During the early 2010s, Marvel Studios was steadily building its superhero universe by focusing on the origin stories of its top Avengers. One of the films that contributed to this effort was Captain America: The First Avenger, which came out in 2011.
Even though it was the fifth release from the studio, it was actually the first in terms of chronological timeline, taking place during World War II and introducing Steve Rogers, the man who later becomes known as Captain America.
From skinny recruit to super soldier with a mission (Photo: Captain America/Marvel Studios)Whether or not you’re familiar with the full scope of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s almost impossible not to know that Captain America plays a central role. Chris Evans brought life to the patriotic hero who rose to become one of the key Avengers, with his story beginning as far back as the 1940s.
Certain parts of the film’s storyline and timeline may leave viewers with some lingering thoughts. So if you’ve just finished watching The First Avenger, or if it’s been a while since your last viewing, here’s a breakdown of the ending and major talking points from the movie.
How Captain America survived being frozen (and made it to the present)
Towards the conclusion of Captain America: The First Avenger, we get answers to the mystery introduced at the start. A ship is discovered in the Arctic during modern times, and from it, scientists recover a frozen Steve Rogers.
This is the same man who fought against Nazis and Hydra back in the 1940s. So what kept him alive? The simple answer lies in his super-soldier status. After defeating his rival, Red Skull, Steve decides to crash a plane filled with weapons powered by the Tesseract into the Arctic Ocean.
Though the crash was presumed fatal, the aircraft remained mostly whole. Steve didn’t die on impact but instead entered a state of suspended animation. A regular human being would have perished from the freezing temperatures, but the serum that transformed Steve into a super soldier kept him alive.
His unique biology allowed his cells to regenerate and maintain normal function, preventing his blood from freezing completely and keeping him alive in that frozen state for 70 years. When he finally woke up—likely sometime in 2012—Nick Fury was there to explain everything to him.
Steve was heartbroken to realise that he had lost everything he knew. He told Fury, “I had a date,” referring to the dance he promised Peggy Carter before the war ended. Though the sequel Captain America: The Winter Soldier later revealed that Peggy was still alive, that long-awaited dance remained unfulfilled at the time.
The post-credits scene sets up The Avengers
People often want to know whether a Marvel film includes a post-credits scene. Yes, The First Avenger does include one, but it’s different from the usual surprises fans have grown used to. During that phase of the MCU known as The Infinity Saga, Marvel sometimes used footage from upcoming films to build excitement.
That’s the case here, as this post-credits moment is a preview from the next major entry, The Avengers, complete with a short teaser. The scene shows Steve Rogers taking out his emotions on a punching bag. He’s visibly frustrated over the life he missed out on.
Nick Fury then arrives and asks if Steve is ready to face a mission that could affect the entire globe. While the clip ends before we hear Steve’s answer, anyone familiar with his character knows what his reply would be. By the time The Avengers hits the screen in 2012, Loki arrives on Earth in pursuit of the Tesseract.
This event prompts Nick Fury to bring together a team to prevent chaos. Steve Rogers joins Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye to try and stop Loki’s alien army from destroying Earth.
What happened to the Red Skull?
Red Skull, whose real name is Johann Shmidt, stands as the primary villain in The First Avenger. Hugo Weaving brought the character to life, portraying his hunger for godlike power. Red Skull managed to tap into the energy of the Tesseract, which he used to strengthen Hydra’s weaponry.
But as often happens with those who seek unchecked power, he underestimated what he was dealing with. The film shows that Red Skull meets his end at the hands of the very source he sought to control. When the Tesseract shows him the vastness of space, it appears to consume him, causing him to vanish in front of Steve.
Steve later tells Peggy and Colonel Phillips that Red Skull didn’t survive. But there was more to that event than Steve realised at the time. The next point contains details that may spoil future films. It turns out that Red Skull wasn’t killed, but was instead transported to another part of the universe.
He reappears in Avengers: Infinity War (set in 2018), this time on the distant planet Vormir. There, he becomes the guardian of the Soul Stone, forced to guide others who come seeking it. Though he no longer posed a direct threat, his punishment was to remain in eternal service for misusing the power of the Tesseract.
Peggy Carter’s story was far from over
The First Avenger is where viewers were first introduced to Peggy Carter, brought to life by Hayley Atwell. Even though she didn’t get a lot of screen time across the MCU films, Peggy went on to become one of the most respected characters in the franchise.
She would later co-found S.H.I.E.L.D., the intelligence agency that Nick Fury leads in the present-day timeline. Peggy had to fight against the entrenched sexism of her time, even after her efforts in defeating Hydra and Red Skull. Still, she proved her value again and again.
Her contributions stood out so much that she eventually rose above many of her peers. Those who want to know more about Peggy’s journey can start with the Agent Carter short film. It shows her life after Steve’s disappearance and how she pushes through the obstacles in her path.
Even when her male colleagues try to keep her from taking part in missions, Peggy takes charge and proves her competence. For those who want a deeper story, the Agent Carter TV series retells and expands on this. Across two seasons, viewers follow Peggy on new missions and see her character evolve even further.
Despite being cut short, the series developed a loyal fanbase that still hopes for a conclusion. That wasn’t the last time Peggy appeared on screen. She continued to show up in different MCU films over the years. Considering how well Hayley Atwell portrayed the character, fans never minded those extra appearances.
What to watch after Captain America: The First Avenger
After watching Captain America: The First Avenger, you might be interested in continuing the storyline. The logical next step would be The Avengers, especially if you’ve seen the other Phase One entries already. If not, it might help to watch those first so that the bigger picture becomes clearer.
Here are some suggestions to guide your next viewing choices:
The Avengers (2012): This film is the immediate follow-up in terms of the broader MCU storyline. The post-credits scene in The First Avenger sets the tone for what’s to come. Captain America joins forces with Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Hulk to save Earth from Loki and his alien allies.
Seventy years on ice couldn’t dim his will (Photo: Captain America/Marvel Studios)Other Phase One films: If you’re beginning your MCU journey with The First Avenger, you might want to go back and watch earlier entries. These include Iron Man (2008), The Incredible Hulk (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), and Thor (2011).
You can view them in nearly any order, although Iron Man 2 should follow the first Iron Man film. Each of these titles introduces characters who play major roles in The Avengers.
Agent Carter (Short Film): This 2013 short is set a year after the events of The First Avenger. It shows Peggy continuing her work at the Strategic Scientific Reserve while dealing with workplace discrimination. When the chance to go on a mission arises, she grabs it and proves her worth.
Agent Carter (TV Series): The popularity of the short film led to the launch of a full TV series that ran for two seasons. Hayley Atwell returned, joined by some familiar faces from The First Avenger. While the first season covers similar ground as the short, it offers more detail.
The second season takes things in a new direction with stronger links to the supernatural themes found in other MCU stories.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier: If you’re not ready to move into crossover films just yet, this is another strong option. It continues Steve Rogers’ journey and reveals what happens to him after adjusting to modern life.
