Captain America: Civil War

Following a high risk operation that tests the team's limits, governments push through a global plan to regulate all superhuman activity. The move sets off a fierce debate about liability, oversight, and freedom, and it fractures the Avengers as allies split over how to respond. Some argue that accountability is necessary to protect civilians, while others insist that protective instincts and trust in their own judgment must guide them. The resulting tensions spill into every mission, turning collaboration into suspicion and complicating dangerous assignments. With allies pressed into uneasy positions, the story foregrounds loyalty, personal history, and the cost of fighting for a world that demands instant answers. The film also juggles humor and gravity, creating another layer of complexity.

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo with a screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, entry leans on Marvel Comics characters created by Joe Simon and serves as a turning point for MCU's ensemble, balancing intimate drama with set pieces.

Worldwide, the film grossed about 1,155,046,416 against a reported budget of 250 million, underscoring its status as a major box office triumph and a milestone in the Marvel Cinematic Universe lineage. Its success also spurred cross franchise tie ins globally.

Civil War reshaped the MCU's cultural landscape by bringing Spider-Man and Black Panther into the main continuity, expanding the universe's reach and tone. It popularized ideas about accountability and governance in superhero storytelling, and its action set pieces sparked enduring fan debates and memorable behind the scenes moments globally online.

Critics generally praised the film for balancing large scale action with character driven conflict and for expanding the arc of its core players. Some noted a brisk pace and sharper moral questions, while a minority criticized the plot's complexity. Its tonal shifts sparked debate about how action franchises handle ethics.