Captain America: The First Avenger
A rejected Brooklyn recruit becomes a super-soldier and leads a pulpy wartime crusade against HYDRA.
Overview
A sickly young man transforms into a symbol of hope during the darkest days of war.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- pulp adventure
- sincere
- nostalgic
- superhero movie night
- marvel marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film to be solid, entertaining blockbuster fare elevated by its retro wartime atmosphere, pulpy action, and strong performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The 1940s costumes, propaganda sequences, serial-style action, and straightforward good-versus-evil conflict create a consciously old-fashioned adventure register.
Steve Rogers is recruited because of courage, conscience, and persistence before the serum enhances his body.
Project Rebirth and HYDRA's advanced research drive the transformation of Rogers and the escalating conflict with Johann Schmidt.
The story links Rogers's transformation to 1942 America, military service, propaganda, comradeship, and the fight against Nazi Germany.
Films like Captain America: The First Avenger, and why
Wonder Woman
shares retro wartime adventure, patriotic heroism, superhero origins, and pulpy action
Iron Man
shares comic-book spectacle, science-fiction experimentation, heroic self-sacrifice, and franchise mythology
The Rocketeer
shares World War II combat, broad patriotism, ensemble camaraderie, and large-scale action
Raiders of the Lost Ark
shares period war adventure, Nazi villainy, serialized pulp energy, and old-fashioned blockbuster entertainment
Movie Details
- Director
- Joe Johnston
- Release Date
- 2011-07-22
- Runtime
- 124 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (23297)
Cast
- Chris Evans
- Hayley Atwell
- Sebastian Stan
- Tommy Lee Jones
- Hugo Weaving
- Dominic Cooper
- Richard Armitage
- Stanley Tucci
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Toby Jones
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Captain America: The First Avenger about?
- A rejected Brooklyn recruit becomes a super-soldier and leads a pulpy wartime crusade against HYDRA.
- What is Captain America: The First Avenger like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Captain America: The First Avenger as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Captain America: The First Avenger violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Captain America: The First Avenger as moderate.
- What did critics think of Captain America: The First Avenger?
- Critics broadly found the film to be solid, entertaining blockbuster fare elevated by its retro wartime atmosphere, pulpy action, and strong performances.
- Which films are like Captain America: The First Avenger?
- Films with a similar feel include Wonder Woman, Iron Man, The Rocketeer, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
- How long is Captain America: The First Avenger?
- Captain America: The First Avenger runs 124 minutes.
- Where can I watch Captain America: The First Avenger?
- In United States, Captain America: The First Avenger streams on Disney Plus.
