- PG-13
- 2h 16m
- Directed by
-
- Joe Russo
- Screenplay
- Christopher Markus
- Premiered
- March 20, 2014
- Language
-
- English
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $170,000,000.00
- Revenue
- $714,766,572.00
- Awards
-
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. 5 wins & 52 nominations total
- Country
-
- United States of America
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Production
-
- Marvel Studios
Spoiler
In the wake of the earth-shattering events of New York, Steve Rogers, the indomitable Captain America, finds himself navigating the complexities of the 21st century. Living a relatively quiet existence in Washington, D.C., Steve grapples with adjusting to a world vastly different from the one he left behind. His early days are marked by a friendly rivalry with Sam Wilson, a fellow war veteran and a skilled pilot, who playfully outpaces him during a jog. Sam, recognizing Steve's need to catch up on decades of cultural evolution, suggests a deep dive into the sounds of Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man" soundtrack, alongside iconic cinematic milestones like "Star Wars," "Star Trek," and the "Rocky" saga. This period of adjustment is abruptly interrupted when Natasha Romanoff, the formidable Black Widow, arrives to enlist their aid.
Their first mission together takes them over the Indian Ocean, where a S.H.I.E.L.D. vessel, the Lemurian Star, has been commandeered by a band of pirates led by the formidable Georges Batroc. With hostages, including Agent Jasper Sitwell, held captive, Captain America, clad in his iconic uniform, makes a daring parachute-less dive from a S.H.I.E.L.D. jet. He single-handedly infiltrates the ship, engaging and incapacitating the pirate threat. Black Widow and other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents join the fray, securing the hostages. Batroc, attempting to escape, is confronted by Captain America. Their ensuing duel on the ship's deck is a testament to Batroc's resilience, as he quickly recovers from Captain America's initial takedowns. Batroc's taunt, questioning Captain America's reliance on his persona, prompts Steve to reveal his unmasked face, declaring his intention to prove his mettle beyond the mask. He ultimately defeats Batroc with a decisive shield strike.
Following the successful rescue, Steve discovers Natasha covertly extracting data from the ship's computer using a S.H.I.E.L.D. flash drive, a task outside their official mission parameters. Their confrontation is interrupted by a grenade thrown by a fleeing pirate. Steve’s quick reflexes save them both as they escape through a window just before the explosion.
The narrative then shifts to S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, the Triskelion, where Steve confronts Director Nick Fury about Natasha's clandestine operation. Fury, anticipating Steve's reservations, explains that he entrusted the task to Natasha. He imparts a crucial lesson: in this new world, trust is a rare commodity, and even those closest to you may harbor hidden agendas. Fury then escorts Steve to the underground levels, revealing Project Insight: a fleet of three advanced Helicarriers designed to preemptively neutralize terrorist threats using a global network of spy satellites. While Fury frames it as a necessary measure following the events in New York, Steve views it as an overly aggressive approach to security, a sentiment Fury urges him to set aside.
Seeking solace and a deeper understanding of his place in this new era, Steve visits the Smithsonian Museum, where an exhibit is dedicated to his legacy as Captain America. A young admirer recognizes him, but wisely keeps his secret. Among the displays, Steve is confronted by the memory of his fallen comrade, Bucky Barnes, whose commando squad uniform is prominently featured. He also witnesses a poignant video of his former love, Peggy Carter, commemorating his wartime heroism. Later, he visits an elderly Peggy, now married with a family. Though she initially seems to recognize him, her memory falters, and she believes she is seeing him for the first time since his disappearance during the war, expressing shock at his survival. Steve, with a heavy heart, offers a tender reassurance, "I couldn't leave my best girl. Not when she owes me a dance."
Meanwhile, Fury attempts to access the sensitive files Natasha retrieved, only to be thwarted by a security protocol he himself implemented. He seeks out Secretary Alexander Pierce, who is meeting with the World Security Council regarding the Lemurian Star incident. Fury advocates for delaying Project Insight, a request Pierce seemingly grants, though he playfully suggests Fury should have Iron Man attend his niece's birthday party.
Steve finds Sam Wilson leading a support group for veterans grappling with PTSD. Sam shares the profound loss of his friend Riley, shot down by an RPG, yet his passion for flying remains undimmed. He poses a question to Steve: what truly brings him happiness? Steve, adrift in his own existential questioning, admits he doesn't know.
