Captain America is back in the spotlight with his first standalone movie in nearly a decade, Captain America: Brave New World, set to launch in Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This marks a significant milestone as it's the first Captain America film without Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) wielding the shield. Instead, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) steps up to carry the iconic mantle, a transition that began at the end of Avengers: Endgame.
For fans eager to revisit Captain America's journey in the MCU before diving into Brave New World, we've curated a chronological list of the hero's movies and TV series.
How Many Captain America MCU Movies Are There?
There are 8 MCU movies and one TV series featuring Captain America prominently. When considering non-MCU made-for-TV and animated movies, the count exceeds 20. This list focuses solely on the MCU entries relevant to Captain America's saga.
For a comprehensive, spoiler-laden recap of the events leading up to Brave New World, check out IGN's Captain America Recap: The Messy Marvel Timeline That Led to Brave New World.
Captain America Trilogy [4K UHD + Blu-ray]
Includes Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Captain America: Civil War, along with bonus features for each film. See it at Amazon.
Captain America Movies in Chronological Order
Be warned, some descriptions include references to characters and plot points that are technically spoilers.
1. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Captain America debuted in the MCU with Captain America: The First Avenger, the final solo superhero movie of Marvel's Phase One. This film narrates Steve Rogers' transformation from a rejected military recruit into a superhuman war hero. It introduces Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes, who later becomes the Winter Soldier, and sets the stage against Red Skull and Hydra during WWII, marking it as the earliest entry in the MCU timeline.
Where to Stream: Disney+
2. The Avengers (2012)
Following his origin story, Captain America rejoined the fray in The Avengers. As hinted in the end-credits scene of The First Avenger, Cap assembles with Iron Man, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Thor, and the Hulk to stop Loki's invasion of Earth.
Where to Stream: Disney+
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Two years after The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier delves into espionage and conspiracy. The film sees Cap and Black Widow confronting the Winter Soldier, revealed to be Bucky Barnes, now a brainwashed Hydra agent. This movie also introduces Anthony Mackie's Falcon, who eventually takes up the Captain America mantle.
Where to Stream: Disney+ or Starz
4. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Captain America returned in Avengers: Age of Ultron, teaming up again with the Avengers to battle the titular villain, Ultron, voiced by James Spader. The film sets up future conflicts with Thanos in its mid-credits scene.
Where to Stream: Disney+ or Starz
5. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Captain America: Civil War became the highest-grossing standalone Captain America movie, earning over $1.1 billion globally. The film splits the Avengers into two factions led by Cap and Iron Man, with Helmut Zemo pulling the strings as the overarching villain. Although it's a Captain America movie, it features nearly every major MCU character up to that point.
Where to Stream: Disney+
6. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Avengers: Infinity War marks the beginning of the Avengers' epic battle against Thanos. Captain America is part of the ensemble cast fighting to prevent Thanos from wiping out half of all life. Despite their efforts, the team fails, but Captain America survives the Snap, leading into Avengers: Endgame.
Where to Stream: Disney+
7. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Avengers: Endgame spans various timelines but concludes five years post-Infinity War. Captain America and the remaining Avengers work to undo the effects of Thanos's Snap, culminating in the Battle of Earth. The film's emotional climax sees Steve Rogers passing the shield to Sam Wilson.
Where to Stream: Disney+
8. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021 – TV Series)
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is the first MCU project featuring Sam Wilson as Captain America. Set six months after Endgame, the series follows Wilson and Bucky Barnes as they confront the Flag Smashers, a group of anti-nationalist super-soldiers led by Karli Morgenthau.
Where to Stream: Disney+
9. Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier paves the way for Captain America: Brave New World. The official synopsis from Marvel reads:
After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.
Set in late 2027 or early 2028, the film introduces Harrison Ford as President Ross, who transforms into Red Hulk. For those unafraid of spoilers, IGN's Brave New World review offers further insights.
Where to Watch: In theaters starting February 14, 2025
What are you most excited for in Captain America: Brave New World?
- Sam Wilson's Cap
- President Ross' Red Hulk
- The Leader!
- Other (Tell us in the comments.)
The Future of Captain America in the MCU
After Brave New World, fans can anticipate Captain America's next appearance in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for May 1, 2026. Reports suggest both Mackie and Evans will feature, though Evans has denied involvement. Additionally, Captain America is expected in Avengers: Secret Wars, set for May 7, 2027. While Mackie has hinted at his participation, Marvel has only confirmed Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom for these films.
