3 Ways MJ and Ned Could Afford That Spacious NYC Apartment in 'Spider-man: Brand New Day'
The internet is buzzing about box-office-busting "Spider-man: Brand New Day," which grossed more than half a billion dollars in its first week, breaking North American records, according to Hollywood Reporter.
But fans also have questions. For one: How can new college grads Ned and MJ afford a seemingly giant 2-bedroom apartment in Manhattan?
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The movie doesn’t give an exact address or even a neighborhood, but from limited photos it could be somewhere in lower Manhattan, likely the East Village, the Bowery or the Lower East Side. Those locations would also put them within walking distance of Dr. Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum on Bleecker Street, although he didn’t appear in the movie.
One 750-square-foot, 2-bedroom rental in the East Village cost nearly $7,000 per month, based on Apartments.com listings. Ned and MJ’s apartment looked significantly larger.
They might find a cheaper place in Chinatown or Alphabet City, but it would still be hard to find anything of the size depicted in the movie. The cheapest listing available was $3,700 for an 800-square-foot, fully furnished 2-bedroom sublet in Alphabet City. Ironically, that listing clearly stated, “No parties!”
Based on a variety of listings, the apartment easily costs $5,000 to $10,000 or even more. It’s still plausible they can afford it within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here’s why.
Ned Created a Bestselling App
Ned created the Spidey Tracker, which was widely known and successful. Apps relying on subscriptions plus ads and in-app purchases can earn $100,000 up to $1 million or more per month, according to estimates from RevenueCat.com. Given how Ned treasures MJ’s friendship, he could be footing the bill with his salary or app revenue.
Ned’s Family Owns the Apartment
In the sitcom "Friends," we learn that Monica and Rachel’s spacious West Village apartment was previously owned by Monica’s grandmother, so the girls benefited from inherited rent stabilization.
Although Ned’s grandma (“Lola”) owns a home, as shown in "Spider-Man: No Way Home," she could own or even rent a second apartment in Manhattan and let Ned and MJ live there.
Also, it’s likely that New York City real estate prices tanked after the Battle of New York and further dropped during The Blip, when demand was cut in half and many apartments went vacant.
Ned, the “man in the chair” with a massive tech set-up, was never shown to be struggling financially like Peter Parker. His parents or Lola may have taken advantage of the depressed real estate market and bought an apartment as an investment. They could let him and MJ stay there free or at a dramatically reduced price.
Dr. Strange Has Something To Do With It
This may be the least likely, yet most fun, explanation. In "Spider-Man: No Way Home," Dr. Strange sees Ned use the Sling Ring to open a portal. He knows Ned has powers.
If the apartment is in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or even the more affordable Alphabet City, it’s a short walk or bus ride from the Sanctum. Dr. Strange may own the apartment as a safe house if the Sanctum is compromised and his teleportation powers aren’t working. The concept of safe houses was established in "No Way Home" when Happy brought Peter and May to a condo in Long Island City.
Dr. Strange could have offered Ned and MJ a great deal on the apartment to keep Ned close and keep an eye on him, without even remembering how they met, which was through Peter.
That also solves another piece of the puzzle. After combing dozens of entries on Apartments.com, most of the two-bedroom apartments listed in lower Manhattan were 650-square-feet or smaller, with an occasional “unicorn” topping out at 800 square feet. Apartments in the West Village were larger, but more expensive.
Dr. Strange may have done a spell to fold space to make the apartment feel bigger. Otherwise, we can just chalk it up to movie magic.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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