Fury's life takes a perilous turn as he attempts to rendezvous with Agent Maria Hill. His car is ambushed by a coordinated assault involving multiple vehicles and mercenaries disguised as a SWAT team. Despite the overwhelming odds and the relentless barrage of gunfire, Fury fights back with a mounted minigun. He manages to evade his pursuers, only to be targeted by a mysterious assailant who attaches a bomb to his vehicle. The subsequent explosion flips the car, but Fury, using a laser weapon, escapes the wreckage.
Returning to his apartment, Steve encounters his neighbor, who politely declines his offer to use his laundry facilities, citing recent exposure to a hospital ward. She informs him his stereo is on. Cautiously entering his apartment, shield in hand, Steve discovers an injured Nick Fury on his couch. Fury, feigning domestic troubles, subtly communicates through a text message that their conversation is being monitored. Before he can reveal more, Fury is shot multiple times. As Steve searches for the assailant, Fury presses the crucial flash drive into his hand, urging him not to trust anyone. The neighbor, revealed to be Agent 13 of S.H.I.E.L.D., enters, armed, and tends to Fury. Steve pursues the assassin, who exhibits remarkable agility and skill, even catching and returning Steve's shield. The assassin then vanishes.
At the hospital, Steve, Natasha, and Agent Hill witness doctors' desperate attempts to revive Fury, who ultimately flatlines. The official declaration of his death is made. Natasha, sensing Steve's deception, questions Fury's presence in his apartment, a question Steve deflects. Brock Rumlow then summons Steve back to S.H.I.E.L.D. Steve, meanwhile, has discreetly hidden the flash drive in a vending machine.
Steve is interrogated by Secretary Pierce, who also probes into Fury's visit. Pierce suggests Batroc as a suspect and insinuates Fury orchestrated the pirate attack to acquire classified information, leading to his demise. Steve denies these claims, reiterating Fury's warning about trust.
During an elevator ride with several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, Steve notices their suspicious demeanor. He prompts them to exit, triggering an immediate attack. They subdue him with magnetic cuffs and an electric rod, but Steve overpowers them. Agent Sitwell, observing this via monitor, dispatches the STRIKE team. Steve breaks free, escapes the elevator by severing its cables, and flees on his motorcycle. A pursuing Quinjet is disabled by Steve's shield, allowing him to escape. Pierce labels Steve a fugitive for withholding information about Fury's death.
Steve returns to the hospital to retrieve the flash drive, only to find it gone. Natasha appears, revealing she has it. She identifies the mysterious assassin as the Winter Soldier, a phantom responsible for over 200 assassinations and who nearly killed her in Iran. They decide to use the flash drive to uncover the Winter Soldier's identity and whereabouts.
Pierce, addressing the World Security Council, defends Fury as a martyr, but the council suspects Fury was involved in illegal activities. They vote to reactivate Project Insight.
Disguised as a couple, Steve and Natasha use a computer store to trace the flash drive's signal to Wheaton, New Jersey. Their presence attracts the attention of Rumlow and other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Natasha's public display of affection with Steve serves as a diversion.
The signal leads them to an abandoned military base, Steve's former training ground. Inside, they discover an original S.H.I.E.L.D. office containing artifacts from Howard Stark and Peggy Carter. Behind a bookshelf, they uncover a room filled with computers. Upon inserting the flash drive, a German voice identifies itself as Arnim Zola, a former HYDRA operative who transferred his consciousness into a computer. Zola reveals HYDRA's long-standing belief that humanity cannot be trusted with freedom. He confesses that after the war, S.H.I.E.L.D. unknowingly recruited him and other HYDRA operatives, who then infiltrated the organization. Zola admits HYDRA's responsibility for assassinations, including the Starks, and warns them of an incoming missile. They narrowly escape the ensuing explosion. Rumlow's team confirms no survivors.
In his home, Pierce is confronted by the Winter Soldier. Pierce then fatally shoots his housekeeper, Renata, after she witnesses their interaction.
Steve and Natasha seek refuge with Sam, whom they trust implicitly. Natasha expresses regret for her past involvement with HYDRA. Sam agrees to assist them, utilizing his advanced Falcon jet-pack.
