Captain America: The First Avenger
Paramount Pictures | Release Date: July 22, 2011 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
66
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 43 Critic Reviews
Positive:
30
Mixed:
12
Negative:
1
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
The GuardianPeter BradshawMay 7, 2016
The movie cleverly spins a meta-fictional "origin" myth for Captain America: explaining that he was in fact a propagandist comic-book superhero before becoming a real one. The final scene of the film, and Captain America's very last line, are rather brilliant – though admittedly less brilliant if their sole purpose is to set up sequels. Read full review
60
The TelegraphSukhdev SandhuMay 7, 2016
Captain America: The First Avenger is all utility. It has everything you might want from a movie of this kind — bangs, baddies, nonsensical backstories — except for the most important element of all: surprise. Read full review
60
Time Out LondonTom HuddlestonMay 7, 2016
Respect is due to Joe Johnston and his screenwriters for not only fashioning a nifty, highly entertaining slice of pulpy comic-book action, but for making this most divisive of costumed crusaders universally relatable. Read full review
60
EmpireColin KennedyJul 28, 2011
Charming, handsome and full of pep – all 70 year-old Cap lacks is a knockout blow. Still, Johnston should be saluted for old-fashioned heart in a cynical age, while Marvel should be confined to barracks for cynical marketing. Read full review
60
Time OutDavid FearJul 21, 2011
The old-fashioned vibe, in fact, does more than just distinguish the story of skinny runt turned supersoldier Steve Rogers (Evans) from every other comic-book movie out there, though its fetishization of retro-techno gizmos and getups-call it leatherbucklepunk-immensely adds to the fun. Read full review
60
MovielineStephanie ZacharekJul 21, 2011
In the end, the action sequences are just overblown and dollar-squandering, with no particular payoff in the entertainment department. The supporting actors - particularly Jones, Tucci and Luke - are the thing to watch here; they do all they can to keep the movie's gears running smoothly. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleKimberley JonesJul 28, 2011
The final conflict is so protracted as to comfortably accommodate a bathroom break. Don't worry. You won't miss anything you haven't seen before. Read full review
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Jennie PunterJul 21, 2011
Is there any doubt Evans' Captain America will do exactly what the character created 70 years ago by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby did in the comics – kick Nazi butt? The real surprise will come next year, when we get to see how the super-square Captain adapts to 21st-century life. Read full review
50
Miami HeraldRene RodriguezJul 20, 2011
Evans – always a reliably dynamic and vivacious screen presence – can't do much to bring the character to life. As far as superheroes go, Cap remains a bit of a stiff. Read full review
50
VarietyPeter DebrugeJul 20, 2011
As Marvel heroes go, Captain America must be the most vanilla of the lot. Read full review
40
Wall Street JournalJoe MorgensternJul 21, 2011
Once Captain America goes off to war in his endearingly silly suit, however, the movie starts to lose its vibe. Read full review
40
Village VoiceKarina LongworthJul 19, 2011
(A) hokey, hacky, two-hour-plus exercise in franchise transition/price gouging, complete with utterly unnecessary post-converted 3-D. Read full review
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