Sam Wilson, having fully embraced the mantle of Captain America, finds himself in the middle of an international incident. When newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross offers to make Captain America an official military position again, Sam discovers a nefarious global plot involving the Serpent Society and a mastermind known as The Leader. He must rally new allies and confront the terrifying power of the Red Hulk before the world is plunged into chaos.
Information |
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Language |
English |
Country |
United States |
Premiere date |
February 14, 2025 |
Running time |
118 minutes |
Genre |
Action Adventure Sci-Fi Thriller |
Budget |
$350,000,000 |
Box Office |
TBD |
Crew |
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Directed by |
Julius Onah |
Produced by |
Kevin Feige Nate Moore |
Written by |
Malcolm Spellman Dalan Musson Matthew Orton |
Music by |
Laura Karpman |
Cinematography |
Kramer Morgenthau |
Edited by |
Matthew Schmidt |
Production Co. |
Marvel Studios |
Distributed by |
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
Top Cast |
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Official Trailer |
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Movie Collection |
Movie Order: #04 in Captain America Collection
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The Plot
The Serpent and the Star-Spangled Man
Sixteen years after the devastating Duel of Harlem, newly elected United States President Thaddeus Ross delivers a victory speech in 2026 that seeks to bury his controversial past, promising a new era of cooperative solutions to global threats. By 2027, this initiative takes physical form in Oaxaca, Mexico, where Sam Wilson—now fully established as Captain America—and Lieutenant Joaquín Torres, wielding the mantle of Falcon, embark on a covert mission. Their objective is to intercept an illegal sale of adamantium orchestrated by the criminal organization SERPENT. While Navy SEALs move to secure the volatile metal, Captain America storms the historic Catedral de Santo Ramos. Inside, he navigates a tense hostage crisis orchestrated by SERPENT's leader, Seth Voelker, codenamed Sidewinder, who is violently coercing hostages to reveal the location of the organization's mysterious buyer.
As the operation devolves into chaos, Falcon executes a high-speed interception of SERPENT's escape attempt, successfully retrieving the stolen canister containing the adamantium. Simultaneously, Captain America engages in close-quarters combat with the lethal SERPENT enforcer, Copperhead. Following the mission's success, the political landscape shifts back to Washington. Visiting his late wife's grave, President Ross confides in his Head of Security, Leila Taylor, revealing a deep insecurity: his estranged daughter, Betty, doubts his capacity for genuine reform. Ross grimly notes that his first hundred days in office will define his true legacy.
Shadows of the Super Soldier
In the aftermath of the Mexico operation, Torres approaches Wilson with a request for advanced training, eager to live up to the Falcon mantle. This leads them to a somber session in Baltimore, Maryland, with the legendary Isaiah Bradley. The atmosphere tenses when Wilson receives a call from President Ross; Bradley, disillusioned by the government, exits the room immediately. Later, Bradley admits to Wilson that he feels a profound unease seeing a black man offer loyalty to a man like Ross. Wilson, steadfast in his convictions, reassures Bradley that the integrity of the Captain America title remains independent of the office of the President, and that Leila Taylor acts as a trustworthy emotional buffer and monitor for Ross. Wilson then reveals that Ross has invited him to a summit at the White House—an invitation that has also been extended to, and surprisingly accepted by, Bradley.
The White House Summit
Arriving at the White House, Wilson meets President Ross in the Blue Room. Here, Ross unveils an ambitious agenda: the reformation of the Avengers. He argues that despite his previous enforcement of the Sokovia Accords in 2016, the team is now essential for global stability. The summit proceeds with a photo opportunity involving Japanese Prime Minister Ozaki. Addressing the geopolitical tension surrounding the adamantium sample recently recovered from the petrified Celestial Island (Tiamut) in the Indian Ocean, Ross proposes a historic treaty to regulate the mining and distribution of the metal.
The diplomatic atmosphere is shattered when Isaiah Bradley suddenly enters a trance-like state. Without warning, he attempts to assassinate President Ross, throwing the room into chaos. Confused and disoriented immediately after the act, Bradley flees toward Pershing Park but is quickly apprehended and arrested. In the wake of the attack, Wilson confronts Ross and his security advisor, Ruth Bat-Seraph. He demands permission to lead the investigation into Bradley's anomaly. When Ross orders him to stand down, Wilson chooses to ignore the President's command, pursuing the truth despite Leila Taylor's attempts to reason with him.
The Mind Control Conspiracy
Wilson visits the incarcerated Isaiah Bradley at Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling. A desperate Bradley pleads with Sam to stay out of the investigation, fearing for his safety. Ignoring the warning, Wilson contacts Torres, who analyzes the CCTV footage from the White House attack. They discover a critical anomaly: the phones of the assassins emitted a specific sequence of flashing lights just before they attacked, suggesting technological mind control. Independently, Ruth Bat-Seraph comes to the same conclusion. Wilson deduces that SERPENT's elusive buyer is the architect behind these events.
While investigating, Wilson is ambushed by Sidewinder, who reveals he was promised double his usual pay to eliminate Captain America. A brutal fight ensues, ending with Wilson defeating the mercenary. Immediately after the brawl, Wilson answers a call on Sidewinder’s phone. It is the buyer, who coolly congratulates Wilson on his survival while issuing a grim warning about the events to come. Meanwhile, at the White House, Ross engages in damage control, reassuring Prime Minister Kapur and the French President that Japan will remain a signatory to the adamantium treaty.