Back in Washington, Senator Stern is overheard by Sam uttering "Hail HYDRA" to Sitwell. Sam orchestrates a meeting with Sitwell on a rooftop. Under duress, Sitwell reveals Zola's algorithm, designed to identify potential threats based on personal data, naming Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and Stephen Strange as future targets. He realizes Pierce may eliminate him.
During an attempted return to the Triskelion, the Winter Soldier attacks their car, abducting Sitwell. A HYDRA contingent joins the assault. Steve, Natasha, and Sam fight back. The Winter Soldier, believing he has cornered Natasha, detonates a bomb, which turns out to be a recorded decoy. He eventually finds Natasha and attacks. Steve intervenes, engaging the Winter Soldier in a brutal fight. Steve unmasks the assassin, revealing him to be Bucky Barnes. Steve's plea of "Bucky?" is met with the chilling response, "Who the hell is Bucky?" The HYDRA agents apprehend the heroes.
In a prison van, Agent Hill, disguised as a guard, frees them. She reveals a very much alive Nick Fury, who survived the attack thanks to Bruce Banner's anti-stress serum. With Project Insight hours away from activation, Fury provides Steve with three override chips.
In a bank, the Winter Soldier's metal arm is repaired. He experiences fragmented flashbacks of his past, his fall, and his recovery by Zola. Pierce arrives, praising his work and urging him to continue. The Winter Soldier inquires about Steve, claiming to know him. Pierce orders him to be reconditioned.
Steve, on a bridge, reminisces about Bucky. Sam arrives, ready to join the fight. Steve retrieves his old Captain America suit from the Smithsonian, much to the amusement of the security guard, Stan Lee.
Pierce escorts World Security Council members to the Triskelion, distributing pins granting access. Captain America and Falcon infiltrate the building. Steve broadcasts a message revealing Pierce's HYDRA affiliation and urging agents to stop Project Insight. Rumlow attempts to launch the Helicarriers, but Agent 13 intervenes. A firefight ensues, and Rumlow successfully releases the Helicarriers.
Captain America and Falcon race to the Helicarriers, evading HYDRA fire. Steve inserts the first chip, while Falcon secures the second. Hill coordinates their efforts amidst HYDRA attacks. Pierce attempts to rally the council members, but Singh refuses. Pierce draws a gun, but Natasha, disguised as Councilwoman Hawley, intervenes. Fury arrives, using his scarred eye to override Project Insight. Pierce activates the council members' pins, causing them to burn. He attempts to force Natasha to walk with him, but she activates her own pin. Fury shoots Pierce, who utters "Hail HYDRA" before dying.
The Winter Soldier is unleashed, attacking S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and incapacitating Falcon. HYDRA agents target the globe. Falcon returns to the Triskelion to confront Rumlow. Captain America battles the Winter Soldier on a Helicarrier, attempting to reach Bucky. Steve retrieves the chip, but the Winter Soldier takes it. Steve wounds both of the Winter Soldier's arms and forces him to release the chip. Steve inserts the chip, and Hill aborts the Helicarriers' targets. The Helicarriers then fire on each other, with one crashing into a dam and another destroying the Triskelion, catching Rumlow. Natasha and Fury rescue Falcon.
The third Helicarrier plummets with Captain America and the Winter Soldier aboard. Steve drops his shield, choosing not to fight. The Winter Soldier repeatedly strikes him. As he prepares a final blow, he hesitates, showing signs of recognition. The Helicarrier crashes, and Steve is thrown into the water. He loses consciousness but sees a hand reaching for him. The Winter Soldier drags him to shore before departing.
In the aftermath, Steve recovers in a hospital, with Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man" playing. Agent 13 is seen at a shooting range, Agent Hill undergoes a lie detector test, Senator Stern is arrested, and Rumlow is severely burned but alive. Natasha faces a hearing, asserting her indispensability. Fury erases his identity.
Fury meets Steve and Sam at his own grave, indicating it as his new contact point. Natasha arrives, thanking them and giving Steve a file on Bucky. She suggests Steve ask out Agent 13, Sharon Carter. Steve, examining the file, resolves to find Bucky. Sam pledges his support.
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