The Marvel Cinematic Universe stands at a crossroads in 2025. After the seismic events of Avengers: Endgame and the mixed reception to Phase Four’s experimental projects, Captain America: Brave New World arrives as both a continuation and a course correction. This fourth installment in the Captain America franchise marks Anthony Mackie’s formal ascension to the titular role following Chris Evans’ emotional departure, presenting Marvel with both an opportunity and a challenge: how to honor the legacy while forging something new. At 147 minutes, the film represents a significant investment in establishing Sam Wilson’s era as Captain America, though whether it fully justifies that runtime remains debatable.
A Changing of the Guard
Anthony Mackie’s journey from Falcon to Captain America has been one of the MCU’s more organic transitions. First appearing in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Mackie’s Sam Wilson has always been a reliable presence – quick with a quip, formidable in combat, but rarely given the spotlight. Brave New World finally changes that dynamic, though not without some growing pains. Mackie brings a different energy to the role than his predecessor; where Evans’ Steve Rogers was the ultimate Boy Scout, principled to a fault, Mackie’s Wilson is more pragmatic, more aware of his limitations as a non-superpowered individual wielding a symbol often bigger than himself.
The film’s strongest moments come when it leans into this tension. A mid-movie sequence where Wilson, battered and bruised, questions whether he’s truly worthy of the shield lands with genuine emotional weight. Mackie’s performance shines in these quieter moments, his expressive eyes conveying the doubt and determination warring within. It’s a shame then that the script, credited to Malcolm Spellman (head writer of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) and Dalan Musson, doesn’t consistently provide him with material worthy of his capabilities. Too often, Wilson feels like he’s playing catch-up to the plot rather than driving it.
Political Intrigue and Missed Opportunities
Director Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox) and Marvel have clearly taken inspiration from The Winter Soldier, still widely regarded as one of the MCU’s high points. Brave New World similarly adopts a political thriller framework, with President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford, replacing the late William Hurt) navigating treacherous geopolitical waters involving a newly discovered adamantium deposit in the Indian Ocean and a shadowy conspiracy within his own administration.
The political elements show promise initially. Ford, in his first major franchise role since Star Wars: The Force Awakens, brings his trademark gruff charisma to the role of Ross, now ascended to the presidency. His scenes crackle with authority, particularly a tense Situation Room confrontation where he debates military action with his cabinet. However, the film’s political commentary remains frustratingly surface-level. While it gestures at timely issues – the militarization of foreign policy, the ethics of superhuman enhancement – it rarely digs deeper than a network news soundbite.
The return of Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns/The Leader, last seen in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, represents one of the film’s more intriguing elements. Nelson brings an unsettling, cerebral quality to the villain role, a welcome change from the MCU’s typical world-ending threats. Yet even here, the script underutilizes its assets. The Leader’s motivations feel hastily sketched, his masterplan convoluted in a way that serves the plot more than character or theme.
Action and Aesthetics
Onah brings a competent if unremarkable visual style to the proceedings. The action sequences are cleanly shot and coherently edited – a relief after some of the MCU’s more visually chaotic entries – but rarely rise to the level of memorable spectacle. A mid-film chase sequence through the streets of Washington D.C. makes strong use of Wilson’s aerial capabilities, the camera swooping and diving with his flight patterns. However, the film’s climax, set at a United Nations conference in Geneva, falls into the now-familiar Marvel trap of weightless CGI and indiscriminate destruction.
Laura Karpman’s score deserves special mention for its effective blending of traditional superhero fanfare with more nuanced, character-specific themes. Her motif for Wilson’s Captain America – incorporating elements of Henry Jackman’s Winter Soldier themes with new, more hopeful notes – stands as one of the film’s most successful elements in establishing this new era.
The Supporting Cast
The film introduces several new characters while bringing back familiar faces. Danny Ramirez takes over the Falcon mantle from Wilson, bringing youthful energy if not much depth to the role. His banter with Wilson provides some of the film’s lighter moments, though the script occasionally pushes their dynamic too far into sitcom territory.
Shira Haas (Unorthodox) makes a strong impression as Israeli agent and potential new Black Widow Ruth Bat-Seraph. Her fight choreography stands out as some of the film’s best, and she shares solid chemistry with Mackie. Liv Tyler’s return as Betty Ross after nearly two decades away from the MCU is welcome, if disappointingly brief. One can’t help but feel Marvel missed an opportunity to explore the complicated history between Betty, her father, and Bruce Banner more deeply.
Marvel’s Larger Challenges
Brave New World arrives at a precarious moment for Marvel Studios. After the unprecedented success of the Infinity Saga, the MCU has struggled to maintain its cultural dominance. Recent films have faced criticism for formulaic storytelling, over-reliance on CGI, and a sense of diminishing returns. While Brave New World avoids some of these pitfalls – its practical locations and relatively grounded stakes provide welcome texture – it doesn’t fully escape them either.
The film’s connections to the broader MCU feel particularly strained at times. References to Eternals and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will likely fly over the heads of casual viewers, while the adamantium subplot (a clear setup for future X-Men integration) distracts more than it enriches. Marvel’s once-heralded “it’s all connected” approach now feels as much a burden as a benefit.
Looking Forward
As the first Captain America film of the MCU’s new era, Brave New World succeeds more in promise than execution. Mackie proves he has the chops to carry the franchise forward, and the political thriller framework remains fertile ground for these characters. However, the film’s reluctance to fully commit to its more interesting ideas – Wilson’s imposter syndrome, the moral complexities of American power – leaves it feeling like a transitional work rather than a definitive statement.
The movie’s final scenes, teasing the formation of a new team (possibly the MCU’s version of the Secret Avengers), suggest more interesting directions ahead. Whether future installments will capitalize on that potential remains to be seen. For now, Captain America: Brave New World stands as a respectable if unspectacular entry in the MCU canon – neither the bold new beginning its title promises nor the creative nadir some feared.
Final Assessment
At its best, Brave New World recaptures the grounded, character-driven appeal of the Russo brothers’ Captain America films. At its worst, it succumbs to the same issues plaguing much of Phase Four: overstuffed plotting, underdeveloped themes, and a sense that Marvel is playing it safe when it should be taking risks.
For Mackie’s performance alone, the film warrants a viewing. His portrayal of Sam Wilson’s Captain America feels authentic and earned, even when the material around him doesn’t always rise to the same level. Harrison Ford’s presence adds much-needed gravitas, and the supporting cast generally delivers solid work. The action, while never groundbreaking, provides sufficient spectacle.
Ultimately, Captain America: Brave New World works better as a foundation for future stories than as a standalone achievement. It suggests an MCU that could still course-correct toward more substantive storytelling, even if it hasn’t quite managed that correction here. For Marvel fans, that may be hope enough – for now.
Rating: 3.5/5
Key Takeaways:
- Mackie excels as the new Captain America, bringing depth and physicality to the role
- Harrison Ford adds star power as President Ross, though the political elements lack bite
- Action sequences are competent if uninspired
- The film struggles to balance standalone storytelling with MCU connectivity
- Suggests interesting directions for future installments without fully realizing them
- Represents a step in the right direction for Marvel, if not a giant leap