‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Hits $100 Million in Opening Weekend
Marvel’s latest blockbuster, Captain America: Brave New World, has dominated the box office, securing the top spot over the Presidents’ Day weekend. The film is projected to cross $100 million in its debut, solidifying its place among the highest-grossing openings for the holiday weekend.
According to estimates from Comscore, the fourth instalment in the Captain America franchise earned $88.5 million from Friday through Sunday and is expected to surpass Fifty Shades of Grey’s $93 million four-day total from 2015. However, it remains behind other Marvel hits like Black Panther ($242 million), Deadpool ($152 million), and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ($120 million).
The film’s performance marks a promising resurgence for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which has seen a dip in box office numbers in recent years. Analysts believe the strong debut could help reignite audience excitement for the franchise.
“This could be the start of an MCU revival, getting fans engaged again and eager to follow the interconnected storylines,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.
While Brave New World didn’t break records, its opening aligns with 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier ($95 million) but falls short of 2016’s Captain America: Civil War ($179 million). It also outperformed Captain America: The First Avenger, which debuted at $65 million in 2011 (about $91 million today when adjusted for inflation).
A Boost for the 2025 Box Office
Marvel has struggled with underwhelming openings in recent years, with The Marvels earning just $46 million in November 2023 – the lowest in the MCU’s history. However, 2025 has started on a stronger note.
Despite February being an unconventional release month for blockbusters, several past superhero films – such as Black Panther and Deadpool – have found massive success during the Presidents’ Day weekend. Industry experts say this year’s numbers suggest a positive trend for the theatrical market.
“The overall box office is already up 22% compared to last year,” noted Dergarabedian, attributing the boost to the industry’s recovery from the SAG-AFTRA strikes that disrupted 2024’s release schedule.
Disney’s next major release, Snow White, is set to hit theaters on March 21, further fueling expectations for a strong first quarter. Additionally, two more Marvel films, Thunderbolts (May) and The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July), are slated for release later this year, potentially reinforcing the franchise’s dominance at the box office.
As the movie industry continues its post-pandemic rebound, analysts predict that total domestic ticket sales in 2025 could reach up to $9.7 billion, surpassing previous years and restoring momentum to the theatrical experience.
