Captain America: Brave New World will open in theatres worldwide on February 14. Meanwhile, we have gathered some early reactions to the latest Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford starrer to give you an idea of what to expect from the movie. However, let us warn you—don’t keep your hopes too high for this one.
What was supposed to be an epic action blockbuster settles for being yet another mediocre attempt from the MCU. According to early reactions, Brave New World is another letdown from Marvel Studios, joining the ranks of Eternals, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and The Marvels.
While Captain America 4 delivers some good moments and connects well with other Marvel movies, it ultimately falls flat in terms of overall execution. Many critics believe that the film lacks the grand scale and impact of previous MCU entries.
The storyline has drawn major criticism for prioritising setup for future MCU movies over focusing on its lead, Sam Wilson. In fact, Wilson often feels more like a side character amid the film’s broader events.
Another major point of criticism is the underutilisation of Tim Blake Nelson, Giancarlo Esposito, and Carl Lumbly.
Prominent YouTuber Matt Ramos has expressed his disappointment with Captain America: Brave New World, calling it “empty” and lacking the “heart of Captain America.” He also notes that Red Hulk does not receive adequate screen time. Additionally, the film suffers from cheesy dialogue and poorly edited action sequences.
I hate to say this but #CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld was a big disappointment. Felt very empty & lacks the heart of a Captain America movie. The action is edited to death with thousands of cuts. The dialogue is very cheesy. Weird looking green screens. Undercooked villains. Don’t… pic.twitter.com/8NYExwrWOW
— Matt Ramos (@therealsupes) February 12, 2025
Discussing Film also shares Ramos’ sentiments about Captain America 4, pointing out its issues such as an underdeveloped storyline, weak CGI, poorly edited action sequences, and more.
‘CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD’ suffers from underdeveloped plot lines, jarring CGI & terribly edited fight scenes. Maybe that could be forgiven if the film delivered enough thrills…
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 12, 2025
It doesn’t.
Find out more in our review… https://t.co/0gfGLVj4Tv
Vanity Fair has also lamented Brave New World in its review.
‘Captain America: Brave New World’ seems insecure about its place in the superhero firmament.
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) February 12, 2025
“‘Brave New World’ is a bunch of characters wandering around in search of meaning,” writes VF chief critic @rilaws, “the Marvel machine creaking loudly as it tries to whip up some grand… pic.twitter.com/E07iF9YVCR
IGN has rated the film five out of ten, calling it a poorly recycled product of ‘The Winter Soldier’ and a weak attempt to bring Sam Wilson to the big screen as Captain America.
Captain America: Brave New World falls short of its strong performances from Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, and Carl Lumbly.
— IGN (@IGN) February 12, 2025
Our review: https://t.co/C1j6GL0Qxa pic.twitter.com/eRz04pIXgq
On Rotten Tomatoes, Captain America: Brave New World holds a ‘rotten’ score of 53%, based on 129 certified reviews so far. This is not only disappointing for the MCU but could also cause serious trouble for its upcoming releases.
The movie was expected to be a strong launchpad for Marvel Studios this year, especially with Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps set to release later in 2025.
However, Brave New World’s poor reception could significantly dampen fan enthusiasm for Thunderbolts*. If Brave New World is another disappointment, audiences may be less receptive to Thunderbolts*—even if it turns out to be a good project.
Unlike Sam Wilson or The Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts* lack global prominence. Only comic book enthusiasts and die-hard Marvel fans are familiar with the antihero faction, which is why Brave New World needed to perform well critically. A stronger reception would have helped the MCU maintain positive momentum and build excitement for Thunderbolts*.
On the other hand, the situation for The Fantastic Four: First Steps is different. The movie has enjoyed strong hype since its announcement at SDCC 2019. Marvel’s First Family doesn’t need an introduction, as they have a rich, diverse legacy spanning over six decades.
Another major advantage for First Steps is its star-studded cast, featuring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn—actors who are sure to draw large audiences to theatres.
Additionally, First Steps benefits from director Matt Shakman, who kicked off the MCU’s Phase Four with a bang with his groundbreaking Disney+ series WandaVision. Fans are hopeful he will bring the same creative energy to the forthcoming Fantastic Four reboot. Let’s hope he succeeds! Stay tuned for more updates.
We’re hiring!
We are hiring two full-time junior to mid-level writers with the option to work remotely. You need to work a 5-hour shift and be available to write. Interested candidates should email their sample articles to [email protected]. Applications without a sample article will not be considered.
