--- title: "Captain America: The First Avenger: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/captain-america-the-first-avenger/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/captain-america-the-first-avenger" critics_score: 62 critics_reviews: 24 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: The First Avenger (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 62 from 24 reviews: 12 positive, 7 mixed, 5 negative. Most critics come down in favour, but only just: half the reviews are positive and the rest split between mixed and hostile. Where they agree is on the first hour. The 1940s setting, the newsreel look of the production design and the effects that shrink Chris Evans into a scrawny Steve Rogers are widely praised, and Evans is credited with an earnest, likeable hero who stands apart in the genre. Joe Johnston’s direction is thought brisk and pleasingly old-fashioned. The reservations cluster on what follows the transformation. Once the fighting begins, many find the set pieces routine and effects-heavy, the Red Skull a thin villain and the ending a piece of Avengers housekeeping rather than a climax. The spread is wide. HeyUGuys thinks Marvel has not done better since Iron Man; The Times can find little to admire beyond one scene with Tommy Lee Jones, and Variety thinks the appealing everyman becomes a bore once he bulks up. ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 3.5/4. 20 July 2011. Ebert enjoyed the film as a real movie with texture and a hero who has dimension, praising its period settings, narrative propulsion by director Joe Johnston, and first-rate CGI, especially the seamless transformation of Chris Evans. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/captain-america-the-first-avenger-2011) ## Little White Lies — Lewis Bazley Rating 2/4/4. 28 June 2011. The critic finds it a fast, thrilling and unashamedly old-fashioned adventure that falls in with Marvel’s best, thanks to great performances and pitch-perfect tone. Evans excels as the likeable hero and Johnston handles the conventional story well, though 3D and the Red Skull are drawbacks. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/captain-america-first-avenger/) ## The AV Club — Tasha Robinson Rating B. 21 July 2011. It balances crowd-pleasing elements like action, humor, and sincerity into fleet, gleeful fun with strong set pieces and cast support, though the ending miscalculates and the lead loses nuance after transformation. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/captain-america-the-first-avenger-1798168981) ## Total Film — Matthew Leyland Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 22 July 2011. The review notes that the film succeeds in focusing on individual pluck rather than flag-waving, with Evans delivering a strong turn and Johnston handling the origin story pacing reasonably, though the Red Skull falls short as a threat and the setup for sequels is handled unevenly. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/captain-america-review/) ## IndieWire — Christopher Campbell Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 July 2011. It captivates with spectacle and thrills as a solid superhero origin story better than some recent Marvel films, but lacks depth in character development and emotional engagement. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/news/general/captain-america-the-first-avenger-captivates-but-has-little-care-for-character-226739/) ## The Independent — Nicholas Barber Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 30 July 2011. The critic calls it one of the more joyful superhero films thanks to its World War II period setting and old-fashioned Saturday matinee spirit, praising the fun direction and production design while noting the lack of real tension once the action begins due to excessive CGI. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/captain-america-the-first-avenger-joe-johnston-124-mins-12a-arrietty-hiromasa-yonebayashi-94-mins-u-horrid-henry-the-movie-nick-moore-90-mins-u-2328988.html) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2011. Johnston and the writers craft a nifty, highly entertaining pulpy action film that makes the divisive hero relatable via its period WWII setting and witty jabs at patriotism. Action and characters are well handled but can feel slight or overcrowded, with blurry 3D and an unsatisfying Avengers-setup ending holding it back. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/captain-america-the-first-avenger) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 July 2011. The first half excels with classical pacing, wonderful production design, and old-fashioned craftsmanship evoking 1940s newsreels, but the story is nothing special and later action feels by-the-numbers once effects dominate. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2011/07/movie_review_captain_america.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 22 July 2011. Turan found the film familiar and pro forma as a Marvel origins story and Avengers setup, but singled out Chris Evans for bringing appealing earnestness and humility to Steve Rogers that stands out in the superhero genre. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-jul-22-la-et-captain-america-20110722-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 2.5/4. 20 July 2011. It gives sturdy treatment to the jingoistic hero with strong early humanization of Steve Rogers and flair in set pieces, but is unremarkable overall due to a bifurcated structure where the origin half outshines the generic later combat. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/captain-america-the-first-avenger/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The review highlights the retro-sincerity and brand piety of the origin story, singling out Chris Evans' touching and engaging performance across both weakling and super-soldier phases, while criticizing the lack of irony and genuine patriotism. