---
title: "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"
year: 2014
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/captain-america-the-winter-soldier"
fi1m_score: 77
critics_score: 67
critics_reviews: 24
published: "2026-09-19T12:00:33.386732+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-19T12:00:33.833508+00:00"
region: "US"
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 Winter Soldier (2014)

Directed by Joe Russo, Anthony Russo · 2h 16m · MPA PG-13 · Action, Adventure, Science Fiction

**Fi1m score: 77** · Critics 67 from 24 reviews

*In a sentence:* Robert Redford in a good suit, a fight in a lift, and then the flying aircraft carriers start falling out of the sky

> The Russo brothers turn a Marvel sequel into a Washington conspiracy thriller, and for ninety minutes it is the most disciplined film the series had produced. Then three flying aircraft carriers have to be stopped and it becomes an ordinary blockbuster again.

## Synopsis

Washington, D.C., two years after the battle of New York. Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) works for the intelligence agency SHIELD, jogging round the Mall at dawn and keeping a notebook of everything he missed while frozen. A mission to retake a hijacked ship with Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) turns awkward when he finds she has separate orders from Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Fury shows him Project Insight, three armed helicarriers built to remove threats before they act, overseen by the senior official Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford). Rogers befriends Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), a veteran who runs a support group, and visits an ageing Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). Then Fury is ambushed in the street by a masked assassin with a metal arm, and Rogers stops knowing whom to trust.

## Review

Steve Rogers has been awake for two years in a century he did not ask for, and *Captain America: The Winter Soldier* is about what he sees when he looks around. Anthony and Joe Russo have made the most disciplined film the series had produced. For ninety minutes it is a Washington conspiracy thriller with a shield in it. Then the flying aircraft carriers have to be stopped and it turns back into the kind of film it had been avoiding. That last half hour is the caveat; the rest is worth your evening.

Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely write the intelligence agency SHIELD as a place where the people at the top have stopped telling the people in the field what the job is. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) shows Rogers three gunships built to remove threats before they act, and Rogers says that this is not freedom but fear. Above Fury sits Alexander Pierce, and casting Robert Redford, the leading man of [*Three Days of the Condor*](https://film.one/film/three-days-of-the-condor) (1975), as the calm official in the good suit is the film’s smartest decision. He plays Pierce as a reasonable man explaining a reasonable policy, and he never once raises his voice.

Trent Opaloch lights Washington in flat, hard daylight and keeps the camera low and close, so a punch has weight and a fall has distance. Matthew Schmidt and Jeffrey Ford cut so that we always know where the door is. The proof is a fight in a lift. Agents crowd in around Rogers one floor at a time, he notices the sweat on one man’s temple, and the scene turns on him asking, calmly, whether anyone wants to get out first. We sat up. It is one man against a dozen in a box, and every move is legible and every hit hurts.

Earlier, Fury’s car is ambushed in a city street, police cruisers boxing him in and a battering ram coming through the door, and it is staged as a car chase. We were properly tense, which does not often happen to us in this series. Out of it steps the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), a masked assassin with a metal arm who catches the shield one-handed and throws it back. Henry Jackman gives him a theme closer to a distorted electronic scream than to music, and it works every time he appears. The rest of the score is brass doing its duty.

Chris Evans has grown into Rogers. He plays decency as a choice rather than a default, and he is funny in a dry, tolerant way the first film never found. Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff gets the best lines, teasing him about his love life while copying files off a ship’s computer. Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, a veteran who runs a support group, arrives and makes the film warmer at once. Hayley Atwell has one scene as an aged Peggy Carter, and it is the quietest and best thing here.

The Winter Soldier himself is a poster. He has perhaps a dozen lines, and there is a story about him the film cares about and does not have time to tell. Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp and Maximiliano Hernández come and go with a scene or two each. Then the last half hour throws the thriller away. Three gunships have to be stopped, three chips have to be swapped, and the film settles into the falling metal and punching that every entry in this series arrives at. We were held for ninety minutes and then we were watching the clock. The argument about surveillance is not settled by anything anyone says; it is settled by the gunships going down.

Against the studio’s own record this is a step up. [*Captain America: The First Avenger*](https://film.one/film/captain-america-the-first-avenger) (2011) was a pleasant period piece; this one has something on its mind. Peter Wenham’s SHIELD headquarters is a glass tower on the river with a hole through its middle, and Judianna Makovsky puts Rogers in a dark blue suit with the stars taken off, which is right for a man no longer sure what the flag means.

It runs 136 minutes and carries a 12A, and the best of it is over before anything larger than a car leaves the ground. See it for Redford, for the lift, and for a Marvel film that trusts a conversation to hold a scene. When the sky starts falling, you have our permission to put the kettle on.

*Fi1m score 77, published 19 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics like it, and they like it for the same reason: it plays as a 1970s conspiracy thriller with a superhero in it rather than the other way round. The praise clusters on the Russo brothers’ action, which several reviews find harder-edged and less reliant on computer imagery than the usual Marvel entry, and on the supporting cast, with Scarlett Johansson and Anthony Mackie singled out repeatedly. Genre-leaning outlets go further, calling it the best Marvel film since The Avengers.

