Captain America: Brave New World Dominates Box Office

This image released by Sony Pictures shows, from left, Samuel Joslin, Madeleine Harris, Paddington, voiced by Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Hugh Bonneville, and Julie Walter in a scene from "Paddington

The latest Marvel blockbuster, 'Captain America: Brave New World,' made a significant impact on the North American box office, raking in an impressive $88.5 million in ticket sales over the weekend. This release by The Walt Disney Co. stands out as the biggest opener of 2025, with the company projecting it to reach $100 million domestically and $192.4 million globally by the end of the Presidents' Day holiday.

'Brave New World' marks a pivotal moment for the 'Captain America' franchise, introducing Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson as the new Captain America, taking over from Chris Evans. The film, directed by Julius Onah, also features Harrison Ford as the U.S. President transforming into the Red Hulk.

Film directed by Julius Onah with Harrison Ford as Red Hulk.

New Captain America introduced as Sam Wilson.

Positive audience reception despite mixed reviews.

Lower production budget compared to other Marvel films.

Upcoming Marvel releases include 'Thunderbolts' and 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps'.

Notable box office performances by 'Paddington in Peru' and 'Heart Eyes'.

Chinese blockbuster 'Ne Zha 2' in top five.

Despite facing some negative reviews, with a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie resonated well with audiences, receiving an 80% audience score. The film's CinemaScore was a B-, and exit polls indicated that 63% of the opening weekend audience comprised men.

With a production budget of $180 million, 'Brave New World' cost significantly less than other big-budget Marvel productions. This release is the first of three major Marvel films scheduled for 2025, followed by 'Thunderbolts' in May and 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' in July.

Other notable performances at the box office included 'Paddington in Peru' earning $13 million, 'Heart Eyes' in third place with $10 million, and 'Dog Man' in fourth place with $9.7 million. The Chinese blockbuster 'Ne Zha 2' rounded out the top five with $7.2 million in ticket sales.

Additionally, the new 'Bridget Jones' movie, 'Mad About the Boy,' opted for a streaming release on Universal's Peacock service in the U.S., while grossing $14.9 million in the U.K. and Ireland. Universal Pictures International reported $32.3 million in grosses from all 70 territories.

Overall, the box office saw a 20% increase from the previous year, indicating a strong resurgence in audience interest in theatrical releases. Final domestic figures for the weekend will be released on Tuesday, providing a comprehensive overview of the box office performance.

With 'Captain America: Brave New World' leading the charge, the box office landscape is set for an exciting year ahead with a lineup of highly anticipated releases from various studios.