Captain America Brave New World: Mixed Reviews and Box Office Woes Meet Strong Home Release Numbers

Disney-owned Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World recently landed. It quickly became the number one seller on the Circana VideoScan chart, which tracks DVD and Blu-ray Disc sales. The film also took the top spot on the dedicated Blu-ray Disc and 4K Ultra HD sales charts. This is a big win for the movie on physical media, showing many people wanted to own it at home. It also debuted at number one on Disney+ when it arrived for streaming.

This news comes after the movie's box office performance. It brought in $200.5 million in the United States and $415 million globally. For a big Marvel movie, these numbers were disappointing. Reports even suggested its budget soared to around $300 million due to reshoots. This means the movie had a hard time breaking even just from theaters. It makes you wonder what went wrong, especially when you think about how Marvel Movies used to bring in massive crowds.

The film sees Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) stepping into his full role as the new Captain America. He finds himself caught in a major international problem and a plot involving the newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford). It sounds like a high-stakes adventure. The movie features a strong cast including Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, and Giancarlo Esposito. Harrison Ford also made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut, taking on the role of Thaddeus Ross from the late William Hurt. These big names usually mean big box office success, but for Brave New World it was not enough.

Captain America Brave New World's Box Office Struggles And What It Means For Marvel

Why The Latest Captain America Film Failed To Hit Big Numbers In Theaters

When you look at the numbers, Captain America: Brave New World ranks among the lowest-grossing Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. This is a concerning sign. It shows that even a Captain America film can struggle to draw people into theaters. This movie and Thunderbolts, another 2025 Marvel film, combined their box office earnings are much lower than Deadpool & Wolverine's total from 2024. Deadpool & Wolverine made $1.3 billion worldwide. That film was the only Marvel movie released in 2024. It got all the attention, which surely helped its numbers.

I think there are a few reasons for this difference. First, there is the popularity of the main characters. Chris Evans’ Captain America was a huge part of the MCU. Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson has mostly been a supporting character until now. I always thought his first solo Captain America movie would have a lower box office. I also expected it to grow with sequels. For Thunderbolts, the team is made up of smaller characters from all over the MCU. The cast, while talented, does not have the same widespread appeal as Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman coming together as Deadpool and Wolverine. That 2024 film also used the idea of multiple universes and a feeling of looking back. It brought back favorites like Chris Evans as the Human Torch.

It seems Marvel has faced "superhero fatigue" in the last few years. Deadpool & Wolverine's R rating offered a different experience for the series. This might have drawn in viewers who were tired of the usual superhero movie style. I fear that the disappointing box office results for Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts might become the new normal for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fantastic Four: First Steps might change this. That movie is the first time Marvel Studios is behind the classic team. Many people are excited for the Fantastic Four. Even if that movie is a hit, I still worry that smaller characters and teams will not do well at the box office anymore.

The Film's Performance On Streaming And Physical Media Offers A Brighter Picture

How Captain America Brave New World Found Its Audience Outside Theaters

While the theatrical run was tough, Captain America: Brave New World found a stronger footing at home. The film became number one on Disney+ very quickly after it started streaming. This suggests that while people might not have gone to the cinemas, they were certainly ready to watch it from their couches. This is a pattern we have seen before with many big movies. People are choosing to wait for home releases more often. The ease of streaming makes it an attractive choice.

The success on physical media was also notable. HD formats made up 71% of the first week's sales. This included 32% from regular Blu-ray Disc and 39% from its 4K Ultra HD disc versions. These were available in both standard and Steelbook packaging. The movie was also number one on the dedicated 4K chart. A collection of all four Captain America movies even landed at number 25 on the overall disc sales chart. This shows that fans who enjoy collecting physical copies still supported the movie strongly. This success on home formats will be important in helping Captain America: Brave New World get closer to breaking even. It highlights a change in how people watch and buy movies today.

Compared to another 2025 release, Warner's Mickey 17, Captain America: Brave New World sold more copies. Mickey 17 sold about 23% as many copies as the top seller. This shows that despite its theater problems, Captain America still has a loyal fanbase ready to buy or stream the movie. The movie also outranked new releases like Paramount's Landman: Season One, Universal’s Black Bag, and Warner’s Dune: Prophecy season one on the disc charts. This indicates that the Captain America brand still holds significant weight with consumers, even if the general public is becoming more selective about what they see on the big screen.

Exploring The Plot And Characters In Captain America Brave New World

Sam Wilson's First Solo Adventure As Captain America Brings New Challenges

In Captain America: Brave New World Sam Wilson has fully taken on his new identity. He got the suit and shield in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. This movie marks his first big-screen outing as Steve Rogers' successor. He is joined by Joaquin Torres played by Danny Ramirez. Carl Lumbly plays Isaiah Bradley. Tim Blake Nelson plays Samuel Sterns who was a former ally from The Incredible Hulk. Harrison Ford makes his first appearance in the MCU as Thaddeus Ross, taking over the role. This gathering of characters sets the stage for a new kind of Captain America story.

After meeting President Thaddeus Ross, Sam gets caught in a global problem. He must find the person behind a sinister plot. This must happen before the world falls into chaos. Critics have called the movie "flawed but functional." They noted that Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford's performances "electrify the screen." Some also mentioned that "Red Hulk shows up" which took the movie to "new heights of awesome." This suggests that while the plot might have some issues the performances and action sequences still offer good moments for viewers. It reminds us that even when a movie has struggles, there can still be parts that fans truly enjoy.

The film was directed by Julius Onah and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore. Louis D’Esposito and Charles Newirth were executive producers. The journey of the movie, from its theatrical release to its strong showing on streaming and disc, mirrors the changing landscape of how we consume entertainment. It's a clear sign that audiences are more selective about going to the cinema for superhero films, preferring to catch them at home. This might push Marvel Studios to think more about what makes a theatrical "event" versus a successful streaming release. It is a balancing act that many studios are still trying to master.