My quick rating – 6.1/10. As the first of three MCU films releasing in 2025, Captain America: Brave New World enters the Marvel timeline with some fanfare and a fair amount of baggage. Stepping into the shield once again, Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson finds himself entangled in an international incident after a meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, played by Harrison Ford. From there, the story unravels into a global conspiracy with political undertones, secret agendas, and of course, a few punches from a certain red-skinned menace.
The good news? Harrison Ford is a standout. Taking over the role of Ross and bringing a bit more screen time than his predecessors, Ford delivers a grounded, commanding performance. His take on the U.S. President adds gravitas and a dash of old-school charisma to a film that sometimes feels like it’s grasping for direction. Anthony Mackie also holds his own. His portrayal of Sam grappling with the weight of the Captain America mantle feels honest and earned. He doesn’t try to mimic Steve Rogers, and the film wisely leans into the idea that this isn’t about replacement—it’s about evolution. Mackie conveys the inner conflict and responsibility well, showing a man learning to lead in a divided world.
Visually, Brave New World is striking, with solid action choreography and a relatively restrained use of CGI—at least by Marvel standards. The dogfight sequence over the ocean featuring Japanese fighter jets is a genuine highlight, delivering high-octane thrills with just the right amount of flair. The Red Hulk battle later in the film is another adrenaline spike, though the villain as a whole doesn’t land quite as strongly. Without giving too much away, the main antagonist, Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson), lacks the menace that MCU fans have come to expect. It feels like a missed opportunity, especially considering the potential behind the character’s origins.
The film’s story, unfortunately, feels like a patchwork of past MCU entries. With plot threads borrowed from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and The Incredible Hulk, the narrative sometimes stumbles under its own weight. It’s serviceable, sure, but it lacks the cohesion or freshness that could have made this outing soar. The discovery of adamantium, for example, is an exciting development for the universe, but it’s treated more like a checkbox moment than a real revelation.
Sebastian Stan’s brief appearance as Bucky helps tie things into the upcoming Thunderbolts, but it feels more like setup than substance. The inclusion of the Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito) character, too, seems jarring—almost like an afterthought. Whether it was a late addition or just poor integration, those scenes feel out of place and tonally inconsistent with the rest of the film.
In the end, Captain America: Brave New World isn’t a bad movie—but it’s a middling one. It does enough to move the MCU chessboard forward, offers a couple of memorable sequences, and features strong performances from its leads. But its convoluted plot and underwhelming villain keep it from truly standing out. For die-hard Marvel fans, it’s worth the trip. For casual viewers, it might just be another piece of a larger puzzle.
You can watch this one at home on Amazon along wit these streamers.