Evans made his Broadway debut in the 2018 revival of Kenneth Lonergan's play Lobby Hero, which earned him a Drama League Award nomination.

"[16] Before starting his senior year of high school, Evans spent the summer in New York City, and took classes at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.

[16] In the same year, Evans made his screen debut in a television film, The Newcomers;[21] a family drama in which he plays a boy called Judd who falls in love with a girl (Kate Bosworth).

[29] In 2004, he had a lead role in The Perfect Score,[30] a teen heist-comedy about a group of students who break into an office to steal answers to the SAT exam.

Although the feature received a mixed response, Slant Magazine's review opined that "Evans proves himself a sufficiently charismatic leading man".

[38] In his mixed review, Joe Leydon of Variety praised the cast for their efforts and thought Evans gave a "charismatic breakout performance".

[43] He voiced the character Casey Jones in the animation TMNT (2007), based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series.

[44] Next, he starred in Danny Boyle's science fiction thriller Sunshine (2007), about a group of astronauts on a dangerous mission to reignite the dying sun.

[47] His final release of 2007 was Battle for Terra, another science fiction animation, about a peaceful alien planet which faces destruction from colonization by a displaced remainder of the human race.

[49] In 2008, Evans appeared as Detective Paul Diskant in the thriller Street Kings, with co-stars Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, and Hugh Laurie.

The film follows a group of people born with various superhuman abilities who unite to take down a secret agency that is genetically transforming normal citizens into an army of super soldiers.

[57] Evans appeared in another comic book adaptation, Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), in which he portrayed Lucas Lee, one of Ramona Flowers' seven evil exes.

[68] In their positive review, The Sydney Morning Herald thought the film was a "fresh twist on 20th-century history", and praised Evans' "confident-but-subtle treatment" displayed in his role.

[69] A year later, he reprised the character in The Avengers, with a large ensemble cast that included Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner.

[77] Returning to the science fiction genre, Evans was cast in Bong Joon-ho's Snowpiercer (2013), which is based on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige.

[79] The story takes place aboard the Snowpiercer train as it travels around the globe, carrying the last members of humanity after a failed attempt at climate engineering to stop global warming.

[86] Peter Howell of Toronto Star thought Evans was "impressive" for bringing the comic book character to life, despite the plot being "a little too complicated".

[87] Evans has said The Winter Soldier was his favorite Marvel film because he started to understand his character and enjoyed working with directors Anthony and Joe Russo.

It premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival;[91] The New York Times critic, Ben Keninsberg, opined that it was a moderate effort and the actors' chemistry made it watchable.

"[83] While USA Today opined that Evans and co-star Chris Hemsworth were a "blast to watch" in Avengers: Infinity War,[104] the reviewer from Time magazine criticized the film for its lack of pacing and substance.

"[106] The fourth sequel grossed $2.7 billion worldwide,[107] and the filmmakers were praised by The Telegraph's Robbie Collin for creating one of the most entertaining films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

[109] Ben Brantley of The New York Times labeled it a "terrific Broadway debut" and found his performance to be a "marvel of smooth calculation and bluster".

[113] Later that year, he starred as Ransom Drysdale, a spoiled playboy, in Rian Johnson's mystery film Knives Out,[114] which received critical acclaim and grossed $309 million worldwide.

[115][116] In NPR, Linda Holmes wrote of Evans's performance: "it's a special treat to see him tear right into this rich-brat bit, both preternaturally handsome and cheerfully obnoxious, a one-man cable-knit charm offensive.

Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter praised Evans's performance, stating that he "is sturdy and conveys the right measure of empathy and fear".

[120] In 2022, Evans voiced the titular character in the Disney/Pixar animation Lightyear,[121][122] which gained mostly favorable reviews,[123] and starred in the Netflix thriller The Gray Man, an adaptation of the 2009 novel of the same name directed by Anthony and Joe Russo.

[125][126] Evans starred alongside Ana de Armas in the Apple TV+ action comedy film Ghosted (2023), from director Dexter Fletcher.

[129][130] He then reprised his role of Lucas Lee in the animated television series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off[131] and Johnny Storm / Human Torch in a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024).

[13][145] After Alabama enacted the Human Life Protection Act in May 2019, which imposes a near-total ban on abortions in the state, Evans called the bill "absolutely unbelievable" and continued by writing, "If you're not worried about Roe v. Wade, you're not paying attention.

[150] Evans is a supporter of Christopher's Haven, a charity providing housing to families affected by childhood cancer, and has taken part in fundraisers to benefit the organization.