Episode 281 - Captain America: Brave New World
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! —the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: was it really that bad? We’re celebrating five years of cinematic redemption.
November’s here, and that means it’s time for our annual deep dive into the biggest cinematic faceplants of the year. First up, one of 2025’s superhero-sized stumbles — Captain America: Brave New World.
With Sam Wilson stepping into the shielded spotlight, the film promises a bold new chapter in the legacy of America’s most iconic hero. But behind the patriotic veneer lies a tangled web of rewrites, reshoots, and a post-production timeline that rivals a presidential campaign. Is this a gripping political thriller worthy of the Winter Soldier legacy—or a bloated blockbuster weighed down by too many cooks in the writers’ room?
As Thunderbolt Ross ascends to the presidency and global tensions simmer, Brave New World aims to blend superhero spectacle with cloak-and-dagger intrigue. But does it soar or sink?
Tune in as Troy and Brad break down the film’s ambitions, its execution, and whether Marvel’s latest gamble is a brave new triumph—or a not-so-subtle bomb. 🎧 Listen now and decide for yourself.
Captain American: Brave New World is directed by Julius Onah and stars Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Xosha Roquemore, Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford.
To celebrate the last 25 years of film, the Not A Bomb podcast is compiling a Top 25 list from the Not A Bomb community. If you would like to submit your own list, please use this form to enter your 25 choices. For a film to be eligible, it must have been released between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2025. Those are the only rules. Thank you for being a part of the community! Stay tuned for a special episode revealing the results in December. Head over to Not A Bomb 25 in 25 to fill out the form!
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