“Brave New World” delivered a major boost to the North American box office, raking in $88.5 million in ticket sales over its opening weekend, according to studio estimates. The Walt Disney Co. film became the biggest opener of 2025 and is expected to reach $100 million domestically and $192.4 million globally by the end of Monday’s Presidents’ Day holiday.
This release marks Marvel’s first major film since the record-breaking success of “Deadpool & Wolverine” last summer, which reignited excitement among Marvel fans following the lukewarm reception of “The Marvels.” “Brave New World,” playing in 4,105 locations across the U.S. and Canada, also signals a shift for the “Captain America” franchise, introducing Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson as the new Captain America, officially taking over from Chris Evans. The film also stars Harrison Ford as the U.S. President, who becomes the Red Hulk.
Directed by Julius Onah, “Brave New World” faced a challenging start with poor reviews, currently holding a 51% “rotten” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, superhero films often thrive despite critical reception. While it’s not the lowest-rated film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s on the lower end, alongside films like “Eternals” (47%) and “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania” (46%).
Despite the critical response, audiences were more favorable, with the “verified audience score” on Rotten Tomatoes sitting at 80% and a CinemaScore of B-. Exit polls showed that men made up 63% of the audience during the opening weekend.
Though the bar for the biggest opening of the year wasn’t particularly high—”Dog Man” held the title for two weeks with a $36 million launch—“Brave New World” has clearly captured attention and solidified its place at the top.
