Marvel 2025: Year End Review
2025 has been an interesting year for Marvel. Three movies spread out throughout the year with some highs, lows, and some “I don’t know” moments. While none of the films demand a full review, as a group they start an interesting conversation. Where is Marvel? Are they back? Have they passed their prime? And have we finally passed the experimental phase they have been in since End Game? Let’s take a look at the year and see if we can figure it out.
Anthony Mackie in Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
Captain America: Brave New World
Pros: Sam Wilson, Anthony Mackie, has been in the MCU since 2014 with a total of nine features in the MCU. Mackie has a firm grip on the character at this point, the question for everyone is, can he be Captain America. And the answer is yes. While Mackie was handed a Frankenstein script, he still was able to prove why Steve Rogers chose him to take up the mantle. Mackie conveys charm, empathy, American stubbornness, and a moral compass that drives him to do what is right even when it is hard. Mackie was able to prove that he can be Captain America. The next question is, can he lead the Avengers, or is that position going to someone else? And regrettably that is the only pro of this movie.
Cons: Bless this mess. Brave New World is a mess of half finished storylines, characters that feel out of place, and a graveyard of what should be good ideas. In other words: this movie is afraid to be anything. While not a headlining fan favorite, Sam Wilson has been in enough projects, and is secure enough in his character, that Marvel should be comfortable creating a new interesting storyline. Instead, there is a blend of Winter Soldier, Red Hulk, and a lot of therapy talk. Sam Wilson’s history is as a soldier and a therapist for veterans, and Marvel decided to make that his whole personality. Brave New World leaves audiences wanting. While not the worst film since End Game, the only thing that saves it is Anthony Mackie’s performance.
Rating: C- (D- if Anthony Mackie wasn’t in this)
Sebastian Stan, Olga Kurylenko, Hannah John-Kamen, Lewis Pullman, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, and David Harbour in Thunderbolts* (2025)
Thunderbolts*:
Pros: Thunderbolts* is truly one of the best Marvel films we have had in a while. The story feels small and grounded, with no “end of the world” stakes at every turn. And the characters feel more real than they have since Phase 1. Each character has an arch. Yelena, Florence Pugh, is struggling with her identity and role post End Game, as well as the loss of her sister. John Walker, Wyatt Russell, is dealing with the loss of his marriage, and learning how to be a team player, instead of a quarterback. Red Guardian, David Harbour, is learning how to communicate and be there for Yelena like she needs him to be, while also learning to be on a team (which he is honestly thrilled about). Each of the main characters has a reason to be there, an arch, and a conclusion. Perhaps not a “happy ending” but a glimpse of them stepping into a new chapter and learning how to grow into it.
The overall story and villain is one that is very grounded. Depression in the form of one Bob, Lewis Pullman, who’s alter ego the Sentry in the manifestation of depression who can drag people into their worst traumas and keep them there. Now, the final fight essentially is ended through the “power of friendship”, however in this story it works. As each character has to face their own trauma and insecurities throughout the film, they grow into the characters needed to help Bob defeat the Sentry, by simply being there for him and giving him the courage to fight.
Cons: Despite the great story line, characters, and better placed humor, there is only one thing holding this movie back. Bucky Barnes, Sebastian Stan, is just kind of there. His main plot point is to essentially force the Thunderbolts to come together to take on Bob. Otherwise, he has nothing to do. He doesn’t have an arc, a plan, he’s just kind of there. Now one could say, he’s had plenty of character arcs in previous films, and he is essentially the Nick Fury of the movie, and just needs to bring people together. It’s a valid argument, but also a waste of Stan’s abilities.
Rating: B+
Vanessa Kirby, Pedro Pascal, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn in Fantastic 4 First Steps (2025)
Fantastic 4 First Steps
Pros: This is easily one of the best Fantastic 4 films so far. Each character feels fleshed out, the world, which is an alternate universe, feels new and interesting, and no one feels boxed into a stereotype, as in other films. Sue Storm, Vanessa Kirby, is the leader of the team. She is self assured, empathetic, and has a love for people that makes her the heart of the team. Johnny Storm, Joseph Quinn, is no longer just the girl-crazy younger brother to Sue. Instead he is an interesting character who demonstrates a love for family, playfulness, and is a genius in his own right. While the rest of the team is trying to figure out how to fight Galactus, Ralph Ineson, Johnny decodes an alien language using a single phrase, which turns out to be the key to turning the battle in their favor. Ben Grimm, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, has a little less to do plot-wise, but shows he is the “rock” of the family. While all the other geniuses are trying to figure out how to save the world, he is there to talk with the members and get them out of their heads. He is the safe space where they can express and talk out their feelings so they can better focus on the task at hand. Reed Richards, Pedro Pascal, is the brains of the team, and is a very different Reed than we have seen before. In other films, he is the leader, self assured, outspoken, and in general the Leading Man. Pascal brings a different approach. He is quiet. A genius who spends too much time in his head and is burdened by his own genius. While the rest of the team is trying to find the positive, he is already going through millions of worse case scenarios. While a different version than we have seen before, not an unwelcome one as he shows a depth of love for Sue, his wife, that we really haven’t seen before, and a darkness, while shown only a couple of times, offering a glimpse into how this man became the same one who created the Council of Reeds, and the Time Variance Authority (TVA).
Cons: While the acting and chemistry is strong and the world is a welcome departure from what we have seen before, there is something missing. While the cast has chemistry with each other, they almost don’t have chemistry with the world. The film starts four years into their tenure as the Fantastic 4, and the film does a great job of establishing the history quickly so that we can move onto the plot. Yet something is still missing. The Fantastic 4 almost feel out of place in this world. The villain also seems too big for their first film outing. Galactus is a major player in Marvel Comics as he literally eats planets. When he shows up, it is automatically a “world ending” scenario. Would having this be a smaller film where they took on a smaller villain have been better? Perhaps a way to better establish how they work as a team and within this world, before bringing out the World Eater? Has Marvel been forced to put them in this situation because of their predicament with the Avengers movies? I’m not sure. While this was not my least favorite Marvel film of the year, it is missing something. Hopefully in their next appearance, the writers will have more time to flesh out the issue so they can come back stronger.
Ratings: C+
So who won 2025? I would say Thunderbolts*. While not a perfect movie, it was a return to form for Marvel where they told a smaller story, focused on character, and dropped the overuse of CGI. But one success does not a “we are so back” make. Marvel still had a disappointment and a middle of the road movie. While not past their prime, I do believe they are still capable of returning to form and focusing on what made them great, their characters. Now, in order for them to be truly back, I believe after Doomsday and Secret Wars they need to clear the board and start over, something they should have done after End Game. By refocusing on characters, story telling, and smaller villains, I do think they can win back audiences and move into a “Silver Age” of Marvel Films.