Despite hearing less than amazing things from the “professional critics” as well as talk about reshoots and problems during production, I still had high hopes for Captain America: Brave New World. I am pleased to say that I had a lot of fun watching this movie and I have no idea why these professional reviewers have the problems that they do with it, actually, I thought that this movie was awesome and it got me pumped to see Anthony Mackie’s Captain American again, hopefully sooner than later.
How to Download Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: Brave New World was released on February 14, 2025. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. We also recommend that you see all the previous Captain America films that we have reviewed:
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011),
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014),
- and Captain America: Civil War (2016).
The Movie Review
Sam Wilson Takes on the Captain America Legacy
Sam Wilson is doing his best to live up to the legacy that Steven Rogers left him. To be fair, Sam is doing a fantastic job and the movie starts with Cap trying to get back a canister that was stolen from the Japanese government. Right from the start, we see why Steve Rogers chose Sam to have the shield and become the new Captain America. He is tough, brave, and no doubt a hero, but it is his character that makes him the perfect new Captain America.
A New Villain Enters the MCU
This is not a simple retrieval mission as Cap meets a new villain for the MCU, Sidewinder who is played by Giancarlo Esposito. I love Giancarlo Esposito and think that he does a fantastic job here as Sidewinder and no spoilers here, but I hope that this is not his only MCU appearance. However, if I am being brutally honest here, I wish they did something bigger for him. I had high hopes that he could have been our new Norman Osborne in the MCU!
A Political Conspiracy Unfolds
However, this mission leads Sam into a massive conspiracy. This conspiracy revolves around the new US President, General Thunderbolt Ross, played this time by Harrison Ford. Despite butting heads in Captain America: Civil War, Sam wants to think that Ross has changed and he does show signs that he is trying to change. However, you get the impression that there is another party at play here, pulling strings that Sam, Ross, and more cannot see.
Callbacks to The Incredible Hulk
I know that MCU fatigue is a thing that people like to talk about today, but I think it is so awesome how a movie in 2025 is making callbacks to The Incredible Hulk, one of the Phase 1 Marvel movies! We even get to see highlights of Hulk’s fight with Abomination in that movie and that was something I thought was really cool.
The Connection to The Eternals and Adamantium
However, The Incredible Hulk is not the only movie that Captain America: Brave New World has ties to. I went into this as blind as possible so I was shocked to see that The Eternals played a big part in the movie as things in the world are tense as the newly discovered material, Adamantium is on this Celestial Being that came out of the Earth. President Ross is trying to get the countries of the world to sign an agreement that they will share and divide the Adamantium fairly, but that person/force pulling strings in the shadows has other ideas.
The Return of Isaiah Bradley and The New Falcon
We also get a great appearance by the original Cap, Isaiah Bradley, played by the amazing, Carl Lumbly who is just so damn likable, seeing what happens to him in the movie is truly heartbreaking. Cap is not alone, he is joined by the new Falcon, Joaquin Torres and I loved this character, he is cool and cocky, but he certainly has the heart of a hero and it is easy to see why Sam chose him to be the new Falcon.
The Rise of Red Hulk
Of course, the trailers spoiled that Red Hulk was a part of the movie and the build up to Ross becoming Red Hulk was very well done and when it happened I was on the edge of my seat. I will say that if you are a fan of the Red Hulk arc in the comics, you may not like how this Red Hulk is just basically another mindless monster like Banner’s Hulk original was. However, I am not sure this is the last we will see of Red Hulk in the MCU so perhaps he will become more like his comic book counterpart the next time we see him.
Final Thoughts – A Must-Watch MCU Movie
Captain America: Brave New World did not disappoint me one bit! The ties to previous MCU movies and TV shows were awesome, but this got me really pumped for what is to come next. The end credits scene was super cryptic, but a certain villain let us know that “they were coming” and I am very excited to see who “they” are as I have a few theories myself. If you are a fan of the MCU, do not wait for this to hit Disney Plus, make the effort to go and see it on the big screen, I am sure you will not be disappointed!
