Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson stands serious next to Captain Marvel and Ant-Man in Captain America Brave New World

Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World has one advantage that may help it avoid the MCU‘s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels box office flops. Captain America: Brave New World‘s conspiracy plot brings together some seemingly unrelated aspects of the MCU. The Incredible Hulk‘s Samuel Sterns and Thaddeus Ross a.k.a. Red Hulk fight Captain America instead of Hulk this time, and Eternals‘ Tiamut will likely be the center of the conflict. Breaking an MCU trend, Captain America: Brave New World‘s cast doesn’t include Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers or Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes.

Although Captain America: Brave New World is an MCU thriller with little to no ties to the multiverse, its scope is much bigger than previous Captain America installments. Captain America’s fight against Red Hulk raises the movie’s stakes, especially considering the Gamma monster is none other than the MCU’s US President. But despite Captain America’s larger-than-life conflict, Captain America: Brave New World‘s budget is considerably lower than other Multiverse Saga installments.

Captain America: Brave New World’s Budget Is Much Lower Than The Marvels And Ant-Man 3

Captain America: Brave New World’s Budget Seems Better Managed Than Previous MCU Flops

Captain America Brave New World ScreenX Art Sam Wilson and Drone Close-Up Captain America Brave New World ScreenX Art Red Hulk Close-Up Link Image Kamala Khan, Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau looking up in The Marvels Scott Lang and Cassie Lang in the Quantum Realm surrounded by fire in Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania

As reported by THR, Captain America: Brave New World‘s budget is around $180 million. This is more than $120 million less than The Marvels‘ $307.3 million and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania‘s $330 million net budgets (not counting Disney’s tax credits and reimbursements). The Marvels claimed the title of lowest-grossing MCU movie ever in 2023 with a worldwide gross of $206 million, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania got very close with $476 million worldwide.

Two weeks before its release, THR reports that early estimates predict a $90 million opening gross for Captain America: Brave New World over the 2025 Valentine’s Day & Presidents Day weekend. The Marvels broke an unfortunate Marvel record with its $46 million opening weekend, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania didn’t fare much better with a record-breaking 70% second weekend drop after its $106 million opening weekend.

Captain America: Brave New World May Not Be A Billion-Dollar Movie But It Can Still Succeed

Captain America: Brave New World Doesn’t Need To Earn As Much To Break Even

Red Hulk roaring in a field of fire next to Anthony Mackie as Cap in Captain America: Brave New World (2025)Custom Image by Lewis Glazebrook

After low lows like The Marvels and high highs like Deadpool & Wolverine, it may now be more difficult for MCU movies to reach Infinity Saga numbers such as Avengers: Infinity War‘s $2.048 billion and Avengers: Endgame‘s $2.748 billion records. Nevertheless, Captain America: Brave New World doesn’t have to match those numbers in order to be considered a successful release. Captain America: Brave New World‘s worldwide box office is on track to fall below the $1 billion mark, but with a $180 million budget, crossing the $400 million mark would ensure its profitability.

Previous Captain America movies had similar projections and results. Captain America: The First Avenger only grossed $370 million worldwide, but it had a budget of only $140 million. Captain America: The Winter Soldier‘s budget only increased to $170 million, yet it grossed $714 million worldwide. Then, Captain America: Civil War‘s budget increased a lot due to its huge cast, but its worldwide gross grew proportionately: a $1,151 box office against a $250 budget. Captain America: Brave New World could preserve these proportions in 2025.