Captain America: Civil War
The third installment in the Captain America trilogy, Captain America: Civil War, is a 2016 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. The film is directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, and stars Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America, alongside Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Falcon, Don Cheadle as James Rhodes / War Machine, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye, Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther, Paul Rudd as Scott Lang / Ant-Man, Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter, Daniel Brühl as Helmut Zemo, and William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross. In the film, Rogers and Stark clash over the government's decision to regulate superheroes, leading to a rift between the Avengers.
The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $1.15 billion worldwide against a production budget of $250 million. It was the highest-grossing film of 2016, the highest-grossing film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the highest-grossing superhero film of all time until it was surpassed by Avengers: Infinity War in 2018. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects.
Plot
Following the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, the Avengers are divided over the government's decision to regulate superheroes. Tony Stark, who believes that the Avengers need to be accountable for their actions, supports the Sokovia Accords, while Steve Rogers, who believes that the Avengers should be free to operate without government interference, opposes the Accords. The rift between the Avengers leads to a civil war, with Rogers and his allies, including Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, and Clint Barton, fighting against Stark and his allies, including Natasha Romanoff, James Rhodes, Vision, and Black Panther.
The civil war between the Avengers culminates in a battle at the Leipzig/Halle Airport, where Rogers and Stark fight each other to a standstill. Rogers is ultimately able to defeat Stark, but he spares his life. Rogers and his allies then go on the run, while Stark and his allies are left to pick up the pieces of the broken Avengers.
Themes
Captain America: Civil War explores several themes, including the nature of heroism, the role of government oversight, and the importance of personal freedom. The film also delves into the complex relationship between Rogers and Stark, who have been friends and allies for years, but who now find themselves on opposite sides of a conflict.
Critical reception
Captain America: Civil War received positive reviews from critics, with many praising the film's action sequences, performances, and story. The film was also praised for its exploration of complex themes, such as the nature of heroism and the role of government oversight.
Box office performance
Captain America: Civil War was a commercial success, grossing over $1.15 billion worldwide against a production budget of $250 million. It was the highest-grossing film of 2016, the highest-grossing film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the highest-grossing superhero film of all time until it was surpassed by Avengers: Infinity War in 2018.
Academy Award nomination
Captain America: Civil War received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects. The film's visual effects were praised for their realism and their contribution to the film's action sequences.
Legacy
Captain America: Civil War is considered to be one of the best films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film's critical and commercial success helped to solidify the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a major force in the film industry. The film also had a significant impact on the superhero genre, as it helped to popularize the idea of superhero films that explore complex themes and feature morally ambiguous characters.
