Sam Wilson is preparing to make his biggest Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance yet, and after the character’s long journey in the franchise, he is more than ready to lead Captain America: Brave New World. Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers made history as Captain America. The actor became one of the faces of the MCU alongside Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, with the Captain America trilogy being considered by many as Marvel’s best.

Succeeding Steve Rogers would always be a hard task, but Marvel found the perfect character to do so. Spending years as one of Steve’s best friends and a hero in his own right, Sam Wilson has learned all there is to know about sacrifice, compᴀssion, and leadership. Captain America: Brave New World‘s story will propel Sam to a new level in the MCU, and after being part of some of the MCU’s best movies, Anthony Mackie can rise to the occasion. Here are Sam Wilson’s MCU appearances so far:

8

Avengers: Age Of Ultron

A Short Appearance – Released In 2015

One important detail in the list is that the ranking is based on the role Sam Wilson plays in the projects, not how good they are overall. First up is Avengers: Age of Ultron, which did not have Sam do much. Anthony Mackie’s Marvel hero showed up in two separate moments, at the start and the end of the movie.

Sam Wilson’s first appearance in Avengers: Age of Ultron was in one of the movie’s most talked about sequences. The character was part of the Avengers Tower party that happens after the heroes take out one of HYDRA’s bases. At the party, Sam plays pool with Steve Rogers and updates him on how the search for Bucky is going.

At the end of the movie, Captain America and Black Widow recruit a new Avengers team. That superhero squad includes Sam Wilson. The character did very little in the film, which explains why it sits at the bottom of the list. However, joining the Avengers was very important for Sam’s MCU storyline.

7

Avengers: Infinity War

An Action-Heavy Role – Released In 2018

Avengers: Infinity War is one of the MCU’s best movies. However, it is another Marvel Studios entry that, unfortunately, gave Sam Wilson very little to do, which explains its placement. That is understandable, as there were simply too many moving parts in the film. After all, even Chris Evans’ Captain America had a smaller role than Iron Man and other heroes.

Still, Sam Wilson got to shine in action scenes. Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Falcon was part of Steve Rogers’ covert hero team. He had been on the run alongside Captain America, Black Widow, and others, emerging to rescue the Scarlet Witch and Vision from Thanos’ Black Order.

Sam had a few moments to show his signature humor throughout the film. However, Avengers: Infinity War was more action-focused for the hero, who did not get much significant character development. At the end of the film, Sam is one of the heroes snapped to dust by Thanos. That made him part of one of the MCU’s most iconic moments.

6

Ant-Man

A Full Sequence Spotlights Falcon – Released In 2015

Sam Wilson’s role in Ant-Man, while contained to a single sequence, had more meat to it than the two Avengers films below it on the list. Paul Rudd’s Marvel hero was just getting started in the MCU back then, so Marvel Studios decided to have his story be mostly detached from the franchise’s larger events, save for a guest hero.

Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson had the job of protecting the Avengers Compound after he was recruited by Captain America to join the team in Avengers: Age of Ultron. What he did not expect was that he would have to defend it from another hero. Ant-Man needed to take the Signal Decoy, which Falcon did not agree to, as he thought Ant-Man was not a hero.

The sequence is one of the moments the MCU had the most fun with Sam. While he does end up losing to Ant-Man, their chemistry and the use of Falcon’s new Stark tech suit make it a dynamic moment. Sam Wilson at least had a full sequence dedicated to himself in the film.

5

What If…? Season 3

Sam Wilson Leads The Avengers – Episode Released In 2024

Marvel Studios’ What If…? is not part of the MCU’s main timeline. The animated Disney+ series allowed Marvel to delve into the multiverse, which in turn led to many characters from the MCU getting to shine in different scenarios. Sam Wilson only had a single non-speaking role over the first two seasons of the show, but season 3 changed the game.

Now Captain America in the MCU, What If…? season 3 allowed Marvel to explore Sam Wilson’s new role before the franchise does it on the big screen in Captain America: Brave New World. That resulted in Sam being one of the main stars of an episode that saw him lead the Avengers as the Hulk unleashed gamma monsters into the world due to an accident.

