The new Captain America, Sam Wilson, has appeared in 9 MCU movies, with some appearances having a far greater impact than others. Before becoming Captain America at the end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson was a supporting character as Falcon for most of his MCU career. He debuted in 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, one of the MCU’s most highly-regarded movies, before becoming an Avenger and eventually taking on the Captain America mantle at the behest of the original, Steve Rogers.
This culminated in Sam Wilson’s first solo movie, Captain America: Brave New World. Now in possession of Captain America’s iconic shield, Sam Wilson has become a tour de force, despite refusing to take any form of the super soldier serum that came to be a defining characteristic of Steve Rogers and his tenure as Cap. His most recent appearance was also a stark vindication of Steve’s decision to pᴀss the torch, though Sam’s embodiment of all the traits necessary for the role has been obvious throughout his MCU career.
9
Sam Wilson Barely Features In Avengers: Age Of Ultron
Falcon Is Absent From The Action
Avengers: Age of Ultron is where Sam Wilson is officially inaugurated as an Avenger. While the core team goes their separate ways in the movie’s climax, Sam appears alongside Vision, Scarlet Witch, and War Machine in the final sH๏τ for Steve Rogers to name as new Avengers in what is nearly his first use of the iconic “Avengers, ᴀssemble” line. Aside from this and a conversation with Steve Rogers about Bucky Barnes’ whereabouts in the first act, Sam Wilson is absent.
Due to Sam’s minimal role in Avengers: Age of Ultron, it’s impossible to count this movie among his highlights. The decision to exclude him from the Battle of Sokovia, where he could have aided War Machine and Vision in preventing Ultron from escaping or helped to rescue civilian stragglers, was explained in his chat with Rogers as he ᴀsserted his role was to find Bucky off-screen. While this was integral to setting up another of Captain America’s best movies, it meant that Wilson had very little impact in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
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Sam Wilson’s Role Is Action-Packed But Minor Avengers: Infinity War
Focus Is Given To Many Other Characters
Until Avengers: Endgame would up the ante, Avengers: Infinity War was Marvel Studios’ most ambitious release as it threw together all the MCU’s composite heroes and succeeded. Sam Wilson’s scenes were exclusively shared with Steve Rogers, first appearing to aid in the fight against Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight in Scotland and returning to fight the Black Order in the Battle of Wakanda. Sam shares a high-octane sequence with Rhodey in the latter, taking down multiple Outriders and their siege engines while engaging in skillful aerial acrobatics.
While Sam proves his worth as an Avenger in these scenes – even being the one to strike the decisive blow on Proxima Midnight in Scotland – his contributions are largely overshadowed. Wilson does, after all, share a battlefield with Thor and his newly forged ax, Stormbreaker, with Thor going on to demonstrate how he could probably deal with the army solo. Still, Avengers: Infinity War is one of the best examples of Sam’s prowess and shows chemistry between other Avengers besides Cap.
7
Sam Wilson Features In A Short But Sweet Cameo In Ant-Man
Sam Wilson Is Tasked With Defending The Avengers Compound
Sam Wilson makes a cameo in Ant-Man’s self-тιтled debut. As a newly-anointed Avenger, Sam is conveniently the only member on the scene as Ant-Man attempts to break into the Avengers Compound to steal a Signal Decoy invented by Hank Pym. While Ant-Man attempts to infiltrate the compound with an airborne army of ants, he is swiftly detected by Falcon on the roof, leading to a duel complete with an entertaining to-and-fro between the two.
Sam Wilson’s cameo is short but sweet, helping to establish him as a bona fide Avenger tasked with guarding their high-security base. Wilson holds his own in their fight, demonstrating that his lack of superpowers is offset by sheer skill as he deftly navigates the unique threat posed by an enemy that can instantly shrink to the size of an insect. Ant-Man, predictably enough, ultimately gains the upper hand by sabotaging Sam’s wearable tech – though the fact he can do the same with Iron Man shows that this fate can befall even the most powerful Avengers.
6
Sam Wilson Leads The Avengers In What If…? Season 3
He Is Also The Only One Able To Talk Down Mega-Hulk
Sam Wilson appears a few times throughout What If…? seasons one through three, but he plays a starring role in What If…? season 3, episode 1, What If…the Hulk Fought the Mech Avengers? This episode centered on Hulk and his inadvertent creation of an army of violent gamma monsters that proceed to kill most of the Avengers (kitted with Gundam-style mechs). As the leader of the surviving superheroes, Sam Wilson draws Banner out of self-imposed exile before ultimately talking him down as he turns himself into the gargantuan Mega-Hulk, thereby saving New York from rage-fueled destruction.
This is one of the few instances in which Sam Wilson plays a starring role in the MCU. It also spotlights one of his best skills: his empathy. Wilson demonstrates how being able to hit harder is not the foremost way of defeating the MCU’s most powerful enтιтies, showing that his lack of super soldier serum is not as much of a shortcoming as some detractors believe it to be.
