Captain America Hits a New Low on Rotten Tomatoes
Captain America: Brave New World just landed on streaming—and it’s already stirring up controversy. The film scored a 53% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 108 reviewers, officially cementing its status as ‘rotten.’ That makes it the third Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) entry to dip below the fresh threshold, joining Eternals (2021) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023). Ouch. For a franchise used to sitting pretty with high scores, this marks a rough patch, especially since every pre-2021 Marvel release managed to avoid this label.
The film features Anthony Mackie stepping into the lead as Sam Wilson, now taking up the Captain America mantle full-time. There’s a fresh roster of supporting characters, a handful of new faces, and an effort to push the MCU’s phase 5 narrative into new territory. But somewhere along the way, critics argue, the movie fumbled its tone and pacing. Reviewers aren’t pulling punches—some call it disjointed, others say it rushes through too many ideas at once, never quite finding its own rhythm.
Why Fans Are Still Rallying Behind the Shield
Here’s where things get interesting. Despite the negative press and harsh critic scores, Marvel’s fanbase isn’t backing down. Social media is loud with posts urging everyone to watch the film before making up their minds. Their main argument? The movie’s ambition. Supporters say Brave New World actually tries to do something different—peeling back layers on Sam Wilson’s character, digging into what it means to step into a legacy that’s both heavy and complicated. For them, these struggles make the movie worth a shot, even if it doesn’t always stick the landing.
Some fans even claim the movie is being unfairly judged just because it deviates a bit from the typical Marvel ‘formula.’ They highlight moments of honest character work and tough choices, saying that’s exactly what the franchise needs right now. Sure, the reviews are mixed, but supporters argue that Brave New World could become more appreciated over time as people rethink their expectations for superhero films.
The bigger conversation, though, is about Marvel’s creative direction over the past few years. Apart from the reliable hits like Spider-Man: No Way Home, a lot of recent MCU entries haven’t had that same glow they once did. For some, this film is just the latest sign of a more ‘wobbly’ era. For others, it’s a reminder that sometimes the riskiest movies are the ones future fans treasure most.
With Captain America: Brave New World now streaming, the debate isn’t fading anytime soon. Whether you side with the critics or the diehards, it’s clear that Marvel fans aren’t ready to shelve their shields just yet.
