Despite mixed reviews, Anthony Mackie’s debut as Captain America soars past the MCU’s biggest box office disappointment.
February 22, 2025: Marvel Studios’ latest release, Captain America: Brave New World, has achieved major box office milestones despite receiving lukewarm critical reception. In its first week, the film crossed the $100 million mark domestically and $200 million globally, overtaking The Marvels’ entire worldwide gross.
Brave New World’s Box Office Triumph
Directed by Julius Onah, Brave New World is Anthony Mackie’s first theatrical outing as Captain America, after taking over the mantle from Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers. According to reports, the film has raked in:
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- $109 million from domestic markets
- $92 million from overseas territories
- Total global earnings: $202 million
This surpasses the final worldwide gross of The Marvels, which closed its theatrical run at $199 million—a major financial failure for the MCU, considering its staggering $300 million budget.
Budget, Ratings & MCU’s Current Position
While The Marvels suffered due to its high production costs, Brave New World was made on a relatively modest budget of $180 million—a rare cost-saving effort for a Marvel tentpole film. Even Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which also struggled at the box office, reportedly had a budget exceeding $300 million.
However, the film’s critical reception hasn’t been stellar:
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 49% (“Rotten”)
- CinemaScore: B- (Lowest in MCU history)
Collider’s review labeled Brave New World as “one of the weakest entries in the decades-spanning franchise.”
Can Marvel Regain Its Box Office Dominance?
Despite this, Marvel Studios has recently bounced back with Deadpool & Wolverine, which smashed records with a $1.3 billion global haul. The studio now hopes to sustain this momentum with the highly anticipated The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
What’s Next?
While Brave New World has outperformed The Marvels, it still has a long road ahead to break even and turn a profit. Whether it will recover from weak word-of-mouth and critical reception remains to be seen.
For now, Captain America: Brave New World is still playing in theaters, and fans can judge for themselves if the new Cap’s solo adventure lives up to expectations.
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Captain America Brave New World box office, Marvel Studios, Anthony Mackie Captain America, Brave New World vs The Marvels, MCU box office 2025, Deadpool & Wolverine box office, Fantastic Four First Steps, Marvel box office recovery