Let’s talk about British actor Tom Holland and his wife American actress Zendaya.
Both star in Spider-Man: Brand New Day which has delivered an historic $US927 million ($1.32 billion) worldwide opening.
This includes a $US355m opening in the US domestic market, where it is the number two opening of all-time behind 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.
Holland and Zendaya are a real-life couple who keep their relationship private. (Supplied: Sony Pictures)
In Australia, the film has shattered records, grossing $30.4m over the four-day opening weekend since Thursday.
This makes it the biggest opening weekend of 2026, the second biggest opening weekend of all-time in Australia, and the biggest opening in the 100-year history of Sony Pictures.
The cultural juggernaut sees Peter Parker (Holland) fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that no longer remembers him.
That world includes MJ (Zendaya).
Peter Parker has not forgotten the people who no longer remember him. (Supplied: Sony Pictures)
Audiences and critics alike are giving it a firm thumbs up.
It’s attracted a 90 per cent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 98 per cent audience rating.
But wait, there’s more, because Holland and Zendaya also star in The Odyssey, which had Universal’s highest-grossing opening weekend ever for an R-rated film.
Domestically, The Odyssey is at $41 million in its third week of release.
Holland plays son of Odysseus, Telemachus, in The Odyssey. (Supplied: Universal Pictures)
It is fast approaching the $US1 billion mark worldwide, having grossed $US912 million in three weeks according to Box Office Mojo.
In The Odyssey, Odysseus (Matt Damon) faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca after the Trojan War.
Holland stars as Odysseus and Penelope’s (Anne Hathaway) son Telemachus, while Zendaya plays Goddess Athena.
That’s two simultaneous box office hits for the power couple.
Working history
Holland and Zendaya have had back-to-back press tours to promote both movies.
Zendaya plays Goddess Athena in The Odyssey, who assists Odysseus (Matt Damon) on his epic journey. (Supplied: Universal Pictures)
Their first feature together was 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Since then, they had a brief crossover in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War.
The couple rejoined forces in 2019 for Spider-Man: Far from Home, before 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home.
2026 has seen them collaborate on The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
A shocked Zendaya also appeared on stage during Tom Holland’s 2017 Lip Sync Battle, which the internet is still talking about.
Zendaya is also a singer.
She began her career as a child model and dancer before her starring role as drug-addicted teenager Rue Bennett in Euphoria.
She’s won two Emmys and a Golden Globe.
Holland has won a BAFTA and two Critics’ Choice Awards.
He began his career as a teen in Billy Elliot the Musical on West End, firstly in a supporting role and then as the lead.
Private life
In an interview with the Dish Podcast, Holland was asked who from The Odyssey cast he would like to go on holiday to Greece with.
He replied: “I think probably my wife would be pretty good for that one.”
The couple has appeared together while promoting movies. (Supplied: Sony Pictures)
It was a rare acknowledgement that Holland and Zendaya had indeed married, reportedly in a private ceremony earlier this year.
The married couple keep their private lives under wraps as much as possible.
In 2023, Holland described their relationship to The Hollywood Reporter as “our thing”.
“Our relationship is something that we are incredibly protective of and we want to keep as sacred as possible,” he told THR.
The couple kept their relationship quiet until they were photographed kissing in a car in 2021, but they reportedly met in early 2016 during the casting of Spider-Man: Homecoming.
They’re not the only on-screen Peter Parker and MJ duo to develop romantic feelings for each other with Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst dating when they played those roles.
Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone also played those roles and also dated.
Zendaya was spotted with a diamond ring at the Golden Globes in 2025, which led to rumours the two were engaged.
Holland isn’t the only co-star Zendaya has dated.
She was reportedly in a brief relationship with Euphoria co-star and Academy Award-nominated Australian star Jacob Elordi.
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Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey are in cinemas now.
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