The spread is wide. The reservations cluster on length and repetition: the action tires, the climax slides back into formula, and the Winter Soldier himself is thinly drawn. The dissenters are mostly newspaper critics. The Los Angeles Times and Slant call it assembly-line product, The Guardian finds the lead the dullest hero in the stable and outshone by everyone around him, and Little White Lies thinks it throws away the first film’s charm.

### Reviews we read (24)

- **The AV Club**, A.A. Dowd (B+): The critic calls it the best Marvel film since The Avengers, highlighting how it confronts the character's anachronism through a post-Watergate, post-9/11 political thriller lens while delivering pyrotechnics, banter and a trust-no-one plot. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/captain-america-the-winter-soldier-is-the-best-marvel-1798180032)
- **Radio Times**, Alan Jones (80/100, inferred): The film plays like an old-school political thriller as much as a comic-book adventure, with nimble nuance from the cast and emotionally strong themes. Astute direction and character interplay make it compelling. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-gqr483/captain-america-the-winter-soldier/)
- **Screen Daily** (80/100, inferred): The action-packed sequel mixes wonderfully staged action with old-fashioned conspiracy drama and delivers big-time thrills and entertainment. It consolidates the franchise effectively with a strong support cast and astutely structured story. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/captain-america-the-winter-soldier/5069781.article)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Todd McCarthy (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the sequel for stepping up with reduced CGI spectacle in favor of hard-driving old-school action, surprising character development and intriguing suspense, making it feel most like a real movie among recent Marvel entries. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/captain-america-winter-soldier-film-689435/)
- **Total Film**, Matt Maytum (80/100, inferred): The film works as a tremendously satisfying blockbuster with gratifying action sequences and a breakneck pace leavened by witty script. It stands alone as a solidly entertaining entry that brings seismic shifts to the MCU. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/captain-america-the-winter-soldier-review/)
- **Empire**, Dan Jolin (75/100, inferred): It benefits from an old-school thriller tone that distinguishes it from more obviously superheroic Marvel cousins, though it drifts into formula by the end with an overly formulaic climax. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/captain-america-winter-soldier-review/)
- **Evening Standard** (70/100, inferred): The ambitious if overlong romp from the Russo brothers is one that ordinary filmgoers will like and Marvel fans will relish, with memorable turns from supporting players like Black Widow and Sam Wilson. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/captain-america-the-winter-soldier-film-review-9220625.html)
- **The Telegraph**, Robbie Collin (70/100, inferred): The critic highlights the film's ambitious conspiracy-thriller elements and strong supporting roles, especially Scarlett Johansson's, while questioning if the franchise has room for more creative risk. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/10712254/Captain-America-The-Winter-Soldier-review.html)
- **Time Out**, Joshua Rothkopf (70/100, inferred): The film places Captain America in an unusually shady political landscape nodding to 1970s thrillers, delivering paranoia and sharp urban warfare sequences. It suffers from character bloat and an underdeveloped Winter Soldier antagonist. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/captain-america-the-winter-soldier)
- **Variety**, Scott Foundas (70/100, inferred): The sequel is an impressively equal follow-up that trades Americana for 1970s paranoia thriller vibes, rich in both cliffhangers and tender character moments. [Read](https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-captain-america-the-winter-soldier-1201139253/)
- **Vulture**, David Edelstein (70/100, inferred): The critic finds a bracing old-style conspiracy thriller beneath the CGI, made scarier by new technology and post-9/11 trade-offs, though the scale leads to some repetitious and overly long action sequences. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2014/04/review-captain-america-the-winter-soldier.html)
- **Little White Lies**, Adam Lee Davies (4/3/2): The sequel feels like an awkward franchise mid-point that pisses away the charm of the first film. It offers a modern, efficient but anonymous high-end action film reliant on prior knowledge and future setup. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/captain-america-the-winter-soldier)
- **The New Yorker**, David Denby (60/100, inferred): The movie nods toward current surveillance issues but charges through hyperkinetic chases and combat with slightly less finesse than its predecessor. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/captain-america-the-winter-soldier-2)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (30/100, inferred): The film is a high-quality but formulaic assembly-line product that checks off expected Marvel elements without much individual creative touch or inspiration. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-captain-america-review20140403-story.html)
- **Slant Magazine**, Eric Henderson (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the film the most disappointing in the Marvel series, calling it as by-the-numbers as any entry despite a few fancy moments, with the self-recycling universe hastening the loss of choice at the multiplex. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/captain-america-the-winter-soldier/)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the film watchable thanks to strong supporting turns but calls Captain America the dullest Marvel superhero, with the lead outshone by the cast around him. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/mar/27/captain-america-the-winter-soldier-review-marvel)
- **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (30/100, inferred): The film gets off to a kinetic start but loses steam before blowing everything up. It offers some fun political thriller elements in its early sections. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/04/movies/hero-returns-in-captain-america-the-winter-soldier.html)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (A-): The critic praises the film as the best Marvel movie so far, celebrating Captain America's innate goodness as a beacon against corruption in a political thriller with smart commentary and incredible action. They single out the well-choreographed action sequences, humor, and the directors' handling of the material for praise. [Read](https://collider.com/captain-america-the-winter-soldier-review/)
- **Den of Geek**, Don Kaye (4.5/5): The critic calls the film awesome and one of Marvel Studios' top three movies to date. It adapts a great comic story, directly follows The Avengers, and shakes up the MCU while laying groundwork for future entries; the cast, writers, directors, and studio are all praised. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/comics/captain-america-the-winter-soldier-review/)
- **Paste**, Michael Burgin (8.6): The review commends the film's grasp of Captain America's core appeal and tone, along with its well-cast leads, sensible plot, strong dialogue, and thrilling action that blends spy-thriller elements. It singles out Chris Evans' performance and the creative team's fidelity to the character for particular praise. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/captain-america/captain-america-the-winter-soldier)
- **Consequence** (B+): The critic describes it as the best standalone Marvel film since the first Captain America, highlighting its exploration of superheroes confronting global politics and modern paranoia through strong intrigue and character moments. They single out the car chase setpiece and thematic depth for praise while noting the finale feels somewhat shoehorned. [Read](https://consequence.net/2014/04/film-review-captain-america-the-winter-soldier/)
- **/Film**, Germain Lussier (7.5 out of 10): The critic finds it a fun, worthy entry in the MCU with charismatic performances, a surprising story, and exciting action sequences, but notes the film is slightly bulky with a complex plot and some minor issues in action flow. They single out Anthony Mackie's Falcon as a standout new addition. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/530760/captain-america-winter-soldier-review/)
- **The Playlist**, The Playlist Staff (B-): The critic views it as upper-tier Marvel fare with strong action choreography, confident tone, and engaging performances, but finds it too muddled and frantic overall, with action fatigue setting in and insufficient character depth, especially for the Winter Soldier. They praise the film's willingness to engage with real-world politics and its visual and sonic qualities. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-marvels-captain-america-the-winter-soldier-starring-chris-evans-scarlett-johansson-robert-redford-20140320/)
- **The Wrap** (70/100, inferred): The critic praises the film for daring to ask provocative questions about government surveillance and privacy in a mainstream superhero movie, calling it subversive. They single out the way it raises the bar for the Marvel universe by blending action with real-world relevance and strong performances. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/captain-america-winter-soldier-review-superheroic-yes-smart-subversive/)

