10 Marvel Movie Quotes That Just Got Better With Age

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of amazing lines of dialogue, some of which have only gotten better and better as time has marched on. Strong screenwriting and performances are two of the biggest keystones keeping the MCU"s pop culture dominance so firm, leaving audiences with many memorable quotes over the years. While some MCU lines have aged terribly, there"s no denying that the most iconic phrases in the entire franchise have aged like fine wine.
The MCU lines that age the most gracefully serve as the set-up for some extremely satisfying payoffs later in the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline. As the movies progress, earlier words are often echoed, taking on new meaning with the additional context progression provides. Other times, stand-alone statements can serve as ominous warnings of the cataclysmic events to come, making them all the more entertaining to hear again later on.
10 "I Am Iron Man" Tony Stark, Iron Man

The most immediately obvious line for the best-aged in the entirety of the series is also one of the MCU"s best pieces of dialogue in general. In the final moments of Iron Man, Tony Stark holds a press conference in which he admits to being the flying, armored hero spotted around the world. This line would go on to forever change the MCU, cementing Robert Downey Jr."s place as one of the greatest casting choices ever and largely doing away with secret identities in the Marvel films.
The movies themselves recognize how iconic the influence of this line has become, choosing to have Tony repeat the words as his final ones in the series in response to Thanos" "I am inevitable." It"s hard not to get excited hearing Tony admit his alter ego for the first time after having witnessed this epic conclusion. This makes it all the more impressive that this line was actually improvised by Robert Downey Jr. spontaneously while filming.
9 "You've Become Part Of A Bigger Universe, You Just Don't Know It Yet" Nick Fury, Iron Man

It"s impressive enough that the original Iron Man managed to end on such a powerful note with Tony Stark"s closing words. However, the very first MCU post-credits scene also presents a piece of dialogue that only continues to age better with every year that passes. Breaking into Tony Stark"s villa and informing him about the Avengers initiative, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury warns him "You"ve become part of a bigger universe, you just don"t know it yet."
Here, Nick Fury all but refers to the Marvel Cinematic Universe by name, signaling to both Tony Stark and the audience themselves that they are standing on the precipice of a great era of films. Sure enough, with every passing year of the franchise"s cinematic dominance, Fury"s words ring all the truer. Going back to this line with modern knowledge is quite a chilling experience.
8 "I Could Do This All Day" Stever Rogers, Captain America: The First Avenger

Tony Stark isn"t the only flagship hero of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to have something of an iconic catchphrase. In Captain America"s first appearance, the still-scrawny Steve Rogers endures a merciless beating from a local delinquent, only to get back up and declare "I could do this all day." These words would go on to become Captain America"s famous catchphrase used throughout the MCU, getting more iconic with each use.
Rogers says the line again during his confrontation with Red Skull later in the same film, and once more in Captain America: Civil War when fighting Iron Man. The line is even iconic enough to be parodied in later films, owing to just how well it aged in such a short time. With the knowledge that every time Captain America says these words, he still pictures himself standing up to another bully, this line only keeps on giving with subsequent rewatches.
7 "If You Need Me, I'll Be There" Steve Rogers, Captain America: Civil War

Speaking of Captain America: Civil War, the ideological divide between the Avengers" two most prominent members provided many more opportunities for fantastic lines. Steve Rogers" entire closing monologue, narrated by Chris Evans as Tony Stark reads it in the form of a letter, is an underrated gem in the film. Despite their obvious differences, Captain America promises Tony that should he ever truly need him and his companions, he"s just a phone call away.
Sure enough, when Thanos and the Black Order arrive on Earth in Avengers: Infinity War, Tony Stark relents and calls the burner flip-phone Steve gifted him. Captain America holds up his promise, arriving to re-form the Avengers in their moment of utmost need. Knowing just how sincere Rogers" promise was, hearing this line again on another viewing only gets more gratifying.
6 "I Had A Date..." Steve Rogers, Captain America: The First Avenger

More than anything else, Captain America is a character colored by tragedy and sacrifice. Always willing to put everything on the line in defense of his country and those who can"t defend themselves, Captain America is truly tested at the end of Captain America: The First Avenger when he realizes he"ll have to sacrifice the one thing he wants most, a life of romance with Peggy Carter, in order to stop HYDRA"s plan. Waking up in the present day, Rogers is unaffected by the modern technology around him, only murmuring "I had a date..."
This acknowledgment of the fact that he missed his chance with Peggy is utterly heartbreaking at first, all the more so as Captain America"s journey through the series progresses. However, at the end of Avengers: Endgame, Steve finally gets the chance to pay off this line by making good on his promise to take Peggy out, living a happy, simple life together with her after going back in time. The knowledge that Captain America eventually gets the date he promised makes his initial heartbreak all the more bittersweet.
5 "I Am Burdened With Glorious Purpose" Loki, The Avengers

