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Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: The First Avenger

The one who never gives up awakens.

2011124 minPG-13Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Director
Joe Johnston
Starring
Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Tommy Lee Jones

During World War II, Steve Rogers is a sickly man from Brooklyn who's transformed into super-soldier Captain America to aid in the war effort. Rogers must stop the Red Skull – Adolf Hitler's ruthless head of weaponry, and the leader of an organization that intends to use a mysterious device of untold powers for world domination.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Captain America: The First Avenger?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Captain America: The First Avenger streaming on Disney+ and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Highlights

What stands out about Captain America: The First Avenger?

Captain America: The First Avenger earns 10 badges, led by Cultural touchstone and Top 10% in Action.

Show 2 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Captain America: The First Avenger worth watching?

Captain America: The First Avenger's Midcredits score is the 81st percentile of all films, from 3.2M ratings across 6 sources. 70% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

81st percentile

Better received than 81% of films

90th percentile among Action81st percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)80th
Approval (how many liked it)79th

70 /100

80th percentile of all films

90th percentile among Action79th percentile among 2010s

Critics 66 · Audience 71

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.1 — solid but not unanimous.

70% liked it

79th percentile of all films

86th percentile among Action79th percentile among 2010s
70% rated it 7–1030% rated it 1–6

Critics 80% · Audience 75%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 4 wins / 47 noms overall

99th percentile

3.2M ratings across platforms

99th percentile among Action99th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 20% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$140M
Opening weekend$65M
Domestic gross$177M
Worldwide gross$371M

Returned 2.6× its budget — 95th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A charming, old-fashioned pulp adventure that wears its patriotism and retro style on its sleeve, though its villain and narrative structure fall short of greatness.

Fans praised

  • Chris Evans perfectly embodies Steve Rogers' earnest heroism
  • 1940s period aesthetic and production design create immersive retro atmosphere
  • Heartfelt romance between Cap and Peggy Carter elevates the story

Detractors panned

  • Red Skull is a weak, underdeveloped villain with clichéd motives
  • Pacing drags in the middle act with montages and filler
  • Captain America feels invincible, draining tension from action scenes

What stands out

ActingDivisive80

Chris Evans' charismatic portrayal praised; Red Skull performance criticized as hammy

AtmosphereDivisive78

Immersive 1940s wartime setting with pulp adventure feel

CinematographyDivisive75

Vibrant period production design and sepia-toned visuals

Effects and spectacleDivisive70

Seamless blend of practical and CGI; shield ricochet highlight

CharactersDivisive62

Steve Rogers' earnest heroism loved; Red Skull widely panned as generic

Plot and storyDivisive55

Straightforward origin story; criticized for weak villain and disjointed structure

Pacing45

Middle act montages and filler scenes drag

TensionDivisive40

Lack of stakes due to Cap's invincibility and weak villain

Preferred by

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 18 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 2 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 3 points apart
  • US vs non-US 6 points apart

Watch experience

What is Captain America: The First Avenger like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Fun ride: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want a fun ride.

It never lets up, has a few laughs and leaves you fired up.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Fun ride.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TriumphantRomanticBittersweet
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Adventurous · 11% of filmsRomantic · 8% of filmsEpic · 2% of films: Vast in scale: big landscapes, big stakes, a long span.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its WWII-set origin story completely straight, with earnest patriotism and unironic heroism.
The rideThe film is a rousing war adventure that builds to a heroic climax, but the final act's personal sacrifice and lost time give it a bittersweet weight that lands hardest at the end.
StructureThe story unfolds in straightforward chronological order from Steve's pre-serum life to the final sacrifice and awakening in the present.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Fired up.

The answer rests on this: Rousing · 10% of filmsBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayAn inspiring and heroic journey tempered by the poignant sacrifice and separation at the end.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

21% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeSteve Rogers transforms into a super-soldier and leads a team to stop the Red Skull, a Nazi tyrant seeking global domination.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfSelf-worth
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4% (this title)
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% (this title) · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Self-worth · 7% of filmsLoyalty · 4% of filmsPurpose · 9% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Global stakes: Consequences reach the world.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores Steve's internal conviction that he is worthy regardless of his physical form, and his drive to serve a cause greater than himself, alongside the loyalty he forges with his friends and country.
StanceThe film celebrates the idea that inner worth and moral conviction are what truly make a hero, affirming Steve's journey as noble and worth having.

The world

Mid 20th centuryInstitutionalUrbanWildernessStylized realism
Orchestral modernForeground music · original score · Alan Silvestri
SettingWorld War II-era America and European battlefronts, with a retro-futuristic secret lab and enemy base
MusicSilvestri's score swells with patriotic brass and heroic themes, especially in the finale.

Content guide

Is Captain America: The First Avenger okay for kids?

PG-13

Captain America: The First Avenger is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action” (MPAA). As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (57/100), sexual content at mild (23/100), language at mild (32/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (18/100) and frightening material at moderate (41/100). Overall it is heavier than 35% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 32 other countries
  • UK12A
  • CanadaPG
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Ireland12A
  • New ZealandM
  • JapanPG12
  • South Korea12
  • Brazil12
  • Austria12
  • BGC
  • Czechia15+
  • Denmark11
  • FinlandK-12
  • GreecePG
  • Hong KongIIA
  • Hungary16
  • ID13+
  • Israelהותר לכל
  • ItalyT
  • LTN-13
  • MexicoB
  • Netherlands12
  • Poland16
  • PortugalM/12
  • RO12
  • Russia12+
  • Spain12
  • Sweden11
  • Switzerland12
  • Taiwan保護級
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 25% of all filmsHeavier than 35% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 65%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 35%
Profanity
Mild
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 24%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 17%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 44%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is violence, heavier than 65% of PG-13-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Captain America: The First Avenger have?

MovieCove's classifier found 8 depicted content warnings in Captain America: The First Avenger: Gun violence (moderate), Sexual harassment or grooming (mild), plus 6 withheld here because they would spoil the plot. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

ModerateGun violence
MildSexual harassment or grooming

Cast and crew

Who is in Captain America: The First Avenger?

Cast

3 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Chris Evans
as Captain America
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Hayley Atwell
as Peggy Carter
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Sebastian Stan
as James Buchanan 'Bucky' Barnes
Tommy Lee Jones
as Colonel Chester Phillips
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Hugo Weaving
as Johann Schmidt
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Dominic Cooper
as Howard Stark
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Richard Armitage
as Heinz Kruger
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.
newcomer then · star now
Stanley Tucci
as Dr. Abraham Erskine
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Samuel L. Jackson
as Nick Fury
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Toby Jones
as Dr. Arnim Zola

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Captain America: The First Avenger?

Movies like Captain America: The First Avenger include Captain America: Civil War (2016), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and Superman (1978). Of the 12 closest matches, several are films written by Joe Simon, and all are superhero films.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Christopher Markus wrote 3 of these 12. Those cards say what else they share.

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What else shares a premise, people or place with Captain America: The First Avenger?

552 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: supervillain. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.