Captain America: Brave New World Hits Theaters, Opens with $12 Million

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Marvel Studios’ latest superhero film, “Captain America: Brave New World,” opened in theaters Thursday night, grossing an estimated $12 million during its previews. The film, featuring Anthony Mackie as the new Captain America, is projected to earn between $80 million and $94 million over the four-day President’s Day weekend.

Despite unfavorable weather conditions, such as Winter Storm Jett affecting the Northeast, audiences still flocked to cinemas. The first-day figure for “Brave New World” outpaced the preview earnings of its predecessor, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” which garnered $10.2 million in 2014 but notably lagged behind “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” from 2023, which brought in $17.5 million.

Expectations varied for the film’s opening weekend after its Thursday performance, particularly as it struggles against potential comparisons with other Marvel titles. Initial tracking estimates suggest a three-day total between $80 million and $85 million. “Brave New World” is anticipated to perform strongly internationally, with projections estimating around $110 million globally.

Critics’ reviews have been mixed, with the film currently holding a 52% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, yet audiences seem to respond positively, awarding it an 80% score as per the Popcornmeter. General audience demographics revealed that 71% of viewers were male, while 29% were female, indicating a possible skew towards the traditional Marvel fanbase.

Social media metrics also indicate moderate engagement, with Captain America trending below other superhero films. RelishMix reported that the film’s social media engagement nears 600 million, a statistic below the genre average. Buzz surrounding the movie includes both anticipation and skepticism, as some fans express concerns over the film’s direction and character portrayal.

The film’s early reception might influence its box office performance in the coming weekends. Anthony Mackie, who takes over the titular role, has a fan following of approximately 5.4 million across social platforms. In contrast, other main cast members like Liv Tyler and Giancarlo Esposito hold 7.2 million and 4 million followers, respectively.

As the franchise enters a new chapter with Mackie as Captain America, many are watching closely to see how the film will perform against the backdrop of Disney‘s past Marvel offerings and recent fan reactions. The outcome this weekend could signal a shift in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s trajectory.