Captain America: Brave New World has been awarded a B- CinemaScore, marking the lowest grade ever received by a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. This places the film behind even The Marvels and the previously criticized Eternals and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. That means Brave New World is offically the weakest audience-rated MCU film to date.
CinemaScore, a trusted market research firm that surveys moviegoers on opening night, provides an initial snapshot of audience satisfaction. A B- grade is a clear sign of disappointment, placing Brave New World in the same category as notable superhero misfires like 2003’s Hulk, Dark Phoenix, and Venom: The Last Dance. For a franchise known for its history of once-consistent success, this is a significant setback.
Harrison Ford as the Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World – YouTube, Marvel Entertainment
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This low CinemaScore is even more glaring when compared to previous Captain America films. Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War both received an A CinemaScore, while Captain America: The First Avenger earned an A-. Even The Incredible Hulk, often considered one of the MCU’s weaker early entries (though I really like it!), managed an A- grade. The sharp decline in audience approval underscores growing fatigue with the MCU’s direction and dissatisfaction with this latest installment.
Oof – so bad… uh oh#CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld
This is the lowest CinemaScore the #MCU has ever gotten.
It’s lower than #TheFlash #MovieMath on Sunday pic.twitter.com/d6JDhWKpHr
— Grace Randolph (@GraceRandolph) February 15, 2025
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Even Grace Randolph of Beyond the Trailer, who is known for her generally favorable MCU reviews (and even rated Brave New World positively), acknowledged the severity of the situation, tweeting, “Oof – so bad… uh oh #CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld. This is the lowest CinemaScore the #MCU has ever gotten. It’s lower than #TheFlash.”
The troubled production of Captain America: Brave New World has been well-documented and may have contributed to its lukewarm reception. The film faced extensive reshoots after disastrous test screenings, with insiders revealing that 22 days of additional shooting were needed to rework key sequences and add a new villain, played by Giancarlo Esposito. These last-minute changes ballooned the film’s budget to somewhere between $350 and $375 million, putting immense pressure on its box office performance.
Harrison Ford as the Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World – YouTube, Marvel Entertainment
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Further complicating matters, Harrison Ford’s portrayal of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who becomes the Red Hulk, created behind-the-scenes challenges. Ford, now 82, was reportedly difficult to work with. Crew members reportedly described him as a “diva” who disliked the motion-capture process required for his character. This tension on set, coupled with director Julius Onah’s limited experience with large-scale productions, contributed to a chaotic filmmaking environment.
Political controversy also plagued the film. The original title, Captain America: New World Order, sparked backlash due to its association with divisive political issues, prompting Disney to change it to the more neutral Brave New World. The film’s portrayal of Ross as a powerful, authoritarian leader who transforms into the Red Hulk drew comparisons to Donald Trump, adding fuel to an already polarized cultural climate. Disney even edited a trailer featuring an assassination attempt on Ross after the real-life attempt on Trump’s life, further highlighting the film’s struggles to navigate political sensitivities.
Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America in Marvel Studios‘ CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD. Photo by Eli Adé. © 2024 MARVEL.
Adding to the turbulence was Anthony Mackie’s controversial press tour. Mackie, who takes on the mantle of Captain America in the film, faced criticism after stating that Captain America shouldn’t represent America. The backlash forced him to issue a hasty social media clarification, but the damage was done. Mackie’s comments, combined with the film’s production woes, created an uphill battle for Brave New World even before its release.
As Captain America: Brave New World continues its theatrical run, the B- CinemaScore could hinder its box office longevity. With Marvel Studios already facing scrutiny over declining quality and audience fatigue, this latest setback raises significant questions about the future of the MCU and its ability to maintain its once-unshakable dominance at the box office.
Do you agree with this Captain America: Brave New World Cinemascore rating? Sound off in the comments below and let us know!