Despite it only being one episode in a three-season show, Sam Wilson’s role in What If…? season 3 is definitely better than in the three entries below it on the list. Sam gets to show what a great leader he is by coming up with strategies for the Avengers. Likewise, his compᴀssion is what saves the day by convincing the Hulk to help, showing the potential of the MCU’s new Captain America.

4

Captain America: Civil War

The Hero Fights For What Is Right – Released In 2016

Sam Wilson appeared in two Captain America movies before soon leading his own, Captain America: Brave New World. While his second time did not offer him as much of a big role as his first entry in the franchise did, Sam still played an active role in the plot alongside the heroes of Team Captain America.

Sam directly opposes the Sokovia Accords and is an active player in the conversation between the Avengers as they all make their points. Besides showing his strong will at that moment, Sam would serve as Steve Rogers’ rock throughout the film. The character was there when Peggy Carter died, helped Steve track Bucky down, and fought another team of heroes to prove a point.

Having met Ant-Man, Sam is the one who suggests Captain America recruit him, which proves itself a major advantage for the team in the airport battle. There are many hilarious and action-packed moments for Sam. Allied to the character speaking his mind and not backing down, they make for one of his finest MCU appearances.

3

Avengers: Endgame

The MCU Movie That Changed Everything – Released In 2019

Sam Wilson’s top three MCU appearances before Captain America: Brave New World are easily his most impactful in the franchise so far. First up is Avengers: Endgame. The film does feature very little of the character, but it also fundamentally changed Sam’s position in the MCU, putting him on the highest possible shelf in the franchise.

After having been snapped in Avengers: Infinity War, Sam was one of the many heroes who returned to fight Thanos in Avengers: Endgame‘s epic portals scene. After being the first to fly through a portal, recreating the “on your left” moment from Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Falcon had a couple of moments during the fight, but nothing major.

However, Sam Wilson would be the star of one of Avengers: Endgame‘s most emotional scenes. At the end of the movie, an old Steve Rogers pᴀsses on his shield to Sam. Despite worrying that he was not the right choice to be Captain America, Steve ensured him that he was. Sam Wilson’s Captain America journey started there.

2

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Sam Wilson’s MCU Debut – Released In 2014

Few characters can say that they debuted in one of the MCU’s best movies. However, that holds true for Sam Wilson, with many Marvel fans claiming that Captain America: The Winter Soldier might even be the MCU’s best overall project. Interestingly, Anthony Mackie’s Captain America: Brave New World is said to emulate the grounded tone of the film, bringing things full circle.

Captain America, Black Widow, and the Falcon make up the film’s main trio of heroes. While Sam does not get as big of a role as his Avengers co-stars, the character is present throughout the film, with Mackie delivering a charming performance and the MCU building the friendship between Steve Rogers and Sam.

Wilson’s past in the military, flight expertise, and Falcon suit were all established in the Captain America movie. Sam’s morals were also spotlighted, showing how the character does not fear going up against major insтιтutions like SHIELD if it means fighting for what is right and saving lives. This set up how he would be a great Captain America a decade later.

1

The Falcon And The Winter Soldier

Sam Wilson Fends Off Doubts And Becomes Captain America – Released In 2021

Finally, before Captain America: Brave New World comes out, Sam Wilson’s best MCU appearance up to this point has to be Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. There were many questions about how Marvel would deal with expanding the MCU through TV. However, the MCU series showed that major moments with franchise-wide consequences could happen on the small screen.

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The Falcon and the Winter Soldier firmly put Sam Wilson as the show’s most important character. The series was Marvel’s way of showing how Sam beat the doubts he and the rest of the world had about him becoming Captain America. Sam wrestled with not feeling good enough to succeed Steve Rogers for a good few episodes.

In the end, he rose to the occasion. Sam got a comic book-accurate Captain America that had a predominantly white color scheme and was fused with his classic MCU Falcon suit and wings. Excelling on the battlefield and not backing down in the political realm, Sam Wilson showed how he is ready to become Captain America and try to make the world a better place, starting that mission in Captain America: Brave New World.

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  Captain America: Brave New World

  Release Date

  
  February 14, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
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  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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