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10 Movies To Watch if You Love 'Captain America: Brave New World'

Published 3 weeks ago11 minute read

Spoiler Alert: This list includes spoilers for multiple movies.If you’ve just seen and found yourself not getting enough of s being thrust into a world of political intrigue, you must be looking for more movies in the same vein. While with themes of corruption, trust, and power struggles, it’s part of a long tradition of thrillers that explore conspiracies and moral dilemmas on a grand scale.

We’ve rounded up ten movies that capture the same spirit as the latest . They provide . Sharp-eyed audiences may identify some elements from these movies that served as inspiration for 's first big-screen outing as an leading man.

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Captain America: Brave New World

Fourth movie in the Captain America franchise.

Superhero

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Avengers: Endgame

Kevin Feige

Marvel Studios

Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier kneeling while holding a gun in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Image via Marvel Studios

In , Steve Rogers (), now adjusting to modern life, finds himself in a web of conspiracy within S.H.I.E.L.D. when an assassin known as the Winter Soldier targets him. Joined by Natasha Romanoff () and Sam Wilson (Mackie), Rogers uncovers a sinister plot orchestrated by HYDRA, hidden within S.H.I.E.L.D. itself, as well as the truth that the Winter Soldier is his childhood friend, Bucky Barnes ().

Chances are, if you're watching the new Sam Wilson adventure, you must have seen this film. This film is practically the blueprint for Captain America: Brave New World, and it remains , balancing political intrigue with thrilling action sequences. The introduction of mirrors the dynamic between Sam and Joaquin Torres () in the new film. Much like Brave New World, . Where Sam Wilson grapples with taking on Steve's mantle in Brave New World, The Winter Soldier explores in seemingly trusted institutions and his role as a soldier.

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Captain America: The Winter Soldier

April 4, 2014

136 Minutes

As Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier.

Joe Russo, Anthony Russo

Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely

Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: Civil War, Captain America: Brave New World

Adventure

Steve Rogers / Captain America, Nick Fury, Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, Alexander Pierce, Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson / Falcon, Maria Hill, Brock Rumlow, Jasper Sitwell, Kate / Agent 13, Peggy Carter, Dr. Arnim Zola, Smithsonian Guard, Jack Rollins, Councilwoman Hawley, Councilman Singh, Councilman Rockwell, Councilman Yen, Senator Stern, Georges Batroc, French Pirate #1, French Pirate #2, Engine Pirate, French Radio Pirate, Skinny Steve, Launch Tech #1, Launch Tech #2, Dr. Fine, SHIELD Interrogator #1, SHIELD Interrogator #2, Scientist #1, Scientist #2, Apple Employee, Com Tech #1, Com Tech #2, Renata, Garcia, Charlie XO, Charlie Weapons Tech, SHIELD Tech, Lead SHIELD Pilot, Senior SHIELD Agent, SHIELD Agent, Strike SGT. #1

Will Smith and Gene Hackman talking next to satellite dishes in 'Enemy of the State'.
Image via Buena Vista Pictures

Directed by , follows Robert Clayton Dean (), a lawyer who unwittingly becomes entangled in a deadly government conspiracy. After a whistleblower slips him evidence of Dean’s life is threatened. Dean is forced to team up with a reclusive ex-intelligence operative () to expose the truth and clear his name.

, Enemy of the State revolves around , similar to Brave New World. Both films depict protagonists who must navigate webs of deceit and betrayal to expose dangerous truths while dealing with their personal vulnerabilities. With its and an intense sense of paranoia, Enemy of the State resonates as a cautionary tale about the cost of transparency and accountability—qualities that echo the political elements of the new Marvel film.

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Enemy Of The State

November 20, 1998

132 Minutes

Robert Clayton Dean, a successful lawyer, unwittingly receives evidence of a politically motivated murder. Pursued by a ruthless NSA official and his team, Dean's life is turned upside down as he becomes the target of a high-tech surveillance operation. With the help of a former intelligence operative, Dean must navigate a web of conspiracy and corruption to clear his name and bring the truth to light.

Tony Scott

David Marconi

Action

Dan Mindel

Jerry Bruckheimer

Touchstone Pictures, No Such Productions, Scott Free Productions, Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Jerry Bruckheimer Films

James E. Price

90000000.0

Touchstone Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Scott Free Productions

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7 .035

Ozymandias stands in front of Studio 54 in Watchmen.
Image via Warner Bros.

Set in an alternate 1985 where the tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union escalate toward nuclear war, follows a group of retired vigilantes as they uncover a sinister conspiracy when one of their own, The Comedian (), is murdered. The masked vigilante Rorschach () begins investigating, uncovering secrets that implicate powerful figures like the rich and resourceful Ozymandias () and the literal superhuman Doctor Manhattan ().

