Erin Maxwell
Captain America: Brave New World is the latest chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to attempt to recapture the glory of the pre-Endgame days, when caped crusaders could conquer the box office, social media, and merch sales in a single bound. But the MCU has lost much of its luster since the bygone days of Iron Man, Civil War, and Winter Soldier. With most of the original Avengers either dead or retired, Marvel is betting on a new generation of heroes to win over audiences and rescue the franchise from its toughest adversary yet: itself.
Since its launch in 2023, Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a mixed bag at best. While there were a few bright spots, most of the phase was plagued by misfires and mediocrity. (Looking directly at you, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.) But before Phase Six kicks off with The Fantastic Four: First Steps — Marvel’s latest attempt to sell audiences on a revitalized MCU — Disney needs to finish the slog that is Phase Five, which includes the release of Captain America: Brave New World before Thunderbolts can officially put a bow on the current era.
Directed by Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox) and starring Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, the man behind the shield, Brave New World places Hulk hunter Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross as the newly-elected Commander in Chief. Played by Harrison Ford, President Ross wastes no time in his new role, spearheading a global treaty over adamantium, a newly discovered element found in the corpse of a Celestial in the Indian Ocean. (A “gift” from the Eternals. Remember them?)
(Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
However, just days into his presidency, an assassination attempt shakes the administration, with shocking ties to his inner circle — including Wilson’s close ally and Super Soldier, Isaiah Bradley. As Sam unravels the conspiracy, the who, how, and why behind the attack set the stage for a pseudo-political thriller, where familiar faces from the past return to challenge Ross’s leadership and compromise world peace.
Stepping away — at least briefly — from the Multiverse of Misused Madness and the usual onslaught of rushed CG, Brave New World initially sets itself up as a mystery-driven MCU entry. However, once the villain is unmasked, the film slips back into familiar territory, leaning on lackluster visual effects and obligatory “It’s All Connected” cameos that dredge up the distant past in an attempt to tie up lingering loose ends.
The film does take a few risks. Anchoring the story within an election drama is a daring choice given the timing, but perhaps not as daring as expecting the audience to remember anything from 2021’s The Eternals.
(Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Mackie has always delivered as Wilson, and there’s never been any doubt about his ability to carry the mantle of Captain America — except, perhaps, from Disney’s marketing team, which seemed determined to spoil the film’s biggest moments in its promotional campaign. Brave New World feels less like a continuation of the Captain America saga and more like a belated sequel to The Incredible Hulk (2008), sticking rigidly to the MCU formula. Any chance of a true surprise is undercut by a marketing strategy that has little faith in either the story or its stars.
Watching Ford morph into the Red Hulk could have been a jaw-dropping moment if his visage wasn’t already plastered on the bus that probably took you to the theater. The only real surprises come from minor character reveals that somehow escaped the ad blitz.
The latest Captain America installment is a competent, if unremarkable, entry that neatly ties up a few lingering storylines without making a significant impact on the larger MCU. While Anthony Mackie delivers a terrific performance, the film struggles under the weight of Marvel’s own marketing missteps and the franchise’s overall lack of momentum. More than anything, it feels like just another cog in the MCU machine.