--- title: "Captain America: Brave New World: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/captain-america-brave-new-world/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/captain-america-brave-new-world" critics_score: 43 critics_reviews: 22 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Captain America: Brave New World (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 43 from 22 reviews: 4 positive, 3 mixed, 15 negative. Most critics find this a tired entry, and the negative reviews outnumber the positive nearly four to one. The praise that does come clusters on Anthony Mackie, whose steady, grounded Sam Wilson is credited even in the harshest notices, and on Harrison Ford, who several reviews say is doing more acting than the material asks of him as President Ross. A handful also rate the fight scenes as sturdily staged, particularly in the first two-thirds. The reservations cluster on the script: convoluted plotting, a heavy debt to earlier Marvel lore, stiff dialogue, and visuals described as drab or murky, with more than one review noting signs of reshoots. The spread is wide, running from 20 to 75. The Los Angeles Times is the most generous, reading it as a decent political thriller with something to say about Black heroism; RogerEbert.com and The Wrap argue the opposite, that it raises its political ideas and then declines to engage with them. ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 13 February 2025. Despite being bogged down by heavy MCU exposition and lore, the film works as a decent political thriller with resonant themes of Black heroism and a strong central performance from Anthony Mackie. The clear cinematography, sturdy action sequences, and chemistry between Mackie and Danny Ramirez stand out as bright spots. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-02-13/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-anthony-mackie-harrison-ford) ## Empire — Helen O’Hara Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2025. Mackie delivers a strong, focused lead performance in a coherent story that emphasises his compassion and relationships. It is pacy and promising overall but occasionally formulaic with stilted dialogue and inconsistent thriller elements. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/captain-america-brave-new-world/) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2025. The film works well enough as a vigorous, prosaic adventure that balances shield-bashing action with elements of a gritty geopolitical thriller, escaping much of the recent superhero fatigue. Harrison Ford's performance as the unstable President Ross and the earthbound quality rooted in Mackie's performance are highlights in this competent MCU time filler. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-anthony-mackie-harrison-ford-1236303617/) ## Total Film — Bradley Russell Rating 3/5. 12 February 2025. Mackie’s Captain America earns his place in an uneven thriller that ventures into unfamiliar territory with strong turns from him and Harrison Ford before falling back on familiar Marvel shortcomings. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/marvel-movies/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-anthony-mackie-harrison-ford-mcu-marvel/) ## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2025. The film is a convoluted wannabe paranoid thriller that suffers from a disjointed narrative but excels in coherent action sequences and strong character work, particularly for Sam Wilson. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-anthony-mackie-harrisn-ford/) ## Radio Times — Patrick Cremona Rating 2/5. 13 February 2025. The critic deems the film flat, insipid and cobbled together, with an underbaked narrative, bland dialogue, drab visuals and nondescript action. It lacks creative spirit despite efforts from Mackie and Ford. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scifi/captain-america-brave-new-world-review/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2025. The critic notes the film struggles in the shadow of stronger predecessors, with conventional set pieces that pale in comparison and an unremarkable feel overall. Mackie’s gritty presence is a positive amid the lacklustre sequel. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/captain-america-brave-new-world-review/5201862.article) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2025. The critic calls the film clunky, uninspired and workmanlike, criticising its reliance on obscure prior MCU lore, ugly green-screen action and forgettable plot. Mackie’s portrayal of an insecure hero is a highlight amid the minimal impression made overall. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-2025) ## Financial Times — Raphael Abraham Rating ★★☆☆☆. 13 February 2025. Anthony Mackie’s first outing as Captain America is burdened by Marvel backstory and filler. Harrison Ford valiantly tries to do some actual acting amid the action set pieces and predictable Red Hulk payoff. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/9b8c8293-4cdb-4ce7-935b-a97469e837bf) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 15 February 2025. The critic finds the film a dull medley of prior MCU elements with little spirit or spectacle. The plot is overly on-the-nose in its politics and the action sequences feel mundane and conventional. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/captain-america-brave-new-world-dull-marvel-content-medley) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2025. The film is a tired and uninspired Marvel entry with moderate action and convoluted plotting. Ford brings gravitas as the president while Mackie is charismatic as Captain America. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/feb/12/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-harrison-ford-juggles-green-screens-red-fists-and-vanilla-plotting) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2025. The critic finds the film a lackluster Marvel entry with an uninspired storyline and direction that lets down Anthony Mackie, despite some strong elements like Harrison Ford's performance. The pacing drags and effects are underwhelming. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-anthony-mackie-harrison-ford-marvel-1236133439/) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2025. There is a yawning emptiness at the heart of this thrill-free thriller that wastes Harrison Ford. Mackie and his sidekick follow an investigative trail without much ideological or narrative substance. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-harrison-ford/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★☆☆☆☆. 12 February 2025. The MCU has eaten itself into a bloated stupor in this enervating 35th instalment. Even Harrison Ford and Anthony Mackie cannot save the vacant characters and constipated plotting. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/captain-america-brave-new-world-film-review-txmwl92h9) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2025. The review criticizes the film as a messy, tiresome, and shallow Marvel production that fails to explore its ideas deeply or deliver exciting action, turning the MCU into a 'slop machine.' [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-captain-america-brave-new-world-another-marvel-mess.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Robert Daniels Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2025. The film clumsily wraps distant political themes around misshapen action set pieces and fails to deliver narrative coherence or meaningful representation for its Black Captain America. The intermittently sturdy, well-crafted action sequences provide the only saving grace amid tedious plotting and an unearned ending. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/captain-america-brave-new-world-movie-review-2025) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2025. The critic finds Anthony Mackie up to the physical and stylistic demands of the role as Sam Wilson takes over as Captain America, while Harrison Ford steals the show as President Thaddeus Ross in a complicated action turn. Director Julius Onah gives Mackie plenty of opportunity to shine in an extension of the TV series, though the film falls below the standards of prior entries like The Winter Soldier and is a game effort with room to grow. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2025/02/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-anthony-mackie-harrison-ford-marvel-reboot-1236286418/) ## Den of Geek — Joe George Rating 3 out of 5. 12 February 2025. The film has enough B-movie thrills to mostly overcome its clunky and uneven script, with a propulsive pace and impressive fight scenes in the first two-thirds that evoke cheap 1990s thrills. The final act slows down with unearned emotional beats and poor visuals, but the overall cheap quality works in its favor. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/captain-america-4-review-brave-new-world/) ## Collider — Aidan Kelley Rating 4/10. 12 February 2025. The film is one of the weakest MCU entries, predictable with rudimentary action, stiff dialogue and technical issues from reshoots; it praises Harrison Ford and Carl Lumbly for injecting humanity into their roles. [Read the review](https://collider.com/captain-america-brave-new-world-review/) ## NME — James Mottram Rating 2/5. 13 February 2025. This is a bland, functional Marvel movie that offers little excitement and is largely dull and disappointing, with murky footage and no emotional depth despite Mackie doing a decent job in the lead. A semi-decent role for Tim Blake Nelson and a couple of nice cameos provide minor highlights amid the disappointment. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-anthony-mackie-marvel-3837635) ## Polygon — Susana Polo Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2025. The film fails at both the political and personal levels and bats strongly below average as a Captain America movie; it singles out Tim Blake Nelson's performance as The Leader and one wing-suit action sequence for praise. [Read the review](https://polygon.com/review/522443/captain-america-brave-new-world-review-harrison-ford) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2025. The critic calls the film a superficial, perfunctory sequel that stumbles into powerful symbolism but has nothing to say about its ideas of government mistreatment of people of color or an unstable president, using them only as excuses for pedestrian action sequences. It looks half-finished with flat direction, underwhelming effects, and a timid refusal to engage with its themes, ending in one of the worst post-credits teases. [Read the review](https://thewrap.com/captain-america-brave-new-world-review) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/captain-america-brave-new-world.md