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/captain-america-the-first-avenger-review-7425985.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Rating 3/5. 28 July 2011. The big showdowns may be run-of-the-mill but a clever postmodern twist pushes Captain America to the front of the superhero pack this summer. The stylish origin myth explaining the hero's comic-book beginnings is smart and inventive, though the later action sequences are competent but unremarkable. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/jul/28/captain-america-film-review) ## Empire — Colin Kennedy Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 29 July 2011. Johnston's film is praised for its confident start, retro-futuristic look, and Evans' transformation, but criticized for choppy plotting, pedestrian set-pieces, and a stiff hero once in battle, with modern bookends undermining the climax. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/first-avenger-captain-america-review/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 20 July 2011. The film leads with old-fashioned charm and a knowingly corny, sweet nostalgia rather than pyrotechnics, embracing a square, amiable tone with some heart. It lacks narrative ingenuity and a compelling central character beyond the iconic elements, making most action set pieces mundane and the overall result rather ordinary. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/captain-america-the-first-avenger/5029995.article) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 20 July 2011. The film sticks to simplistic patriotic origins and delivers competent comic-book action with a strong cast led by Chris Evans, but feels routine and unremarkable compared to other recent Marvel entries like X-Men: First Class. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/captain-america-first-avenger-film-213287/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 20 July 2011. Debruge called the film red, white and bland, a by-the-numbers prequel that comes across as remarkably flat despite earnest direction and a strong cast, criticizing the transformation of the relatable Everyman hero into a dull meathead. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/captain-america-the-first-avenger-1117945677/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 29 July 2011. It is hard to find a good thing to say about this prequel except the steak-eating scene with Tommy Lee Jones. The film is an abomination filled with arbitrary chases, pointless dialogue, endless montages and vacant lead performances. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/captain-america-the-first-avenger-ptkf0pbpzvg) ## HeyUGuys — Ben Mortimer Rating 4.5/5. 22 July 2011. The critic loved the film and felt it captured Captain America and Steve Rogers perfectly. It is entertaining, witty, and the most complete Marvel movie since Iron Man, with strong fan service and humor. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/our-very-fanyboyish-captain-america-the-first-avenger-review/) ## Den of Geek — James Hunt Rating 4/5. 21 July 2011. The critic praises the film's speedy action-adventure, strong cast, charming period aesthetic, and even-handed portrayal of WWII, noting it entertains without insulting intelligence but lacks depth. They single out the first hour's exploration of Rogers and the overall entertainment value. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/captain-america-the-first-avenger-review/) ## /Film — Angie Han Rating 8.0/10. 21 July 2011. It is a genuinely enjoyable film that ranks high among summer blockbusters thanks to Joe Johnston's direction and Chris Evans' performance, getting right much of what Thor and Green Lantern could not. Evans is fantastically well-cast, making the audience believe in him as both character and hero. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/516673/captain-america-avenger-review/) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating B. 20 July 2011. It is a well-paced, classical, muscular and sturdy superhero tale that is handsome, earnest, and delivers an old-school adventure with strong visuals, art design, and action sequences. The period WWII setting and grounded motivations make it effective and stand-alone, though sometimes facile. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-captain-america-swells-with-patriotic-pride-delivers-an-old-school-superhero-adventure-20110720/) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 22 July 2011. The review criticizes the film as dull, straight-faced, and earnest, lacking humor and depth compared to other Marvel films or Indiana Jones; Evans' character is bland, and it fails to engage dramatically. They single out the absence of the fish-out-of-water scenario and comparison to lesser films like Green Lantern. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a331028/captain-america-the-first-avenger-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 20 July 2011. The critic views the film as another labored and unoriginal superhero effort in a weak summer slate, with the big emotional moments falling flat despite some effective details. Special effects transforming the hero and the 1940s USO sequences are singled out as highlights amid the familiarity. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/captain-america-red-white-and-blown-opportunity-29258/) ## Eye for Film — Max Crawford Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 30 July 2011. The film feels like watching a trailer for a much better movie it wishes it had made, existing mostly as setup for The Avengers with little character development beyond Cap. Tommy Lee Jones gives an excellent performance with some witty lines, but Evans lacks the needed charisma. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/captain-america-the-first-avenger-film-review-by-stuart-crawford) --- © 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-the-first-avenger.md