A week after its release, Captain America: Brave New World has reached an important — albeit somewhat unexpected — milestone. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film now holds an 80% audience score on the Popcornmeter, matching that of the MCU’s most notorious box office disappointment, The Marvels.
Despite its massive $180 million budget and the iconic legacy of the Captain America franchise, the fourth installment has struggled to match the critical acclaim of its predecessors. This film also marks the first Captain America movie without Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, instead featuring Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson in his first solo lead role.
How Does Captain America: Brave New World Compare to Other MCU Films?
While Captain America: Brave New World may not be hitting the critical highs of previous Captain America entries, its audience score suggests a more favorable reception among viewers compared to what critics have expressed. Here’s how it stacks up:
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer (Critics Score): 49%
- Rotten Tomatoes Popcornmeter (Audience Score): 80%
For comparison:
- The Marvels: 62% (Critics) | 80% (Audience)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania: 46% (Critics) | 81% (Audience)
- Thor: Love and Thunder: 63% (Critics) | 77% (Audience)
Surprisingly, despite the lukewarm critical response, the audience score for Brave New World surpasses many other MCU entries, including:
- The Incredible Hulk
- Thor: The Dark World
- Iron Man 2
- Thor: Love and Thunder
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
Box Office Performance: Numbers Tell a Different Story
Interestingly, there’s a disconnect between the film’s box office numbers and audience approval. While the audience score mirrors The Marvels, the financial results differ significantly:
- The Marvels grossed $206 million worldwide (a disappointing figure for the MCU).
- Captain America: Brave New World earned $192 million during its three-day opening weekend alone.
Although the initial box office numbers suggest a stronger start for Brave New World, it’s still unclear whether it will surpass the overall worldwide total of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which closed at $476 million.
What Does This Mean for the MCU?
The similar audience scores between Brave New World and The Marvels highlight a growing trend in the MCU: audience approval doesn’t always translate to box office success. Factors like:
- Release timing
- Competition with other blockbusters
- Franchise fatigue
- Marketing and audience expectations
…all play major roles in determining a film’s commercial success.
Furthermore, despite a lower Tomatometer score than most MCU films, Brave New World still outperforms several earlier installments in terms of audience reactions.
Is Captain America: Brave New World a Success or Failure?
While Captain America: Brave New World falls behind earlier Captain America films in terms of critical reception, it can’t be written off as a failure just yet. Several factors suggest a more complex situation:
- Financial Potential: A strong opening weekend hints at the film’s ability to surpass its budget.
- Positive Audience Reception: An 80% audience score reflects a generally favorable response from viewers.
- Legacy Challenges: Taking over from Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers is a tough task for any character — and the film’s middling critical reception may partly stem from comparisons to previous entries.
