Though Captain America: Brave New World is the fourth installment of the beloved titular film series, the superhero blockbuster's events tie in with one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first movies, The Incredible Hulk. As the latest Captain America entry seeks profitability, it surpasses its spiritual prequel at the global box office.

Via Collider, Brave New World, which has madeworldwide since its Feb. 14 release, has outearned The Incredible Hulk's tally following its 2008 release. Brave New World, which recently helped the Captain America film series pass $2.5 billion in ticket sales globally, is expected to surpass the $300 million mark in the next few days, with box-office projections claiming the Anthony Mackie-led effort will make around $14 million during its third weekend.

Brave New World reportedly needs to topple $400 million to break even, having been made on a $180 million budget. However, the film has seen a significant dropoff at the box office from a respectable $88 million domestic opening, with its second-weekend tally dropping 68% from the first. The Incredible Hulk, the MCU's second-ever film, was similarly disappointing during its theatrical run. It failed to build on its chart-topping $55 million domestic opening and finished with a modest return on its reported $150 million budget.

Though Brave New World isn't a direct follow-up to The Incredible Hulk, the films are intertwined considering the connections involving U.S. President Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross/Red Hulk (Harrison Ford) and his estranged daughter, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler). Brave New World marked the first time the father-daughter duo interacted since The Incredible Hulk, with Betty still upset at her dad for chasing Bruce Banner/Hulk in the film. Brave New World director Julius Onah touched on Betty's importance to the film, suggesting that her father became president to prove he was a different man from the one his daughter knew and make things right with her.

Tyler expressed how glad she was to return to the MCU, calling Brave New World the "perfect" way to return to the cinematic universe after her extended hiatus. She stars in the film alongside her fellow The Incredible Hulk alum, Tim Blake Nelson (Samuel Sterns/Leader). Despite Betty's inclusion and the featuring of several Hulk villains, some have bemoaned the absence of Banner in the Captain America sequel, believing it was a big missed opportunity. Hulk has only been seen once in the MCU since Avengers: Endgame, in the short-lived Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

Brave New World is the first film featuring Mackie's Sam Wilson as Captain America. The movie sees him don the famous red, white and blue attire to try and figure out a conspiracy against President Ross, though he must do so without superpowers. The sequel also features Danny Ramirez (Joaquin Torres/Falcon), Carl Lumbly (Isaiah Bradley) and Giancarlo Esposito (Seth Voelker/Sidewinder).

Brave New World is now showing in theaters across North America.

Source: Collider