5
Sam Utters An Iconic Line In Avengers: Endgame
He Also Shares Steve Rogers’ Final Scene
The vast majority of Avengers: Endgame precludes many of those present in Avengers: Infinity War after Thanos’ victory snapped them out of existence. Sam Wilson was among the “dusted,” which meant his scenes in Avengers: Endgame were particularly limited. Nevertheless, he is the character that heralds the arrival of the superhero army primed to fight Thanos in the Battle of Earth, declaring “On your left” to Cap just as the situation looks particularly dire. He would also share Steve Rogers’ final scene in the MCU as he is bequeathed the iconic shield and mantle.
Despite playing a relatively minor role in the chaos of the Avengers finale, the quality of Sam Wilson’s contribution is what makes it one of his best appearances. He is the one to spark hope with his simple line preceding one of the most epic moments in the entire MCU. His final conversation with Steve Rogers, meanwhile, has had a huge impact on the future of the MCU and remains central to discussions surrounding what it means to be Captain America.
4
Sam Plays A Pivotal Role In Captain America: Civil War
He Also Holds His Own Against Multiple Powerful Superheroes
Falcon plays a key role in Captain America: Civil War as Cap’s closest ally in the rebellion against the Sokovia Accords. As Falcon, he remains at Rogers’ side throughout the events of Captain America: Civil War and holds his own against multiple superheroes as a result. Falcon would be partly responsible for Rhodey’s injury as he managed to dodge the beam Vision was aiming at him, leaving Rhodey in the firing line. He would then be imprisoned on the Raft for his rejection of the Accords before Steve Rogers would later break him and his Civil War allies out.
Falcon’s true capabilities are on full display in Captain America: Civil War. Among the most impressive feats he manages to pull off is disabling Spider-Man, who was unable to remove Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes from the fight before being blindsided by Redwing. He also demonstrates his unerring loyalty to Captain America throughout the movie, even when facing dire consequences. He is unwilling to reveal Steve Rogers’ location to Tony Stark, despite being defeated, until Stark suggests that Rogers would be endangered unless Stark could reach him.
3
Sam Wilson Makes An Impactful Debut In Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The Movie Shows Sam Wilson’s Determination And Loyalty
Sam Wilson debuted in Captain America: The Winter Soldier where he became fast friends with Steve Rogers after bonding over their military experience. He would then become the only trustworthy figure for Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff to turn to after Hydra’s infiltration of SHIELD started to bear fruit. Wilson offers his unconditional support in the fight against Hydra, battling various agents, the Winter Soldier, and Brock Rumlowe to varying degrees of success but ultimately playing a key role in preventing Project Insight from launching.
Sam and Steve’s “On your left” in-joke is established during their first meeting in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, as Steve teasingly uses it while repeatedly lapping Sam during an early morning run.
Sam Wilson’s debut encapsulates his characterization, showing him to be determined, loyal, and empathetic. The lattermost trait is established in his role as a counselor for soldiers suffering from PTSD, going on to be among Sam Wilson’s greatest strengths. Captain America: The Winter Soldier also shows how Sam Wilson emulates Steve Rogers’ determination during a fight where he is physically outmatched. All of this sows the seeds for Sam’s eventual rise to become the new Captain America, as Steve Rogers invariably starts to acknowledge his potential.
2
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Fleshes Out Sam Wilson’s Defining Features
It Also Develops His Bond With Bucky
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier deals with Sam Wilson’s struggle to accept the Captain America mantle after Steve Rogers pᴀssed the shield onto him in Avengers: Endgame. While being acutely aware of the potential backlash that would follow, Sam spends the series struggling to detach the shield and mantle from their original owner. After the US government takes ownership of both and bestows them on the wrong person, John Walker, Wilson finally accepts why he must fill the role Steve intended, taking down the Flag Smashers as Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier‘s finale.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is the first Marvel production to star Sam Wilson as the protagonist, albeit in a shared role with Bucky Barnes. The show expertly demonstrates what makes Sam Wilson the perfect successor to Steve Rogers, with John Walker providing the perfect point of contrast. The series also develops Wilson’s friendship with Bucky Barnes, bonding in the absence of Steve Rogers after an initially prickly relationship in Captain America: Civil War in a way that feels truly heartfelt.
1
Captain America: Brave New World Is Sam Wilson At His Best
Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson Is A Highlight Of The Movie
Warning! This entry contains spoilers for Captain America: Brave New WorldSam Wilson finally stars in a solo movie in Captain America: Brave New World as the eponymous hero. Wilson has settled into his new role, wielding wings and shield to carry out special missions under the purview of the United States government. Wilson continues to mirror his predecessor as his caution against President Ross’ attempt to gain oversight of superheroes furthers their goals in Captain America: Civil War. Captain America: Brave New World ends on an exciting note, with Wilson suggesting to Joaquin Torres that he will reform the Avengers.
While Captain America: Brave New World has proved to be somewhat divisive overall, it shows Sam Wilson at his best. The incredible action sequences showcase Wilson’s dextrous prowess as he debuts unique uses of his shield (including attaching it to Redwing to use as a flying defense) are matched only by Wilson’s embodiment of Captain America‘s most defining characteristics. His vastly outmatched fight against Red Hulk then proves how Sam Wilson’s empathy and persuasiveness are his greatest tools, ostensibly defeating the rage monster by talking him into reverting to human form.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Thunderbolts*
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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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Spider-Man Homecoming 4
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July 24, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
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May 7, 2027
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