The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has officially launched its first blockbuster of 2025 with Captain America: Brave New World, bringing in a staggering $100 million domestically over the four-day Presidents Day holiday weekend. The film, which sees Anthony Mackie stepping into the iconic role of Captain America, has surpassed initial projections despite lukewarm critical reception and audience skepticism.
The latest entry in the MCU, directed by Julius Onah, also brought in an impressive $92.4 million from international markets, pushing its global debut to $192.4 million. While the numbers are strong, industry experts are watching closely to see whether Brave New World has the staying power to keep drawing audiences in the coming weeks or if it will suffer the same fate as other recent Marvel movies that saw massive opening weekends but sharp declines afterward.
A Strong Opening, But Can It Hold?
Despite its impressive debut, Captain America: Brave New World faces questions about its long-term box office success. The film holds a 51% score on Rotten Tomatoes, one of the lowest ratings in MCU history, and received a concerning “B-” CinemaScore from opening weekend audiences—both indicators that the movie may struggle with word-of-mouth momentum.
Recent MCU films such as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Eternals, and The Marvels experienced sharp drop-offs in ticket sales after their initial strong debuts, largely due to negative reviews and audience dissatisfaction. If Brave New World follows this pattern, it could be a major concern for Marvel Studios, which has been trying to rebuild enthusiasm for its projects post-Avengers: Endgame.
Adding to the pressure is the lack of other blockbuster releases until Disney’s Snow White remake on March 21. This means theater owners are relying on Brave New World to maintain strong ticket sales in the coming weeks, making its second-weekend performance a critical test of its endurance at the box office.
Other Box Office Contenders: “Paddington in Peru” and “Heart Eyes”
While Captain America dominated the weekend, it wasn’t the only film making waves at the box office. Paddington in Peru, the third installment in the beloved Paddington franchise, took second place with a solid $13 million weekend haul and an estimated $16 million over the four-day holiday frame.
Unlike Brave New World, Paddington in Peru was a critical darling, boasting a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” CinemaScore, indicating strong audience reception. However, the Paddington films have historically performed better overseas, and this entry is no different, having already amassed $115 million internationally. With a $90 million budget, the film still has a long way to go before matching the global successes of its predecessors, Paddington (2014) and Paddington 2 (2017), which earned $326 million and $290 million worldwide, respectively.
Meanwhile, horror fans flocked to Heart Eyes, a Valentine’s Day slasher film that capitalized on its holiday timing. The R-rated thriller raked in $10 million over the weekend and $11.1 million through Presidents Day, marking a significant 20% increase from its debut. Produced by Scream backers Spyglass Media Group for a modest $18 million budget, Heart Eyes is on track to turn a profit, proving that well-timed horror films remain a lucrative genre.
Animated Hits and International Success Stories
Rounding out the top five were two very different films catering to diverse audiences. Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s Dog Man, a family-friendly canine crime adventure, continued its strong run in theaters. After spending two weeks at No. 1, the film fell to fourth place with a weekend total of $9.73 million and an estimated $12.5 million through Monday. With a domestic tally of $69.5 million and a global haul of $84.4 million against a $40 million budget, Dog Man is shaping up to be another win for DreamWorks Animation.
Meanwhile, Ne Zha 2, a Chinese animated film, continued to dominate internationally, particularly in China, where it has grossed a staggering $1.6 billion. Despite playing in just 660 locations in North America, it still managed to earn $7.3 million over the weekend and an estimated $8.3 million through the holiday. The film’s runaway success in China underscores the growing influence of international markets on the global box office.
What’s Next for the Box Office?
With Captain America: Brave New World kicking off the blockbuster season, the industry now turns its attention to the upcoming slate of major releases. Marvel Studios has two more tentpole films set for release in the next six months—Thunderbolts on May 2 and The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25—both of which will be crucial for maintaining Marvel’s dominance at the box office.
Until then, the industry will be watching closely to see how Brave New World performs in its second weekend. If it follows the pattern of recent Marvel films and experiences a steep drop, it could signal further fatigue for the franchise. However, if it maintains strong audience engagement, it could serve as a much-needed win for Marvel Studios as it looks to rebuild its reputation for delivering must-see superhero films.
With a mix of superhero epics, family-friendly adventures, and horror hits, the 2025 box office is off to an exciting and unpredictable start. As always, the key to sustained success will be whether these films can maintain audience interest in the weeks to come.