## Details

- **Director:** Joe Russo, Anthony Russo
- **Director:** Joe Russo, Anthony Russo
- **Screenplay:** Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
- **Cinematography:** Trent Opaloch
- **Editor:** Jeffrey Ford, Matthew Schmidt
- **Music:** Henry Jackman
- **Production design:** Peter Wenham
- **Costume design:** Judianna Makovsky
- **Producer:** Kevin Feige
- **Cast:** Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America; Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury; Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow; Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce; Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier; Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Falcon; Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill; Frank Grillo as Brock Rumlow
- **Runtime:** 2h 16m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13
- **Release (the US):** 4 April 2014
- **Genres:** Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
- **Budget:** $170 million
- **Box office:** $715 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SlILk2WMTI

## Where to watch in the US

- Disney+: streaming, uhd
- Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd
- Apple TV: buy $19.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $19.99, uhd

*Checked 2026-09-19.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IL, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 2015: Best Visual Effects (nominated)
- Critics' Choice Awards 2015: Best Action Movie (nominated); Best Actor in an Action Movie (nominated)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Fight 2015: MTV Movie Award for Best Fight (nominated)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss 2015: MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (nominated)
- Saturn Awards 2015: Best Actor (nominated); Best Comic-to-Film Motion Picture (nominated); Best Director (nominated); Best Editing (nominated); Best Music (nominated); Best Production Design (nominated); Best Special Effects (nominated); Best Supporting Actor (nominated); Best Supporting Actress (nominated); Best Writing (nominated)
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor - Sci-Fi/Fantasy 2014: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor - Sci-Fi/Fantasy (nominated)
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress - Sci-Fi/Fantasy 2014: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress - Sci-Fi/Fantasy (nominated)
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Chemistry 2014: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Chemistry (nominated)
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Liplock 2014: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Liplock (nominated)
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Scene Stealer 2014: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Scene Stealer (nominated)
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie - Sci-Fi/Fantasy 2014: Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie - Sci-Fi/Fantasy (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Three Days of the Condor* (1975), Fi1m 80: Redford on the run from his own agency; the film this one keeps glancing at — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/three-days-of-the-condor.md)
- *The Conversation* (1974), Fi1m 92: Gene Hackman listens to strangers for a living and starts to hear himself — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-conversation.md)
- *The Bourne Ultimatum* (2007), Fi1m 85: The hand-held fights and rooftop chases this one learned its manners from — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-ultimatum.md)
- *The Lives of Others* (2006), Fi1m 84: A Stasi officer in headphones; what surveillance does to the man doing it — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-lives-of-others.md)
- *Mission: Impossible – Fallout* (2018), Fi1m 87: The other franchise that decided punches should be visible and stunts should hurt — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/mission-impossible-fallout.md)

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© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/captain-america-the-winter-soldier