Movie · 2019 · Action, Adventure, Science Fiction · 2h 4m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 1.3/10 (2.2M ratings)
Higher. Further. Faster.
Overview
The story follows Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Set in the 1990s, Captain Marvel is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Ratings
Curator score: 1.3/10
IMDb: 6.7/10
Letterboxd: 2.62/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
Metacritic: 64
TMDB: 6.8/10
Director
Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden
Production
Marvel Studios
Cast
Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Jude Law, Annette Bening, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Clark Gregg, Rune Temte, Algenis Perez Soto, Mckenna Grace, Akira Akbar, Matthew Maher, Chuku Modu, Vik Sahay, Colin Ford, Kenneth Mitchell, Stephen A. Chang
Where to watch
Disney Plus
Curator Review
Verdict
A competent, occasionally fun MCU origin story with a strong lead performance, retro 1990s flavor, and a few satisfying reversals, but it also feels mechanically plotted and emotionally muted compared with the franchise’s best entries.
Best for
Marvel fans who want to fill in a key chapter of the MCU
Viewers who like breezy sci-fi action with a nostalgic 90s setting
Audiences drawn to stoic, self-discovery hero arcs
Fans of buddy-cop chemistry and alien-conspiracy plotting
Skip if
You want a highly distinctive superhero film with strong formal style
You’re tired of MCU origin-movie structure and quippy exposition
You prefer emotionally rich character drama over franchise setup
You dislike military-adjacent blockbuster aesthetics
Overview
Captain Marvel works best as a star vehicle for Brie Larson, whose cool, controlled presence gives the film its spine. The 1990s setting adds a pleasant layer of texture, and the movie has a few enjoyable pleasures: the de-aging gimmick, the odd-couple dynamic with Nick Fury, and the pleasure of watching the hero gradually realize the story she’s been told about herself is false.
Worth noting
Still, it’s a fairly standard Marvel origin film, often more efficient than inspired. The action is serviceable, the humor lands unevenly, and the emotional beats can feel prepackaged rather than earned. It has a strong central idea about identity, memory, and rejecting imposed authority, but the movie doesn’t always find a vivid cinematic way to express it.
Bottom line
As a franchise chapter, it does its job. As a standalone superhero movie, it’s solid but not essential. The result is a watchable, sometimes satisfying entry that is more notable for what it represents than for how boldly it’s made.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Iman Vellani (2★) · 8279 likes
These stars are not for Brie Larson, I will sacrifice my own life…for Brie Larson
Lucy (5★) · 6212 likes
for the past 11 years we thought these various heroes were hot shit but all it took was carol danvers absolutely shattering the glass ceiling with her glowing fists to make the rest of the mcu look like kids in halloween costumes. and to find out that all along they’ve been following her lead without knowing it? that they wouldn’t even BE the avengers without her? the galaxy brain of it all. also she’s clearly a lesbian. because i said so
mia lee vicino · 3848 likes
i know nothing about marvel so here is a guest review from my frat kid brother home from college for spring break: “captain marvel was dope. brie larson was great. um, i dunno! it was good! i don’t know what to say. brie larson was really good. uh, yeah. i’d give it 3 1/2 stars and a rotten tomatoes score of 82%. [pause as he as zelda demolishes olimar in smash] i personally just really like brie larson. her name is a… more i know nothing about marvel so here is a guest review from my frat kid brother home from college for spring break: “captain marvel was dope. brie larson was great. um, i dunno! it was good! i don’t know what to say. brie larson was really good. uh, yeah. i’d give it 3 1/2 stars and a rotten tomatoes score of 82%. [pause as he as zelda demolishes olimar in smash] i personally just really like brie larson. her name is a… more
Ian (2★) · 2184 likes
This is what happens when all the better Marvel producers, writers, and directors are busy with Avengers: Endgame.
davidehrlich (2★) · 1833 likes
For a film that’s almost completely incoherent for most of its first act — and seldom finds its footing after that — “Captain Marvel” is rather clear about its one big idea. Jude Law, playing an alien military commander named Yon-Rogg, mansplains it to his promising female protege as they spar during the opening scene. “There’s nothing more dangerous to a warrior than emotion,” he barks at Vers (Brie Larson). “You have to let go of the part of yourself… more For a film that’s almost completely incoherent for most of its first act — and seldom finds its footing after that — “Captain Marvel” is rather clear about its one big idea. Jude Law, playing an alien military commander named Yon-Rogg, mansplains it to his promising female protege as they spar during the opening scene. “There’s nothing more dangerous to a warrior than emotion,” he barks at Vers (Brie Larson). “You have to let go of the part of yourself… more