Ranking Every Captain America Costume in the MCU: From Worst to Best Over 14 Years

Ranking Every Captain America Costume in the MCU: From Worst to Best Over 14 Years

Captain America has a rich and varied history within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), showcasing a plethora of costumes that range in effectiveness from stunning to underwhelming. The evolution of Captain America reflects his transition from a World War II secret weapon, mysteriously thrust into the modern era, to a heroic figure laden with heavy expectations. His numerous wardrobe changes throughout this epic journey underscore the complexities of his character.

Adapting Captain America’s costume from the comics to a live-action format poses significant challenges. Elements like the outdated flared boots and the quirky wing motifs on his headgear can appear quite comical. However, the MCU has effectively reimagined his iconic look for the big screen, making it functional and visually compelling. As fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming film Captain America: Brave New World, Captain America is set to unveil yet another iteration of his suit.

9 Captain America’s First Modern Suit

The Avengers

The Avengers team walking down a Helicarrier hallway

In The Avengers, the MCU faced the challenge of modernizing Captain America’s look, absent the nostalgic context of World War II uniforms. Unfortunately, this first attempt at a contemporary costume resulted in what many consider the least impressive suit in the franchise.

The costume came off as cheap, featuring a conspicuous Velcro seam down the center of the chest, which appeared ready to fall apart at any moment. Additionally, adjustments to the dimensions of Captain America’s helmet were still in flux, leading to an unintentional resemblance to a turtle when worn by Chris Evans. It’s understandable why this suit quickly fell by the wayside in favor of more refined designs in subsequent films.

8 The Propaganda Suit

Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America's Propaganda Suit from Captain America: The First Avenger

The propaganda suit seen in Captain America: The First Avenger intentionally appears unflattering, showcasing how a direct translation of his classic comic attire might look absurd in a cinematic context. This outfit is donned by Cap during his morale-boosting tours with the U. S.Army, where he performs small plays to rally support for the armed forces.

More of a comedic element than a practical combat outfit, the propaganda suit features actual winged ears, giving it a playful silhouette that emphasizes why such designs weren’t suitable for serious missions. While the outfit is not particularly striking, it earns points for featuring Captain America’s original kite shield.

7 Sam Wilson’s First Suit

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Sam Wilson as Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

In the series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson grapples with inheriting Captain America’s mantle. Although he initially hesitates, he eventually embraces the role, leading to a new supersuit that diverges from his previous identity as The Falcon. However, this debut look doesn’t quite resonate with audiences.

The initial suit features a bright white color scheme and a peculiar half mask that awkwardly merges elements of Captain America’s helmet with The Falcon’s visor. While the new Vibranium wings are an exciting addition, the outfit suffers from a cluttered design that detracts from its effectiveness. While not entirely ineffective, Sam Wilson’s Captain America attire leaves ample room for improvement.

6 The New Avengers Suit

Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War

Chris Evans as Captain America in Avengers: Age of Ultron

The second iteration of Captain America’s Avengers suit marks a significant upgrade from its predecessor. Acknowledging its World War II origins, this newly designed outfit incorporates elements from the classic combat attire paired with modern enhancements. Features like a chin-strap offer a more natural feel, while the bulkier jacket design adds visual muscle.

Serving as the foundational template for all subsequent appearances, this suit, showcased in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War, balances practicality with visual allure, ensuring Captain America looks both heroic and grounded.

5 The Nomad Suit

Avengers: Infinity War

Steve Rogers as Captain America in Avengers: Infinity War

Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Steve Rogers turns to a life on the run, reflecting a significant comic storyline where he adopts the mantle of “Nomad.” In Avengers: Infinity War, he dons an all-black outfit, losing the iconic star emblem in a powerful visual statement.

Though a direct alteration of his previous suit, this battle-worn costume effectively communicates Steve’s struggles as he evades government scrutiny. The additional twin Vibranium shields gifted by Black Panther seamlessly integrate with the sleek Nomad look, proving to be a compelling chapter in Rogers’ costume evolution.

4 The Stealth Suit

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Steve Rogers and Nick Fury in Captain America: The Winter Soldier

In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the narrative takes a darker, more espionage-driven approach, requiring Steve Rogers to undergo a costume update. This new stealth suit features a dark palette that skillfully detracts from bright colors, making it suitable for covert operations.

Despite the somber tones, the suit retains Captain America’s signature star and wing elements, presented in a striking silver contrast. This design’s functionality and sleek aesthetic not only establish it as one of the most well-received versions but also made a memorable return in the beginning moments of Avengers: Endgame.

3 Sam Wilson’s Second Captain America Suit

Captain America: Brave New World

Sam Wilson in Captain America: Brave New World
Custom image by Nicolas Ayala

In the highly anticipated Captain America: Brave New World, Sam Wilson is set to reveal an enhanced iteration of his Captain America suit. Although trailers hint at variations of his previous attire, this new design embraces a color palette reminiscent of Steve Rogers’ original costume while introducing a full-face helmet for the first time.

The new suit features a dark blue foundation coupled with red and silver accents, suggesting readiness and competence. Enhanced elements like chevrons and longer boots contribute to a more dynamic visual. However, the somewhat lazy nanotech activation of the helmet slightly undermines the overall impact, lending a digital feel to an otherwise robust design.

2 The World War II Combat Suit

Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America with the Howling Commandos

The combat suit featured prominently in Captain America: The First Avenger marks the MCU’s initial foray into creating an original costume rather than mirroring comic book designs. This outfit appears as Steve Rogers embarks on sanctioned combat missions alongside the Howling Commandos, emphasizing practical functionality for war in the 1940s.

With elements such as leather straps, buttoned pockets, and fitted helmets, this suit truly embodies the soldier ethos. It’s astonishing to consider how this detailed and combat-ready design was overshadowed by the less impactful versions that followed, especially in The Avengers.

1 Steve Rogers’ Final Suit

Avengers: Endgame

Captain America wielding Mjolnir in Avengers: Endgame

Chris Evans’ final appearance as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Endgame showcases a spectacular suit that resonates deeply with fans. Worn during the climactic Battle of Earth, this costume pays homage to Captain America’s heroic legacy amidst the franchise’s stunning finale.

This suit largely revisits the beloved design from Avengers: Age of Ultron, enriched with enhancements such as a larger chest star and textured details that nod to Captain America’s earliest comic book representations. Ultimately, this striking costume—especially memorable at the moment he wields Mjölnir—solidifies its place as the greatest version of the iconic superhero’s attire.

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