10 Years Ago, Captain America: Civil War Changed The MCU Forever (While Also Dooming It) – SlashFilm

It is Might 6, 2026, as I write this. “Captain America: Civil War” got here out 10 years in the past. I really feel outdated. I keep in mind the awe of watching “Iron Man” in a garden chair at a drive-in in Upstate New York as a highschool graduate. I additionally snuck away from my 4 children and spouse final summer time to observe “The Unbelievable 4: First Steps” on opening weekend. I’ve seen all of it unfold in actual time, and there is one film I maintain going again to because the crux of the complete Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline: “Captain America: Civil War.”

I did not all the time assume that. I used to assume Steve Rogers’ third movie was little greater than high-notch MCU eye sweet. Only a money seize designed to look enjoyable on display screen. In distinction, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” was (and remains to be) my favourite MCU movie — and I am not alone in rating that Marvel film so excessive. It is targeted, reined in, and beautifully assured from starting to finish. When “Civil War” adopted, I used to be type of disillusioned. I felt like we might traded in an intentional narrative for a sprawling ensemble story that, for all intents and functions, was “Avengers: 2.5.” On the floor, it was an over-the-high smorgasbord of heroes combating one another. Enjoyable. Okay, can we get again to the meat and potatoes, please?

However I maintain going again to this one, and over time, I’ve achieved an entire 180. People, this is not simply extra vital than motion hero fluff. It’s the chokepoint. It is the bottleneck. It is the nexus of the complete MCU expertise. All the pieces builds as much as this film, and afterward, all the pieces flows out from it … for higher or for worse, given the dire straits that the franchise at massive presently finds itself in.

Earlier than “Captain America: Civil War,” the MCU was regular and predictable. Section One launched main characters, together with the unique six Avengers, and introduced them collectively of their first titular crossover movie. Section Two then expanded storylines and introduced in some new faces, like Ant-Man and the Guardians of the Galaxy. It was larger, interconnected, and clearly constructing towards one thing, however aside from the 2 “Avengers” motion pictures, all the pieces felt extra prefer it was sharing a universe, not actively intertwined. We knew Thanos was coming, however he was nonetheless barely noticeable to informal followers.

Then, Section Three began with “Captain America: Civil War,” and all the pieces modified. At first look, it was simply one other “Avengers” crossover try to promote tickets. In actuality, the complete tone shifted as this a part of Steve Rogers’ story was utterly co-opted by the larger MCU narrative. Rogers has his private struggles within the film, however these mix in with a bigger MCU story that’s so vital at this level that it could not await the subsequent “Avengers” movie to be informed. This was the giveaway: The sacrifice of the fast plot for the bigger narrative. It is so obvious that it even pulls in characters like Black Panther and Spider-Man earlier than their very own solo movies got here out. The larger story in “Civil War” is not an entertaining aspect be aware. Just like the (on the time) impending Thanos, it is large and its inevitable. It needed to occur proper there within the timeline.

If you step again, all the pieces led to that second. It is the place all the pieces begins to essentially movement collectively for the MCU. It is after this level that each film and TV present within the property turned extra vital within the context of the bigger story, finish-credit scenes and all.

10 years in the past, I used to be a good-climate MCU fan. I watched some motion pictures in theaters, caught others at dwelling, and even skipped some. After “Captain America: Civil War” got here out, that every one modified. I nonetheless keep in mind a buddy who noticed it earlier than me saying she had cried. That obtained my consideration. After that, I went again, rewatched all the pieces, and began connecting the entire dots. I caught each MCU film in theaters, even when it had dangerous critiques. And I (and the remainder of Marvel fandom) had been richly rewarded as we skilled the remainder of Section Three by means of its crescendo of “Infinity War” and “Endgame.”

The momentum wasn’t all good, although. By the point Section Three ended, the “Civil War” impressed fan focus was at a fevered pitch, however the Thanos storyline was achieved, and the unique Avengers had been no extra. After that, Section 4 obtained misplaced within the weeds attempting to determine the multiverse, whereas Section 5 misplaced the plot (and the viewers) completely with too many characters and storylines going nowhere (partly because of the scrapped plans for Kang the Conqueror).

Then, Section Six launched with “The Unbelievable 4: First Steps.” Here is the place I am beginning to really feel hopeful once more. I get that the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” feels to some like a stretch. Bringing everybody again collectively once more appears to be like so much like a desperation transfer. However it additionally goes again to that “Captain America: Civil War” script. If the film feels extra like an inevitable storyline, and never a pressured crossover, there’s an opportunity that Marvel boss Kevin Feige and firm can recapture the magic. And if they can not? I feel it’s going to be proof that the previous was lightning in a bottle — and “Civil War” was the factor that made it attainable.