The much-anticipated Captain America: Brave New World is finally hitting theaters this weekend, but early reviews suggest it may not be the triumphant return fans were hoping for. With Anthony Mackie stepping fully into the role of Captain America following Chris Evans’ departure, expectations were high. However, the film’s initial Rotten Tomatoes score paints a different picture.
Low Ratings on Rotten Tomatoes
As of February 13, 2025, Captain America: Brave New World currently holds a 52% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 124 reviews (Rotten Tomatoes). While this is an improvement from its initial 49% debut, it still places the film as one of the lowest-rated entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Contrary to earlier reports, it is not the lowest-rated MCU film but ranks third-lowest overall.
For context, here’s how Brave New World compares to its predecessors in the Captain America franchise:
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – 80%
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) – 90%
Captain America: Civil War (2016) – 90%
The stark difference in scores raises concerns about whether Marvel is struggling to maintain the quality and consistency of its earlier films.
Critics’ Reactions – A Divisive Film
Critics have mixed opinions on Brave New World. While some appreciate Harrison Ford’s portrayal of Thaddeus Ross, others find the film weighed down by multiple subplots and a lack of narrative depth. The film introduces several antagonists, including Red Hulk (Harrison Ford), The Leader (Tim Blake Nelson), and Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito), which some critics believe results in an overcrowded and unfocused storyline.
According to Entertainment Weekly (EW), the film “struggles to balance its multiple storylines, making it feel overstuffed rather than compelling.” Others, however, argue that it still offers solid action sequences and a fresh take on Sam Wilson’s Captain America.
How Brave New World Impacts the MCU’s Future
Even if Brave New World fails to impress critics, Marvel Studios still has two major releases in 2025 that could restore fan confidence:
Thunderbolts* (May 2, 2025) – A team-up film featuring an ensemble of anti-heroes and former villains.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25, 2025) – A reboot of Marvel’s first family, highly anticipated due to its significance in the MCU’s future.
Marvel also has upcoming Disney+ series such as Daredevil: Born Again, Ironheart, and Wonder Man, which could help steer the franchise back on track. However, the lukewarm response to Brave New World signals that audiences are becoming increasingly critical of the MCU’s recent offerings.
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Conclusion – A Rocky Start for Phase 5?
While Captain America: Brave New World still has time to improve its audience reception, its current 52% Rotten Tomatoes score suggests that the film isn’t meeting expectations. The MCU’s earlier Captain America films were widely praised, setting a high bar that Brave New World struggles to reach.
The biggest question now is whether this is an isolated stumble or a sign of the MCU’s declining dominance. Only time—and upcoming releases—will tell.
