Picking up on plot seeds sown in Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War pits Earth's Mightiest Heroes against each other. Adapting the iconic comic book run of the same name, Civil War gives fans the answer to their favorite hero vs. Hero hypotheticals. Acting as an Avenger 2.5, heroes from every corner of the MCU are drawn together in a Civil War of dueling ideals.

On a mission in Lagos, the Avengers accidentally screw up a mission while apprehending the Hydra mercenary Crossbones (Frank Grillo). Alongside the list of other collateral damages caused by the heroes, the Sokovia Accords are created to keep superheroes in check. When a global disaster is seemingly caused by the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), the Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), takes matters into his own hands. Splitting the Avengers for and against supporting the Accords, Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) lead their teams in a Civil War for the Avengers.

Captain America: Civil War is one of the most enjoyable comic book films of all time. While it deviates heavily from the source material, it perfectly captures the world of the comics, balancing its massive cast with a well-crafted and compelling story. Consistently charming, the cast of the MCU upholds charismatic and personable performances, keeping audiences further invested in their self-destructive battle. Featuring some of the best fight scenes in the saga, Civil War creatively utilizes the abilities of each hero and strategically sets them up for intriguing battles.

Though the villain Baron Zemo (Daniel Brühl) is no physical threat to the Avengers, his strategic manipulation showcases a new kind of enemy for the team. His motivations and revelations create a compelling foe and the damage he does has lasting ramifications on the MCU as a whole. While he pulls strings behind the scenes, the true drama comes from within the team, as they're taken into a new type of struggle.

At the start of production, Spider-Man was still believed to be busy in Sony's Amazing Spider-Man universe, which led Marvel to utilize and introduce Black Panther as the neutral party in the war. After casting the late Chadwick Boseman in the role, Sony & Disney were able to make a deal in order to introduce their own Spider-Man into the MCU. Finding a spot for both iconic heroes, Civil War balanced their introductions with the sprawling epic story surrounding them.

Captain America: Civil War captures the imaginative world of its comic book inspirations. As a full package, the movie fulfills the childhood desire of watching superheroes fight, while also providing an engaging and well-planned story. Though it fails to follow the story exactly as it was done in the comics, Captain America: Civil War creates fresh and exciting challenges for the characters of the MCU to overcome.