Captain America: Brave New World shares Watchmen's fascination with moral ambiguity and politically charged stakes, which was directly inspired by the political climate when the graphic novel was released. Both movies show how fragile peace between nations is. It takes a global catastrophe to unite the nations in Watchmen, while it takes a single misstep to turn the US and Japan to war in Brave New World. While the -directed film leans into a more cynical and , the new Marvel adventure uses its setting to make Sam Wilson settle into .

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Watchmen

March 4, 2009

163 Minutes

In a version of 1985 where superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach on the trail of a conspiracy that will change the course of history.

Zack Snyder

Alex Tse, David Hayter

Action

130000000.0

Warner Bros. Pictures, Paramount, Legendary Pictures, DC Comics, Lawrence Gordon Productions, Lloyd Levin Productions

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7 .337

Angelina Jolie as Evelyn Salt aiming a gun in Salt.
Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

follows the titular Evelyn Salt (), a CIA operative whose loyalty is thrown into question when . Forced to go on the run, Salt evades capture while trying to save her innocent husband and unraveling a web of conspiracies that links her to a covert Russian operation.

With its themes of shifting alliances and a protagonist caught in the crosshairs of political manipulation, Salt is perfect to watch if you like Captain America: Brave New World. In , Evelyn Salt's journey mirrors both Sam Wilson and arc in the Marvel film. The difference is, Salt takes everything into her own hands, clearing her name and uncovering the true masterminds of the plot. Both stories explore the weight of duty and personal sacrifice in a world rife with corruption, making Salt a thrilling companion to Captain America’s latest chapter.

Salt Movie Poster
Salt

July 23, 2010

100 Minutes

Phillip Noyce

Kurt Wimmer

$110–130 Million

Columbia Pictures

Sony

Heath Ledger's Joker sits across from Christian Bale's Batman in an interrogation room in The Dark Knight.
Image via Warner Bros. 

Directed by , follows Batman () as he faces his nemesis: the anarchic Joker (), who wreaks havoc all across Gotham City. Together with District Attorney Harvey Dent () and Commissioner Gordon (), Batman cleans up the city from mobsters, but the Joker continues his terror, testing the heroes' moral limits, which culminates in Dent's tragic transformation.

The Dark Knight thrived on its exploration of , which is a theme that Captain America: Brave New World tried to emulate. Both films center on heroes navigating crises that challenge their values and leadership. Bruce Wayne and Sam Wilson find themselves caught in manipulation and have to . Additionally, both films show how given enough pressure, with Harvey Dent paralleling the struggles of President Ross (). They also show how those characters take accountability into their own hands, albeit with different methods.

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The Dark Knight

July 16, 2008

152 minutes

When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.

Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan, Bob Kane, Jonathan Nolan, David S. Goyer

Benjamin Melniker, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Kevin De La Noy, Michael Uslan

Batman Begins

The Dark Knight Rises

Batman, DC Universe

Crime

Bruce Wayne, Joker, Harvey Dent, Alfred, Rachel, Gordon, Lucius Fox, Ramírez, Wuertz, Scarecrow, Lau, Mayor, Maroni, Chechen, Engel, Stephens, Loeb, Reese, Barbara Gordon, James Gordon, Rossi, Dopey, Happy, Grumpy, Gambol

185 Million

Warner Bros. Pictures

Warner Bros. Pictures

Morgan Freeman points to something as he and Ben Affleck stand in a surveillance room in The Sum of All Fears.
Image via Paramount Pictures

In , CIA analyst Jack Ryan () uncovers evidence of a sinister plot that threatens to push the United States and Russia to the brink of war. Working directly under CIA Director William Cabot (), behind the rising conflict before a catastrophe hits home.

Much like Captain America: Brave New World, . Both films feature protagonists caught in the middle of global political machinations, forced to act quickly to prevent a full-scale disaster. ’s role as a sharp but initially underestimated figure mirrors Sam Wilson’s rise as Captain America, who has to fill Steve Rogers' big shoes. With its grounded tone and exploration of political distrust, The Sum of All Fears offers an that audiences might crave after the latest MCU entry.

