As a father of a daughter, I want to share how Captain Marvel transformed my perspective. Recently, I took my nine-year-old daughter, Mia, to see Captain Marvel during its opening weekend at our local theater. We went to a 3D afternoon showing, just the two of us. Mia had just come from a birthday party, wearing her princess pajamas and a tiara, with her hair slightly messy from a pillow fight. Despite her outfit, she is a dedicated fan of the Avengers. We’ve watched countless hours of Marvel films together, but none have resonated with her quite like Captain Marvel did.
We found seats in the middle of the crowded theater. With a bag of popcorn in her lap and her 3D glasses perched on her nose, Mia was just tall enough to see over the seats in front of her. She giggled at the Flerken, that seemingly innocent cat with tentacles, and even asked what a Blockbuster video was. But for most of the movie, she was completely captivated.
I don’t want to create a rivalry between Marvel and DC; I’m not an expert in that debate. However, I recall when Wonder Woman was released in the same local theater, and Mia showed no interest in seeing it. I suspect it was because she hadn’t seen as many DC films compared to Marvel. Does that mean we were influenced by branding? Possibly. Would Wonder Woman have made a similar impact? I’ll let you know once I finally convince her to watch it.
What I do know is that after watching all the Avengers films, none affected Mia the way Captain Marvel did. She sat in awe, seemingly speechless. Near the film’s climax, she fidgeted in her seat, and when I asked if she needed to use the restroom, she ignored me; she didn’t want to miss a second. One particular scene struck her deeply—the montage where Carol Danvers repeatedly falls down and gets back up. Comic writer Kelly Sue DeConnick perfectly articulated that moment: “Carol falls down all the time, but she always gets back up — we say that about Captain America, but he does it for duty. Carol does it because ‘F*ck you.’”
During that powerful scene, I glanced at my daughter. Mia’s small hand was clenched into a white-knuckled fist on her pant leg, her shoulders tense, her lips pressed into a firm line. In that instant, she radiated empowerment. It was incredible to witness.
As a father, I have many aspirations for Mia. I want her to receive a good education, to value family and community, to confidently advocate for herself, and to break through every glass ceiling she encounters. I want her to feel strong and capable, and I certainly want her to know that she can achieve anything—even become an Avenger if the opportunity arises. My hope is that she never feels like she has to fight with “one hand tied behind her back.”
However, it’s challenging to instill this mindset when the film industry often highlights powerful male characters. For Mia, Captain Marvel was more than just another movie; it was a new role model. It illustrated that women can be superheroes, and that she has options beyond the typical princess narratives. It showed her that it’s okay to fall down and rise up even stronger. As a father of a daughter, this is a game-changer.
When we exited the theater, Mia held my hand with one hand and clutched a half-empty bag of popcorn with the other. I asked her if she enjoyed the movie, and she stopped, looked up at me, and exclaimed, “It was awesome!” I smiled back, but when I turned to walk, she remained still, gazing up at me. Then she asked if she could be Captain Marvel for Halloween. This would be the first year she hadn’t chosen to be a princess. I gave her a high five and replied, “Absolutely!” She grinned widely, pumped her fist, and we continued our walk to the car.
In conclusion, Captain Marvel opened new doors for my daughter, encouraging her to embrace her strength and potential, a shift in her perception that is invaluable.
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