"Captain America: Brave New World" Leads a Strong Box Office Weekend
"Captain America: Brave New World" stormed into theaters over the weekend, bringing a much-needed boost to the North American box office. The Walt Disney Co. release raked in an impressive $88.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates. This haul makes it the biggest opener of 2025 so far, and Disney predicts the film could hit $100 million domestically and $192.4 million globally by the end of Monday’s Presidents’ Day holiday.
The film’s success marks a significant milestone for Marvel, as it is the studio’s first major release since last summer’s record-breaking Deadpool & Wolverine. That film revitalized Marvel’s fanbase, which had shown signs of fatigue after the underwhelming performance of The Marvels in 2023. Brave New World is also a pivotal moment for the Captain America franchise, as Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson officially takes on the mantle of Captain America, succeeding Chris Evans, who played the character for nearly a decade. The film, directed by Julius Onah, also features Harrison Ford as the U.S. President turned Red Hulk, adding a star-studded twist to the storyline.
A New Era for Captain America, Despite Mixed Reviews
Despite its strong opening, Brave New World faced some criticism from critics. The film holds a 51% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, placing it on the lower end of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) spectrum. While it fares better than Eternals (47%) and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (46%), it falls short of the high standards set by many of its MCU predecessors. Critics like Mark Kennedy of The Associated Press called it "a highly processed, empty calorie, regret-later candy of a movie."
However, audiences were far more generous in their praise. The film boasts an 80% "verified audience score" on Rotten Tomatoes and a CinemaScore of B-. Exit polls also revealed that men made up 63% of the opening weekend audience, suggesting the film resonated strongly with its core demographic. The movie’s performance underscores a familiar trend in the superhero genre: even with lukewarm critical reception, these films often excel at the box office due to their loyal fanbases and spectacle-driven appeal.
A Mid-Tier MCU Opener with a Modest Budget
Brave New World’s opening weekend places it firmly in the middle of MCU debuts. Comparing it to previous films, it falls between Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor: The Dark World in terms of opening numbers. Notably, the film’s production budget was $180 million, significantly less than many other MCU blockbusters, making it a more cost-effective venture. This lower budget could allow the film to perform well financially, even if it doesn’t break records for the franchise.
The film’s success also highlights Marvel’s strategy to balance big-budget spectacles with more contained storytelling. With only one Marvel film released in 2024, Brave New World kicks off a busy year for the studio, with Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps set to follow in May and July, respectively. These releases are expected to further rejuvenate the superhero genre, which has faced some challenges in recent years but still commands a massive audience.
The Rest of the Box Office: A Mixed Bag
While Brave New World dominated the weekend, other films also made their mark on the box office. In second place, Paddington in Peru opened in North America with an estimated $13 million, bringing its global total to $117 million by the end of the holiday. The third installment in the beloved Paddington franchise, directed by Dougal Wilson, continues to charm audiences, though its stateside debut was somewhat modest compared to its international success.
Sony’s slasher film Heart Eyes surged 20% from its opening last weekend, taking third place with $10 million. Dog Man followed closely with $9.7 million, while the Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2 rounded out the top five with $7.2 million after opening on 660 screens in North America. Overall, the box office has seen a 20% increase compared to the same period last year, signaling a potential rebound for the industry.
Streaming and International Markets: A Different Story
This weekend also saw the release of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, a new installment in the long-running Bridget Jones series. While the film skipped theaters in the U.S. and debuted directly on Universal’s Peacock streaming service, it performed strongly in the U.K. and Ireland, grossing an estimated $14.9 million and outpacing Captain America: Brave New World in those territories. Universal Pictures International reported a total of $32.3 million from all 70 territories where the film opened.
The decision to release Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy directly to streaming in the U.S. reflects a growing trend in the industry, where studios are opting for hybrid release models or skipping theaters altogether for certain films. However, the success of Brave New World and other theatrical releases this weekend suggests that, for now, the big-screen experience remains a major draw for audiences.
As the box office continues to evolve, films like Captain America: Brave New World remind us of the enduring appeal of superheroes and the power of franchise storytelling. With three major Marvel releases on the horizon and a slate of exciting films in various genres, 2025 is shaping up to be a promising year for moviegoers.
