Captain America: Brave New World was released in theaters on Feb. 14, 2025, with Anthony Mackie starring as Sam Wilson/Captain America. This is the first Captain America movie to feature Wilson as Captain America rather than Steve Rogers, signifying Marvel’s shift into a new generation of heroes.
Harrison Ford and Carl Lumbly did an excellent job at playing Thaddeus Ross and Isaiah Bradley, respectively. Both actors brought depth to their characters. Ford’s ability to capture Ross’ troubled relationship with his daughter thoroughly impressed me, and Lumbly’s overall performance and ability to make me feel sympathetic for Bradley was a stand-out part of the movie.
Ford’s character is one of the main criticisms expressed by the public about the movie – many think it is more of a sequel to The Incredible Hulk than a Captain America movie. While I do recognize that Ross, his daughter, and the main villain (Samuel Sterns) all are part of the Hulk’s story, I don’t think the Hulk dominates the movie (Bruce Banner/Hulk isn’t even shown in the movie).
Because The Incredible Hulk was a generally disliked movie that many Marvel fans haven’t seen, including me, its key plot points were quickly summarized at the beginning of Captain America: Brave New World making it easy to understand the prior storylines that vwere referenced in the newer movie.
I particularly enjoyed how the movie didn’t involve the multiverse, which has been at the center of many of Marvel’s newer projects. The movie felt more similar to Marvel’s Infinity Saga—and was a breath of fresh air. Overall, it was definitely one of my favorite movies that has been released since Avengers: Endgame.
The movie featured some beloved faces and new additions such as Bucky Barnes and Ruth Bat-Seraph, but it wasn’t overloaded with cameos or characters. This allowed Sam Wilson and Joaquin Torres to shine as the new Captain America and Falcon duo.
I am excited to see Sam Wilson step up as a leader for the new Avengers, which is something teased in both the movie and the post-credit scene. He did an excellent job at creating a new Captain America for the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
