First reactions to Captain America: Brave New World are emerging online ahead of the film’s release on February 13. While Anthony Mackie has been almost universally praised in the lead, fans and critics felt the story was lacking.
Mackie returns as the new Captain America, Sam Wilson, finding himself in the middle of an international incident after meeting with President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford). He must soon discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot, involving Ross becoming the formidable Red Hulk.
Positive reviews pointed to a qualified success, with one user posting on X (formerly Twitter) that the film was “flawed fun, to be sure — part WINTER SOLDIER lite, part quasi-sequel to INCREDIBLE HULK. It (mostly) looks great and, despite a script in need of polishing, felt like classic Marvel fun. Game changer? No. A blast? Sure”.
Another added: “Loved Mackie as Cap & I appreciated the more serious tone but it did feel slightly empty.”
CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD was…kinda awesome?
Flawed fun, to be sure — part WINTER SOLDIER lite, part quasi-sequel to INCREDIBLE HULK.
It (mostly) looks great and, despite a script in need of polishing, felt like classic Marvel fun.
Game changer? No.
A blast? Sure. pic.twitter.com/OxNgstFP3w
— Jake Hamilton (@JakesTakes) February 12, 2025
#CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld is an enjoyable watch with decent action sequences & some standout moments. However, it didn't quite hit the emotional or narrative highs I was hoping for. Loved Mackie as Cap & I appreciated the more serious tone but it did feel slightly empty. pic.twitter.com/kPJINLnw1G
— Cris Parker (@3CFilmss) February 12, 2025
The performances of the stars were lauded, with one user posting: Anthony Mackie is solid and Harrison Ford is fully committed. But the lack of a great villain or any emotional depth and pacing issues rob the film of its potential greatness.”
#CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld is perfectly fine and entertaining but far from Marvel's best. Anthony Mackie is solid and Harrison Ford is fully committed. But the lack of a great villain or any emotional depth and pacing issues rob the film of its potential greatness. pic.twitter.com/jIWpKF8O84
— Doug Jamieson (@itsdougjam) February 12, 2025
The film reportedly had a number of reshoots after test screenings, and one fan observed: “The reshoots are very noticeable. You can tell Anthony Mackie is giving it his all, but the quality of the script just isn’t there.”
Captain America: Brave New World was overall just okay. Not bad but not amazing.
The reshoots are very noticeable. You can tell Anthony Mackie is giving it his all, but the quality of the script just isn’t there.
I do appreciate the film for trying to have a more serious tone. pic.twitter.com/sbSAYtgImA
— Bradley Osborn ✝️🏳️🌈 (@the_Bradster007) February 12, 2025
On the downside, one person felt the whole thing was a letdown. “Clunky, anticlimactic, and about as exciting as a rerun,” they wrote. “The screenplay gives the characters little to do, the action feels like it’s just checking a box, and Red Hulk? Don’t bother getting hyped.”
#CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld is clunky, anticlimactic, and about as exciting as a rerun. The screenplay gives the characters little to do, the action feels like it’s just checking a box, and Red Hulk? Don’t bother getting hyped. As the 35th film in the MCU, it plays things way… pic.twitter.com/ntyXjoECia
— John Flickinger (@theFLICKpick) February 12, 2025
One online review described it as “a lumbering hodgepodge of MCU plot devices of Christmas past that collapses under the strain of its reshoots. It’s not a total wash, but Anthony Mackie in particular deserved better”.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD was unfortunately pretty disappointing.
It’s a lumbering hodgepodge of MCU plot devices of Christmas past that collapses under the strain of its reshoots.
It’s not a total wash, but Anthony Mackie in particular deserved better. pic.twitter.com/RdgxlHuCIu
— Dan Casey (@DanCasey) February 12, 2025
Captain America: Brave New World is the 35th instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, underpinning a new wave of heroes that includes the forthcoming Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Recently, Mackie disclosed how the previous Captain America, Chris Evans, was the one to let him know he was getting the part.