Captain America: Brave New World: the worst movie in the MCU?
Released on February 12, 2025, Captain America: Brave New World was supposed to mark a new era for the MCU by consolidating Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as the long-awaited worthy successor of Steve Rogers.
With a strong political context, the return of Thunderbolt Ross (Harrison Ford) as President of the United States and the introduction of new threats, this film had all the cards to reignite enthusiasm for the new Captain America.
Yet, the final result divides, and for some, it represents one of Marvel's biggest recent failures.
A Political Thriller with Muddled Ambitions
The plot of Brave New World rests on a major geopolitical crisis: the discovery of an island containing adamantium, the indestructible metal associated with Wolverine and the X-Men. This place is none other than a Celestial that appeared following the events of the "Eternals".
This event jeopardizes global balance, as several nations want to appropriate this strategic resource.
The film attempts to offer a more mature and realistic vision of the MCU by addressing topics such as power, diplomacy, and the arms race by pitting various nations such as the United States of America, Japan, and France against each other.
In theory, this could have led to an excellent espionage thriller in the style of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. However, in practice, the narrative is confusing, with too many subplots and a lack of cohesion between the different stakes, clearly Sam is not able to pick up the mantle that the film teases throughout.
📌 Strength: The idea of a Marvel political thriller with geopolitical tensions is bold.
📌 Weakness: The story is too loaded, poorly structured, and some issues are dispatched too quickly.
An Underutilized Sam Wilson as Captain America
Anthony Mackie had already proven himself as Falcon, and his promotion to Captain America in Falcon & The Winter Soldier had well prepared fans for this change. While we witness a credible Anthony Mackie in his role with some charisma, the film does not fully exploit his evolution.
Instead of seeing a doubtful yet assertive Sam Wilson, we end up with a passive character, often overshadowed by Thunderbolt Ross and other protagonists. He lacks any grand iconic moments, and his fight scenes, although visually interesting, never really highlight him as a worthy Captain America.
His development is weak and his impact in the film is limited.
Thunderbolt Ross Steals the Show, but Lacks Spark
With Harrison Ford replacing the late William Hurt, Brave New World marks the grand return of Thunderbolt Ross, who is now President of the United States.
The character is a major asset of the film, as he represents a powerful and controversial figure of authority since the first film Hulk
In the comics, Ross becomes Red Hulk, and many fans had hoped to see this transformation on screen. However, the film teases this change without really exploiting it, which has frustrated many fans.
We have an imposing character, but he lacks truly impactful actions.
📌 Strength: Harrison Ford's credible performance as a tough political leader.
📌 Weakness: The absence of transformation into Red Hulk and an ultimately secondary role.
Spectacular but Generic Action Scenes
The MCU is known for its impressive action scenes, and Brave New World is no exception. The fights are well choreographed, especially those involving Sam Wilson and his new capabilities with the shield.
However, originality is sorely lacking.
Some battles seem to be repetitions of sequences seen in other films, without real novelty. Moreover, the special effects are uneven, with some moments appearing less polished, which detracts from the experience.
📌 Strength: Visually successful action scenes.
📌 Weakness: A lack of innovation and unique identity.
A Box Office Freefall and Chilly Critical Reception
Since its release, Captain America: Brave New World has been demolished by critics.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a score of 49%, ranking it among the worst Marvel films in terms of reception. Many criticize it for its lack of clear direction, an overloaded screenplay, and an underutilized protagonist.
At the box office, the film had a good start, but experienced a brutal drop of 68% in its second week, evidence of negative word of mouth that hampered its long-term success.
📌 Strength: Initial anticipation that enabled a good start.
📌 Weakness: A strong decline in admissions due to a mixed reception.
Why is Brave New World a failure compared to other Captain America films?
When comparing Brave New World to previous films in the series, the difference is stark:
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes Score | Box Office (first week) | Total Box Office (not final) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain America: The Winter Soldier | 90% | 95M$ | 714M$ |
| Captain America: Civil War | 91% | 179M$ | 1.1B$ |
| Captain America: Brave New World | 49% | 85M$ | 289M$ (rapid decline) |
Where Winter Soldier shone with its solid plot and striking action, and Civil War captivated with its emotional stakes and the appearance of iconic characters,, Brave New World seems lost between its ambitions and clumsy execution.
Should you watch Captain America: Brave New World?
With all these elements in mind, should you watch this film or not?
✅ Worth watching if...
- You are a die-hard MCU fan and want to see Sam Wilson's evolution.
- You like political thrillers and geopolitical stakes in superhero films.
- You want to appreciate Harrison Ford's performance as President of the United States.
❌ Avoid if...
- You are expecting a Captain America as iconic as Steve Rogers.
- You are looking for a well-structured and memorable Marvel film.
- You hope to see Red Hulk often.
Captain America: Brave New World could have reignited the hype around the MCU by giving Sam Wilson a fresh start. Unfortunately, the film is too confusing, too loaded, and poorly balanced, preventing its full potential from bursting on screen.
It's an adequate blockbuster, but far from the expectations placed on it. At a time when Marvel struggles to regain its former glory, this installment is a wake-up call: it is time to refocus on solid and well-constructed stories.
⭐ Editorial final rating: 2.5/5 – A film with potential, but that misses its mark.
By the team at MySuperSuit
