'Captain America: Brave New World' Headed for Big Opening Weekend
by EG
The last couple of years have not been kind to superhero movies, which have struggled to find the kind of huge audiences they've enjoyed in the past. Marvel is hoping that will change with Captain America: Brave New World, its first significant attempt to restart the faltering Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film is tracking to have a solid opening weekend when it opens next month, but will that be enough to justify further big-budget Marvel movies? Read on for details.
The winter 2025 box office could certainly use a hero, and all eyes are on Anthony Mackie-starrer Captain America: Brave New World to be just that.
If early tracking is right, the Marvel Studios feature should open to at least $90 million-plus over the combined Valentine’s Day/Presidents Day weekend, one of the top showings ever for the holiday. That’s the same weekend the first Deadpool opened, as well as the first Black Panther. This year’s first all-audience event pic opens on Feb. 14.
It’s back to the basics for Marvel when it comes to the movie, which sees an entirely new cast. Mackie‘s Sam Wilson take up the mantle of Captain America, the hero previously played by Chris Evans. Tonally, the movie stays away from sci-fi elements and the multiverse and features an entirely new cast. It also cost around $180 million, less than many other Marvel movies.
Rather, the movie is a political action thriller akin to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the 2014 film that starred Evans and introduced Mackie to the MCU. At CinemaCon last year, Marvel head Kevin Feige promised “no aliens, no alien invasions, no time travel,” before showing off some footage. He also called is a “relatively grounded action film.”
Directed by Julius Onah, Brave New World also stars Harrison Ford as newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who wants to bring Captain America aboard in an official military position. But before Wilson can make a decision, he uncovers a nefarious global plot that includes facing off with Ross when the president unexpectedly transforms into the Red Hulk.
Danny Ramirez also stars, portraying Joaquin Torres/Falcon, alongside Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson and Rosa Salazar.
Marvel, which had to take serious stock of its strategy and future after several films faltered, culminating with The Marvels, is in a far better place now thanks to the stunning success of Deadpool & Wolverine, which became the top-grossing, R-rated pic of all time after earning north of $1.3 billion globally in summer 2024.
Get the rest of the story at The Hollywood Reporter.