Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

Movie · 2025 · Action, Thriller, Science Fiction · 1h 59m · PG-13 · English

Curator score: 0.6/10 (999.7K ratings)

The future favors the brave.

Overview

After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.

Ratings

Director

Julius Onah

Production

Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige Productions

Cast

Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Tim Blake Nelson, Carl Lumbly, Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Xosha Roquemore, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, William Mark McCullough, Takehiro Hira, Harsh Nayyar, Rick Espaillat, Todd Allen Durkin, Dustin Lewis, Rachael Markarian, Phuong Kubacki, Alan Boell, Ava Hill

Where to watch

Disney Plus

Curator Review

Verdict

A noisy, overstuffed MCU entry with some political-thriller trappings, but the consensus points to weak execution, uneven CGI, and a story that feels more like connective tissue than a satisfying standalone film. It may work for viewers deeply invested in post-Endgame Marvel continuity, but most audiences will find it more frustrating than fun.

Best for

  • MCU completionists
  • Viewers curious about Sam Wilson’s Captain America
  • Fans of glossy studio action with political intrigue
  • People who enjoy franchise lore and crossover setup

Skip if

  • You want a tight, self-contained superhero movie
  • You’re tired of multiverse-era Marvel sprawl
  • You’re sensitive to obvious CGI or uneven visual effects
  • You prefer strong character arcs over franchise bookkeeping

Overview

Captain America: Brave New World aims for a leaner, more grounded Marvel mode, with Sam Wilson pulled into a conspiracy that wants to feel like a political thriller. The problem is that the movie keeps tripping over its own franchise obligations, stuffing in legacy threads, callbacks, and setup until the suspense gets buried under continuity noise.

Worth noting

There are flashes of the old Marvel rhythm here: a capable lead, some brisk action, and a premise that should have had real tension. But the film’s visual polish and dramatic stakes are inconsistent, and the story often feels like it is assembling a larger universe rather than telling a complete one.

Bottom line

If you’re already committed to the MCU, there’s enough here to justify a watch, especially for the character of Sam Wilson. For everyone else, it plays more like a middling chapter in a long-running series than a movie with its own identity.

Top Letterboxd reviews

whenthepawn___ (3.5★) · 25764 likes

The most unrealistic part of this movie is that the president actually went to prison for his crimes

Cody (2★) · 14999 likes

When Cap earnestly says to Hulkiana Jones “Remember this place? You used to come here with Betty” and it’s literally a CGI parking lot…baby that’s comedy

David Sims (1★) · 14130 likes

would love to know Red Hulk's plans for combating inflation

Cyrus (3★) · 12768 likes

the 17 people that watched eternals and the incredible hulk are going to love this.

Qukey (3.5★) · 12157 likes

Cap's got a 400 day Duolingo streak

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Topics

superhero, action thriller, political conspiracy, comic-book adaptation, franchise sequel, government intrigue, high-stakes action, CGI-heavy, 2020s, mainstream blockbuster

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