Mary Gilmore, Staff Writer
Captain America takes the stage once again in an all new movie, but this time it’s not Steve Rogers. Captain America: Brave New World was released in theaters on February 14th. This film follows Sam Wilson as he navigates military and political issues while being the new Captain America.
Prior to the release of the film, Captain America: Brave New World received harsh criticism from those who saw advanced screenings. On February 12th, the movie already had a score of 49% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is a low score in line with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (48%) and the Eternals (47%). This score was a shock to many Marvel fans as this film seemed promising, bringing a more serious tone to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) that many fans had begged for. Due to the low ratings leading up to the movie’s release, many fans watched the film reluctantly, driven more by obligation than desire.
At the time of writing, the Rotten Tomato score remains at 49%, but the Popcornometer (Audience Score) is fairly average at 80%. When viewing the film, many fans agreed that it wasn’t a bad movie at all. Jose Velasquez, an avid MCU viewer, states on Rotten Tomatoes, “Don’t listen to the internet. This movie is easily 4 stars [out of 5]/8.5 out of 10.” Many other viewers agreed, stating that it was a decent movie that did not deserve low ratings. They agree that there was nothing extraordinary about the film, but it was not lackluster either.
An anonymous viewer also said, “This movie was nothing short of a good MCU film. While there were moments that should be changed, it was overall a good, average movie. It felt more like a sequel to Incredible Hulk though.” The Incredible Hulk premiered on June 13th, 2008 and currently has a 68% score on Rotten Tomatoes. About 17 years later, many aspects of The Incredible Hulk film were present in Captain America: Brave New World. This could affect fans’ view of the film as many fans dislike The Incredible Hulk. It’s a movie that is known for its negative reviews, usually being referred to as “the MCU’s worst movie”. In 2008 on Rotten Tomatoes, Peter Bradshaw stated, “What Hulk smash most? Hulk smash all hope of interesting time in cinema.”
The reception of Captain America: Brave New World was a mixed bag, especially between critics and audience reactions. This contrast highlights the ongoing debate about the direction of the MCU and the expectations fans should have for each new movie. This film clearly struggles in that aspect, attempting to find a balance between honoring its predecessors and forging a new path for other MCU projects.
As the MCU continues to expand, opinions remain divided on the future of Marvel Studios. Some believe the MCU franchise is reaching new creative heights, like implementing more diverse and interesting storylines. However, others feel that the MCU ended with Avengers: Endgame. Many believe that Marvel is just a money grab at this point rather than a quality franchise. Captain America: Brave New World just adds to that turmoil, leaving fans continually divided.
Regardless, Captain America: Brave New World reached $192 million globally opening weekend, proving that the MCU still has a major influence on the world, and it’s exciting to see what they produce next.
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