The Sum Of All Fears (2002) - Poster - Ben Affleck & Morgan Freeman
The Sum Of All Fears

May 31, 2002

124 Minutes

Phil Alden Robinson

Tom Clancy, Paul Attanasio, Daniel Pyne

Thriller

Jack Ryan, DCI William Cabot, President Fowler, John Clark, Dr. Cathy Muller, Dressler, President Nemerov, Defense Secretary Becker, Secretary of State Owens, National Security Advisor Revell, Olson, Senator Jessup, Admiral Pollack, Anatoli Grushkov, General Lasseter, Dillon, Syrian Radar Operator, Israeli Pilot, US STRATCOM Colonel, Mt. Weather General, President's Military Aide

68000000

Paramount, Mace Neufeld Productions

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6 .3

George Clooney walks away from a burning car in 'Syriana'.
Image via Warner Bros.

surrounding the world of global oil politics. From a veteran CIA operative () uncovering dangerous secrets, to an ambitious lawyer () navigating a corporate merger, an energy analyst's () business deal with an Emir, and a young Pakistani worker drawn into terrorism, the film explores how ambition and international greed collide in the pursuit of energy dominance.

Much like Captain America: Brave New World's focus on and the global tensions it sparks, Syriana delves into the lengths will go in order to secure dominance over a valuable resource. Both films explore how resource control becomes a catalyst for geopolitical conflict. In Syriana, the shadowy dealings and ruthless power plays surrounding oil display a high level of intrigue and complexity compared to the conflict for adamantium in Brave New World. If the political play for control of Celestial Island interests you, Syriana offers .

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Syriana

November 23, 2005

128 Minutes

Stephen Gaghan

Stephen Gaghan, Robert Baer

Drama

Denzel Washington as Bennett Marco in a crowd of people in 2004's The Manchurian Candidate.
Image via Paramount Pictures

, Ben Marco (), a Gulf War veteran, begins to suspect that his former platoon mate Raymond Shaw ()—now a congressman and vice-presidential candidate—has been brainwashed as part of a sinister corporate and political conspiracy. As Marco digs deeper, known as Manchurian Global.

Much like Brave New World, this remake of the 1962 classic dives into the themes of political corruption and the manipulation of public figures. Samuel Sterns’ () to create chaos mirrors the corporate-backed programming of Raymond Shaw, and both films ask how far those in power will go to maintain control. While the MCU is , The Manchurian Candidate maintains . This and the original film are must-watch movies for those interested in this aspect.

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The Manchurian Candidate

July 30, 2004

129 Minutes

In the midst of the Gulf War, soldiers are kidnapped and brainwashed for sinister purposes.

Jonathan Demme

Richard Condon, George Axelrod, Daniel Pyne, Dean Georgaris

Drama

Matt Damon as Jason Bourne stands in a crowded Waterloo Station in The Bourne Ultimatum.
Image via Universal Pictures

In , Matt Damon reprises his role as , the rogue CIA operative trying to put the final pieces to his shattered memory. In a globe-trotting chase across London and Tangier, and its successor, Blackbriar. He will stop at nothing to find out who created him and turned him into a killing machine.

The Bourne Ultimatum is akin to a grounded superhero film as Jason Bourne deploys his ability and instinct to survive and fight any assets the CIA unleashes on him. Much like Sam Wilson, Bourne . Wilson's wings and shield are simply tools to help him assume his role. . Bourne has to deal with an institution-wide conspiracy at the CIA, while Wilson has to unearth the consequences of President Ross' actions that put him in control. If in Brave New World captivate you, The Bourne Ultimatum delivers a higher dose of espionage and action.

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The Bourne Ultimatum

August 3, 2007

115 minutes

Gary Oldman threatens Harrison Ford with a gun as he holds up a phone in Air Force One.
Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

In , Harrison Ford stars as U.S. President James Marshall, when Russian terrorists hijack his plane. Refusing to leave the plane, Marshall takes matters into his own hands, facing off against the terrorists led by the ruthless Korshunov (Gary Oldman). Ford's was both a critical and commercial success during its release.

President Marshall draws some parallels to his role as President Ross in Captain America: Brave New World. In both films, , though the roles put them in different situations. In the action-hero archetype, perfect to show . Meanwhile, Ross tries to carefully navigate modern politics by ensuring successful cooperation between countries, although his questionable methods ultimately . If you like seeing Harrison Ford as the commander in chief, Air Force One is definitely your next watch.

air force one poster
Air Force One

Release Date
July 25, 1997

Runtime
124 minutes

Communist radicals hijack Air Force One with the U.S. President and his family on board. The Vice President negotiates from Washington D.C., while the President, a veteran, fights to rescue the hostages on board.

Director
Wolfgang Petersen

Writers
Andrew W. Marlowe

Budget
$85 million

Studio(s)
Columbia Pictures

Distributor(s)
Columbia Pictures

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