Common Sense Media Review
By Betsy Bozdech
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
Comic book adventure mixes patriotism, explosive action.
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Captain America: The First Avenger
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 72 parent reviews
Parents say this film offers a compelling origin story for a beloved superhero, highlighting themes of bravery and sacrifice, but it comes with substantial violence and some strong language that may not be suitable for all children. While many viewers found the acting and character portrayals excellent, opinions vary on its appropriateness for younger audiences due to intense scenes and mature themes related to war.
- violence and language
- good superhero origin
- themes of bravery
- mixed suitability for kids
- strong character portrayals
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 275 kid reviews
What's the Story?
In CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, it's 1942, and World War II is raging. Despite the fact that he's frail and asthmatic, all that Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) wants is to join the Army so he can have a chance to fight Nazis. That chance comes in the form of Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci), a scientist who's developed a special serum that turns the thin Steve into brawny Captain America. After being sidelined by Col. Chester Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones) and turned into a one-man recruiting ad/war bond salesman, Rogers gets back into the thick of things when a rescue mission uncovers intelligence about the nefarious plans of HYDRA, a Nazi experimental science division led by evil Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving). With the help of a motley crew of soldiers and lovely-and-capable Agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), Rogers focuses on stopping Schmidt before the villain can unleash his mysterious, extremely powerful super weapons on the world.
Is It Any Good?
If you crossed Raiders of the Lost Ark with Hellboy and added a dash of Pearl Harbor and director Joe Johnston's own The Rocketeer, you'd be well on your way to creating this movie. Captain America: The First Avenger is a well-paced World War II adventure with an undercurrent of sci-fi/fantasy mysticism and a hero who's very easy to root for. Rogers/Captain America is definitely a great role model, but you might find yourself wishing he had a little bit more of Wolverine or Tony Stark's snark. (The movie's a bit short on humor overall, actually; Captain America's team of soldiers provides most of the laughs, but they don't get all that much screen time.)
Speaking of Tony Stark, those who are well-versed in Marvel history will enjoy seeing Dominic Cooper as Tony's equally suave/tech-savvy father, Howard, in a supporting role. And there are plenty of other moments that fans of the comics will enjoy, too -- when pre-makeover Steve uses a garbage can lid as an impromptu defense, for instance, foreshadowing his iconic shield. All in all, Captain America: The First Avenger is an entertaining adventure but it's not the MCU's best. (Cap really comes into his own in later movies.)
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what sets Captain America: The First Avenger apart from other superhero films. How does Captain America compare to Batman? Iron Man?
At one point Steve Rogers says he doesn't want to kill anybody, but during the movie he dispatches plenty of bad guys. Was that his only option?
How does the fact that much of the movie's violence is larger than life affect its impact? How is it different watching masked human soldiers (like the HYDRA minions) get hurt than individual characters?
What did you think of the scenes where Captain America performed on stage to inspire people to buy war bonds and join the Army? What does that say about the role of celebrities in our society?
How do the characters in Captain America: The First Avenger demonstrate courage, integrity, and perseverance? Why are those important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 22, 2011
- On DVD or streaming : October 25, 2011
- Cast : Chris Evans , Hugo Weaving , Tommy Lee Jones
- Director : Joe Johnston
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Superheroes
- Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity , Perseverance
- Run time : 124 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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