A Year of Superhero Films in 2025
The year 2025 proved to be a significant one for superhero movies, with several highly anticipated releases that captivated audiences and critics alike. The year began with the debut of Captain America: Brave New World, followed by Thunderbolts and Superman during the summer months. As the superhero season comes to an end, the final release of the year, Fantastic Four: First Steps, is set to take its place in the lineup. With all the critical reviews now available, it’s clear that 2025 was a strong year overall for superhero films.
Most of the movies received positive feedback from both fans and critics, even if not all achieved massive box office success. However, one film stood out as an exception—Captain America: Brave New World. Critics gave it a low score of just 46%, while audiences were more forgiving, giving it a 75% approval rating. Reviews were mixed, with many critics divided on the story, its connections to other Marvel projects, and the special effects.
Despite this, the performances of actors like Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford were widely praised. The critics’ consensus noted, “Anthony Mackie capably takes up Cap's mantle and shield, but Brave New World is too routine and overstuffed with uninteresting Easter eggs to feel like a worthy standalone adventure for this new Avengers leader.” Metacritic awarded the film a score of 42 out of 100, indicating average reviews at best. CinemaScore reported that audiences gave it a "B–", the lowest grade ever for an MCU film, while PostTrak described it as a “mixed bag.”
Superman: A Standout Success
In third place, Superman performed exceptionally well. Critics gave it an 83% approval rating, and audiences loved it even more, scoring it 92%. The general sentiment among reviewers was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the movie for creating a fresh world while keeping Superman’s heart and humanity front and center.
The critics’ consensus stated, “Pulling off the heroic feat of fleshing out a dynamic new world while putting its champion's big, beating heart front and center, this Superman flies high as a Man of Tomorrow grounded in the here and now.” Metacritic scored the film 68 out of 100, reflecting generally favorable reviews. Audience ratings from CinemaScore gave it an "A−," matching the score of Man of Steel. PostTrak found that 86% of viewers liked it, and 74% said they would definitely recommend it.
Fantastic Four: First Steps
While Fantastic Four: First Steps has not yet been released, the review embargo has lifted, and critics are sharing their thoughts. So far, the movie holds an 86% score based on over 130 reviews, although the audience score is still pending. Critics have praised the film’s cast chemistry and its cool 1960s vibe. The consensus on Rotten Tomatoes states, “does Marvel’s First Family justice.” Metacritic gave it a 64 out of 100, signaling generally positive reviews.
Thunderbolts: The Top-Rated Film
The top-rated superhero movie of 2025 is Thunderbolts, with an 88% critics score and a 93% audience approval rating. The film gathered praise for assembling a team of underdog characters, led by Florence Pugh’s standout performance. Critics called it a refreshing return to the classic MCU style. Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus says, “Assembling a ragtag band of underdogs with Florence Pugh as their magnetic standout, Thunderbolts refreshingly goes back to the tried-and-true blueprint of the MCU's best adventures.”
Metacritic gave it a 68 out of 100. CinemaScore audiences gave it an "A−," while PostTrak reported 4.5 out of 5 stars, with 74% saying they would recommend the movie. Despite the positive reviews, Thunderbolts struggled at the box office. By mid-July 2025, it had made about $382 million worldwide, which is low for an MCU film. According to Variety, the film needed to earn $425 million globally just to break even. Marvel boss Kevin Feige explained that the movie’s poor box office was partly because people thought they needed to watch a lot of other content to understand it, which wasn’t true.
Conclusion
Overall, 2025 was a strong year for superhero films, with good stories and performances that kept fans engaged. While some movies didn’t achieve financial success, the quality of the storytelling and acting ensured that the year remained memorable for fans of the genre.
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