The review embargo for Captain America: Brave New World has lifted, and the early verdict isn’t looking great for Marvel’s latest entry in the Multiverse Saga. While some critics praised Anthony Mackie’s big-screen debut as the new Captain America, the overall response has been far from enthusiastic.
As it stands, with 159 reviews counted, the film holds a 51% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is a worrying score that places it among the lowest-rated Marvel Studios movies.
It’s the lowest score of any of the previous Captain America film that have been released: Captain America: The First Avenger sits at 80%, and The Winter Solider and Civil War both have 90% ratings. Brave New World is nowhere near those.
While negative reviews might not completely derail its box office run, they certainly aren’t doing the movie any favors. Despite the lukewarm reception, early projections remain optimistic, with estimates suggesting Brave New World could pull in as much as $200 million worldwide over the President’s Day holiday weekend.
Here’s a look at some of the reactions from early reviews:
Flickering Myth: “The grand message here is eye-rolling, especially given what the real America is going through. What’s most frustrating in this utterly pointless MCU entry is that for a ‘brave new world,’ this is the same mediocrity. Shield yourselves”
The Wrap: “There’s nothing brave about this movie. There’s nothing new either. And sure, it technically takes place in the world, but one out of three is bad.”
Auteurist Class: “A deeply mediocre piece of product that feels like something assembled by committee rather than by anyone with a particular vision of the story that they wanted to tell.”
Culture Mix: “It’s almost obscene that so much money was spent on Captain America: Brave New World and yet this superhero sequel has so little innovation, wit or visual style. The characters are bland in this underwhelming story.”
The Outside Scoop: “Brave New World’ is very bad. Imagine that Roger Moore’s first 007 flick was ‘A View to a Kill.’ It’s a lazily-retrofitted and dumbed-down hybrid of ‘Winter Soldier’ and ‘Civil War’ that trades present-tense topicality for ‘Incredible Hulk’ nostalgia.”
Discussing Film: “Anthony Mackie deserves a better script and a more competent studio at his back, rather than yet another half-baked effort like this. The golden days of Marvel Studios are long gone, and something needs to change to secure its future.
THR: Unfortunately, Captain America: Brave New World proves a lackluster Marvel entry that feels as if its complicated storyline has been painstakingly worked out without a shred of inspiration.
It’s clear that the film isn’t landing the way Marvel hoped. Whether audiences will feel the same way is another question. Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters this Friday, will you be watching?
