A Descent Few Expected
Based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Nico Walker, Cherry follows a nameless protagonist from restless college dropout to Army medic, then to a veteran shattered by PTSD and opioid addiction. The role demanded that Holland dismantle everything audiences associated with him—youthful optimism, charm, and invincibility—and replace it with emptiness, rage, and desperation.
To portray the later stages of the character’s addiction, Holland underwent a severe physical transformation, losing around 30 pounds in a short period. More punishing, however, was the emotional labor. He spent months speaking with veterans and people struggling with substance abuse, absorbing firsthand accounts of trauma that left lasting marks on his mental health. Holland later admitted that living in such a dark psychological space, day after day, took time to recover from once filming ended.
A Risky Creative Gamble
For the Russo Brothers, Cherry marked a sharp departure from the polished precision of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film is intentionally fragmented—divided into chapters, shifting aspect ratios, and experimenting with tone and style to mirror the protagonist’s unraveling mind. That ambition proved polarizing. Critics were split, with many arguing that the film’s maximalist approach overwhelmed its emotional core.
Yet even among mixed reviews, Holland’s performance stood out. His portrayal was frequently described as raw, fearless, and career-defining—an actor stripping himself bare to confront the ugliest corners of addiction and moral collapse. Alongside Ciara Bravo, Holland depicted how trauma radiates outward, poisoning relationships and eroding love.
Overshadowed by the Mask
Despite the effort and vulnerability poured into Cherry, the film struggled to escape the shadow of Holland’s blockbuster identity. Released the same year as massive franchise projects and followed soon after by the global phenomenon of Spider-Man: No Way Home, the performance was easy for mainstream audiences to overlook. The contrast was stark: a $1.9 billion superhero triumph eclipsing a bleak, intimate exploration of addiction.
For Holland, however, Cherry was never about numbers or awards. It was proof—to himself more than anyone—that he could carry a role defined by suffering rather than spectacle. He has repeatedly stated that, regardless of reception, it remains the project he is most proud of.
In giving voice to a “broken soldier,” Tom Holland stepped far beyond the safety of the Spidey-suit. Whether fully recognized or not, Cherry stands as a testament to an actor willing to risk comfort, image, and even his own well-being to tell a story that demanded to be told.