Marvel Studios’ blockbuster film Captain America: Brave New World is ready to open like a blockbuster, with industry estimates calling for a $90 million-plus U.S. opening and almost $200 million worldwide. The fourth Captain America movie and first to feature Anthony Mackie as the new Cap, Brave New World is set to reignite interest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
The estimates, based on fan demand and pre-sales, indicate that Brave New World is set to be one of the biggest of the year. “The marriage of a popular character, a new story, and a Marvel hot streak makes this a must-see film,” said box office analyst Sarah Collins. “Fans want to see Sam Wilson become Captain America in his own solo film.”
The movie depicts Sam Wilson’s, played by Mackie, burden in the new role of Captain America, a role he assumed in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. According to the announcement for the movie, it will explore such subjects as leadership, identity, and geopolitical conflict, with returning actors including Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and new actors including Harrison Ford as Thunderbolt Ross.
Marvel’s marketing has been busy, releasing teasers for spectacular action, touching moments of characters, and the comeback of familiar faces. The studio’s plan is working, with pre-sales for Brave New World already exceeding those for the latest MCU releases, like The Marvels.
Overseas, the movie should take in nearly $200 million on opening weekend, with solid performances in major markets like China, the U.K., and South Korea. Marvel’s global popularity and the brand’s continued strength in Captain America puts the movie in an extraordinary position despite recent missteps in the superhero genre.
“Superhero fatigue is real, but Captain America is always a franchise that was rich and had heart,” Collins said. “This movie has the potential to re-activate lapsed fans.”
Brave New World’s success may also translate to the larger implications for Marvel’s Phase 5 slate, which has been received with mixed reviews and box office interest. A successful opening would vindicate the studio’s reign and set the franchise up for future installments like Thunderbolts and Blade.
As the premiere nears, excitement mounts. Fans are anxious to see where Sam Wilson’s tenure as Captain America will take him and how the movie will map the future of the MCU. With $90 million-plus in its sights for its U.S. opening and nearly $200 million overseas, Captain America: Brave New World is poised to be a movie event that no Marvel fan can afford to miss.
