Captain America: Civil War
Movie, 2016, Phase 3, Set in 2016
Captain America: Civil War is #15 of 69 in release order and #16 of 69 in chronological order in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The story
Following the events of Age of Ultron, the collective governments of the world pass an act designed to regulate all superhuman activity. This polarizes opinion amongst the Avengers, causing two factions to side with Iron Man or Captain America, which causes an epic battle between former allies.
Captain America: Civil War recap
A mission in Lagos led by Steve Rogers ends with Wanda Maximoff accidentally killing civilians, and the United Nations responds with the Sokovia Accords, which would put the Avengers under UN control. Tony Stark, shaken by Sokovia, supports them; Steve refuses. A bombing at the signing in Vienna kills King T'Chaka of Wakanda and is blamed on Bucky Barnes. His son T'Challa, the Black Panther, hunts Bucky, and Steve gets to Bucky first. Helmut Zemo, a Sokovian who lost his family in the Ultron battle, triggers Bucky's Hydra programming using a set of code words. Learning that Zemo is headed to a Hydra base in Siberia where other Winter Soldiers are kept, Steve recruits Sam, Wanda, Clint and Scott Lang. Tony's side, with Natasha, Rhodes, Vision, T'Challa and a teenage Peter Parker, fights them at a German airport. Rhodes is paralysed in the battle.
Captain America: Civil War ending explained
In Siberia, Zemo has killed the other soldiers and shows Tony footage of Bucky murdering Tony's parents in 1991. Tony attacks Bucky, and Steve fights Tony, disabling his suit before leaving his shield behind. T'Challa stops Zemo from killing himself and hands him over. Steve breaks his allies out of the Raft prison and sends Tony a letter and a phone in case he is ever needed.
Post-credits scenes
Yes. In the mid-credits scene, Bucky chooses to go back into cryosleep in Wakanda until his programming can be removed, with T'Challa's protection. In the post-credits scene, Peter Parker, home in Queens, finds that a Stark gadget in his web-shooter projects a spider signal.
Where to watch Captain America: Civil War
Captain America: Civil War is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.8/10, Rotten Tomatoes 90%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Marvel's Jessica Jones, before Marvel's Luke Cage.
- Chronological order: after Ant-Man, before Black Widow.
What to watch before Captain America: Civil War
In release order, 11 Marvel Cinematic Universe essentials come before Captain America: Civil War (2016), from Iron Man (2008) to Ant-Man (2015).
Cast
- Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America
- Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man
- Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow
- Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier
- Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Falcon
- Don Cheadle as Lieutenant James Rhodes / War Machine
- Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye
- Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther
- Paul Bettany as Vision
- Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch
- Paul Rudd as Scott Lang / Ant-Man
- Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter
Directed by Joe Russo, Anthony Russo.