The Leader Returns
Wilson and Torres trace the signal from Sidewinder's last call to Camp Echo One, a military prison in Green Bank, West Virginia. Elsewhere, the conspiracy tightens as Ruth Bat-Seraph fails to prevent the suicide of Sergeant Frank Payumo, who kills the other detained assassins before taking his own life to protect the secret. En route to Tokyo, President Ross has a terrifying epiphany: SERPENT's buyer is Samuel Sterns, the brilliant cellular biologist he imprisoned following the Duel of Harlem sixteen years ago. Sterns, now fully evolved into "The Leader," vows to dismantle Ross's legacy piece by piece.
As Bat-Seraph transfers Bradley to solitary confinement for his protection, Wilson and Torres infiltrate Camp Echo One. They discover a hidden laboratory containing pills prescribed specifically to Ross. With the evidence of mind control undeniable, Samuel Sterns reveals himself to the heroes. He denies that his primary goal was simply to kill Ross; instead, he reveals that exposure to Bruce Banner’s irradiated blood altered his brain structure, expanding his intellect. He claims he has been secretly solving Ross's strategic dilemmas for sixteen years. Sterns then makes his escape, unleashing a squad of brainwashed soldiers on Wilson and Torres. With timely assistance from Bat-Seraph, the duo defeats the soldiers and proceeds to a training facility in Norfolk, Virginia, where Sidewinder is being detained.
Crisis at Celestial Island
President Ross travels to Celestial Island aboard the USS Milius, flanked by Japanese warships, desperate to secure the adamantium cache before international relations collapse. In Norfolk, Sidewinder informs Wilson of Sterns' true endgame: to incite a catastrophic war between the U.S. and Japan and destroy Ross's reputation. Wilson’s military ally, Dennis Dunphy, warns him of the escalating naval presence. Captain America and Falcon suit up, flying toward the Indian Ocean to intercept the fleet.
Wilson contacts Ross, informing him of Sterns' ability to control minds. Under pressure, Wilson forces Ross to admit the nature of his relationship with the villain. According to Sterns' files, the President repeatedly visited the prison because Sterns had developed pills capable of prolonging Ross's failing health. In exchange, Ross promised Sterns his freedom but kept him incarcerated to leverage the treatment, terrifyingly motivated by the desire to live long enough to reconcile with his daughter, Betty. The fragile peace shatters when Sterns activates a brainwashed U.S. Navy pilot, who fires upon Japanese jets. Captain America and Falcon dive into the aerial dogfight, neutralizing the rogue pilots while pleading with the Japanese forces to stand down. Tragically, Falcon is shot down by a rogue fighter, though Captain America manages to save the situation. Amidst the chaos, Sterns taunts Ross, revealing that the life-saving pills were actually poisoned.
The Red Hulk Rises
Following the battle, Torres is hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where Wilson is comforted by his old friend Bucky Barnes. Meanwhile, Ross returns to Washington, D.C., organizing a press conference where he intends to finally meet Betty. However, Sterns hijacks the event. Having prevented Dunphy from warning Wilson that the pills contain gamma radiation, Sterns leaks the audio of his compromising phone call with Ross to the world. Wilson rushes to the conference but is intercepted by Sterns, leading to a philosophical wager on whether Ross can truly change.
Cornered by reporters and unable to explain his secret dealings, Ross is overcome by rage and the gamma-irradiated poison in his system. In a shocking display of power, he transforms into the Red Hulk, his massive form tearing through the White House. Captain America engages the beast, luring him to East Potomac Park to minimize civilian casualties. Wilson attempts to reach the man inside the monster, invoking memories of Ross's walks with Betty, but the Red Hulk remains unfazed and continues the assault. Utilizing his Vibranium wings to their limit, Captain America subdues the behemoth, only for Red Hulk to rise from the debris. In a final stand, Captain America stops fighting and acknowledges Ross’s deep-seated desire to improve himself. This act of empathy pierces the rage; Red Hulk calms, proving his humanity to the world by reverting to his human form.
A New World Order
With the truth revealed, the treaty—now named the Ozaki-Ross Accords—is ratified by the United Nations, and Isaiah Bradley is fully exonerated. Wilson visits Thaddeus Ross, who has resigned the presidency and is now imprisoned at the Raft. Ross questions why Wilson would visit him given their ideological differences. Wilson simply replies that they must strive to see the good in each other, leaving the room to allow Betty to finally speak with her father.
Back at the hospital, a recovering Torres apologizes to Wilson for his perceived failure during the mission, noting how Wilson always maintains his focus under fire. Wilson admits that his focus is born of immense pressure. Inspired, Torres replies that he wants to feel that same strain and responsibility, aspiring to be just like his mentor. Wilson assures him he will need his wings again soon. Excited, Torres facetiously suggests it’s time for an upgrade from the Wakandan Design Group.
The Leader's Warning
In the final chapter of the saga, Wilson returns to the Raft to confront Samuel Sterns. Wilson quips that he won their bet regarding Ross's ability to change, but Sterns remains unimpressed. The villain notes that he and the Captain do not share the same sense of humor. However, Sterns chillingly observes that they do share the same world—a world he claims Wilson would die to protect. Sterns leaves Wilson with an ominous prophecy, warning that a highly probable threat from worlds beyond theirs is looming. He settles into his cell, curiously awaiting how Captain America will respond when that time comes.
