So, you’re sitting there wondering exactly how many Captain America films are there. It seems like a simple question. You count the ones with Chris Evans' face on the poster, maybe add the new Anthony Mackie one, and call it a day, right? Not really. Honestly, the answer is a bit of a mess depending on how deep you want to go into the rabbit hole of Marvel history.
If we’re just talking about the big, shiny Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies where a guy named Captain America is the main character, the number is four. But that’s barely scratching the surface of what’s actually out there.
The Core MCU Tetralogy
Most people are looking for the modern era. We had the Steve Rogers trilogy, which basically redefined how people saw the character. Before 2011, Cap was often seen as a cheesy, outdated relic. Chris Evans changed that.
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011): The origin story. It’s a period piece set in WWII.
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014): Widely considered one of the best MCU movies, period. It’s more of a political thriller than a superhero flick.
- Captain America: Civil War (2016): Basically Avengers 2.5. It features almost everyone, but it’s technically a Cap movie because the emotional core is Steve Rogers’ refusal to sign the Sokovia Accords.
- Captain America: Brave New World (2025): The new era. Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson takes over the mantle. It hit theaters on February 14, 2025, and introduced Harrison Ford as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (who eventually goes full Red Hulk).
That’s the "official" list. But if you stop there, you’re missing a huge chunk of the story.
The Ensemble "Secret" Cap Movies
You can't really understand Steve Rogers' journey without the Avengers films. In these movies, he isn't just a side character; he’s the leader. He has as much screen time here as he does in his solo outings.
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There are four of these:
- The Avengers (2012)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
If you add these to the solo films, the count jumps to eight. For most fans, this is the "real" number of movies you need to watch to see the full arc of the Star-Spangled Avenger.
The Weird, Forgotten History
Now, if you want to be a completionist, things get weird. Captain America has been around since 1941, and filmmakers have been trying to make him work on screen for a long time. Most of these attempts were... well, they were bad.
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Back in 1944, there was a 15-chapter serial from Republic Pictures. It wasn't even about Steve Rogers. The hero was a District Attorney named Grant Gardner. He didn't have a shield. He used a gun. It’s barely recognizable as Captain America, but it exists.
Then you’ve got the 1970s. We got two made-for-TV movies starring Reb Brown: Captain America (1979) and Captain America II: Death Too Soon (1979). He wore a motorcycle helmet and rode a bike with a transparent shield. It’s peak 70s cheese.
And we can’t forget the 1990 Captain America movie. Matt Salinger played Steve Rogers. It was meant for theaters but mostly went straight to video in the States. It’s famous for Cap faking being sick to steal a car from a civilian. Multiple times. It’s a trip.
The Cameo Count
Chris Evans was the king of the "blink and you'll miss it" appearance. If you count every time he popped up in a costume for 30 seconds, the list grows even more.
- Thor: The Dark World (2013): Loki transforms into Cap to tease Thor.
- Ant-Man (2015): A post-credits scene that was actually footage from Civil War.
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017): Those hilarious "So, you got detention" PSA videos.
- Captain Marvel (2019): A mid-credits scene where the Avengers meet Carol Danvers for the first time.
Putting It All Together: The Final Tally
So, let's settle this. How many Captain America films are there?
- Solo MCU Movies: 4 (First Avenger, Winter Soldier, Civil War, Brave New World)
- Avengers Ensemble Movies: 4 (Avengers, Age of Ultron, Infinity War, Endgame)
- Pre-MCU Movies/Serials: 4 (1944 Serial, 1979 TV Movie 1, 1979 TV Movie 2, 1990 Feature)
- Cameos: 4 (Thor 2, Ant-Man, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel)
If you’re counting "movies featuring Captain America in some capacity," you’re looking at 16 different live-action projects.
If you just want the story of the shield, stick to the 8 MCU appearances (plus the Falcon and the Winter Soldier series on Disney+, which is basically a six-hour movie that bridges the gap between Steve and Sam).
The most recent addition, Brave New World, is a bit of a turning point. It’s the first time we’ve seen a Cap film without Steve Rogers, and it deals heavily with the fallout of the Eternals (specifically that giant Celestial sticking out of the ocean). It’s also notable for being one of the more expensive entries, with a budget reportedly around $180 million and significant reshoots to get the tone right.
What to do next
If you're planning a marathon, don't just watch the ones with "Captain America" in the title. You'll be totally lost. Start with The First Avenger, then go straight to The Avengers. Follow the release order rather than the chronological timeline for your first watch; the emotional beats land way better that way. Also, keep an eye out for Avengers: Doomsday in 2026, as Sam Wilson is expected to lead a new iteration of the team there.