Few characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have had an arc as turbulent as Loki"s. The adopted son of Asgard begins the series as an egotistical tyrant bent on conquering the Earth just to have a kingdom to subjugate all his own. Yet by the end of his eponymous series, Loki has transformed into a selfless god of sacrifice, giving up everyone he loves to sit at the center of time for all eternity.
The title of the final Loki episode in which this happens, Glorious Purpose, ties back to Loki"s appearance in The Avengers. Asserting his right to rule, Loki claims that he is "Burdened with glorious purpose." It"s only later that audiences got to learn what exactly this glorious purpose was, making the line age all the sweeter as this version of Loki gives up everything to save everyone.
4 "What Is Grief, If Not Love Persevering?" Vision, WandaVision

WandaVision got to expand on the lives of both its title characters during the lulls in action between major crossover movies, resulting in one of the most poignant lines ever dreamed up for an MCU movie. As Wanda grieves the loss of her brother, Vision assures her that her feelings are a good thing, asking "What is grief, if not love persevering?" This beautiful quote is remembered by Wanda as she mourns Vision"s own death, but the line is applicable in far more circumstances.
The beauty of this line transcends the narrative of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, being a deeply philosophical quote that many viewers can relate to their own lives. Within the context of the MCU, the line has also aged wonderfully, being a touchstone of Scarlet Witch"s eventual redemption. As the upcoming Vision series looms in the MCU release schedule, it"s likely that this line will give fans even more to think about.
3 "Avengers, Assemble!" Captain America, Avengers: Endgame

Lines in the Marvel Cinematic Universe don"t necessarily need to age well strictly due to narrative payoffs or clever foreshadowing. Sometimes, an iconic line is simply great enough on its own merits to get better over time, and that"s certainly the case with Captain America"s iconic line in Avengers: Endgame. As all the fallen heroes step through Doctor Strange"s portals, The Avengers theme blares just before Captain America can finally let loose his famous comic book line.
Famously, Captain America almost gets to say "Avengers, assemble!" in Avengers: Age of Ultron, before being rudely interrupted by the end credits. This tease only made it more satisfying when Captain America finally does say the line in earnest, and its only gotten better with time alongside the iconic moment it debuts in. In rare instances, the memories of powerful hype can be all it takes to keep a line from the MCU powerful years later.
2 "You're Not The Guy To Make The Sacrifice Play" Captain America, The Avengers

It says something about Chris Evans" subtle performance as Captain America that he was able to be behind so many of the franchise"s best-aged quotes. That being said, one of his wonderful lines that simply keeps on giving is said in regard to Tony Stark, not long after the two heroes" frosty first meeting. Sensing Tony"s egotistical attitude, Steve questions his capabilities for hero work, accusing him that "You"re not the guy to make the sacrifice play, to lay down on the wire and let the other guy crawl over you."
Yet in his final moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tony Stark does just that, giving up a happy life with his wife and daughter in order to bring back all the lives lost to Thanos" snap. Knowing where Tony"s hero journey ultimately ends up makes it all the more exciting to hear Captain America make these allegations, even if they may be true at the time. In the end, Iron Man was as worthy a hero as the MCU had ever seen.
1 "Vengeance Has Consumed You. I'm Done Letting It Consume Me" Black Panther, Captain America: Civil War

Black Panther"s introduction in Captain America: Civil War is one of the most impressive aspects of the film, made all the better by the debut of the late Chadwick Boseman"s phenomenal performance. In the film, Black Panther is fueled by vengeance, wanting the head of his father"s killer. But when his true prey is finally handed to him on a silver platter, T"Challa realizes the error of his ways, seeing himself in Baron Zemo"s own obsession with getting even with the Avengers.
What makes this line so endearingly good is how it applies to T"Challa"s successor as Black Panther, Shuri, in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Here, Shuri undergoes a similar arc, going from seething hatred of Namor and the Atlanteans for the death of her mother to eventual acceptance and forgiveness. Beyond this thematic connection, Boseman"s delivery of the line is easily one of the coldest in the entire MCU.
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