10 Incredible MCU Moments That Genuinely Never Get Old

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of great moments, but there are only a select few that genuinely never get old. Ever since the beginning of the timeline of the MCU, the franchise has built a reputation for incredible superhero action and crucial moments of levity. Bringing the stories and characters of Marvel Comics to life on the big screen has seen many iconic moments take place in the franchise.
Of these remarkable moments, only a select few are able to hold their quality over the years. The movies and TV shows of the MCU have delivered many unforgettable scenes, whether through epic scale, narrative importance, or awe-inspiring execution. In a franchise that relies so heavily on visual effects, making a moment that ages perfectly isn’t always easy, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe often finds a way to make it happen. Here are 10 MCU moments that genuinely never get old.
10 Thor Lets Surtur Destroy Asgard Thor: Ragnarok (2017) As Thor is one of the MCU’s longest-serving Avengers, his MCU story has seen him undergo a great deal of character development. One scene that especially defined Thor’s MCU story came at the end of Thor: Ragnarok, when he is forced to allow Asgard to be destroyed in order to defeat Hela and save his people. It’s a pivotal moment for the God of Thunder, and it’s also one that simply never gets old.
The emotional weight of the moment alone is impactful, but the way the scene builds up to it makes it perfect. Seeing Thor rally himself from a low point and fight his hardest against Hela only to fall short is heartbreaking, but his decision to allow Surtur to claim Asgard was both devastating and triumphant. Seeing Thor make an impossible decision and great sacrifice in order to be a true hero is a moment that’s still great no matter how many times it’s seen.
9 Doctor Strange Outsmarts Dormammu Doctor Strange (2016) Doctor Strange’s introduction into the MCU opened a whole new world of possibilities involving the mystic arts and associated characters from the comics. His debut primarily saw him battling Kaecilius, though the stakes were raised when Dormammu arrived. Hopelessly out of his depth, Doctor Strange employed an unexpected and subtly hilarious tactic in order to defeat the much more powerful entity.
Using the Time Stone to trap Dormammu in a time loop was a stroke of brilliance, and even though the being repeatedly killed Strange, the sorcerer simply waited for him to grow bored of doing so. The brilliant ploy to frustrate the immeasurably powerful Dormammu was comedic and decidedly on-brand for Benedict Cumberbatch’s somewhat abrasive portrayal of Strange. The ingenuity of the moment combined with its presentation means that it remains every bit as enjoyable as it was upon release.
8 The Airport Battle Captain America: Civil War (2016) One of the most significant moments for the Avengers in the MCU’s Infinity Saga came in Captain America: Civil War, in which the team were torn in two by the controversial Sokovia Accords. After establishing their differing opinions on the Accords, Cap and Iron Man found themselves at odds with one another, each backed by their own team of heroes. The culmination was an epic airport showdown, featuring multiple new heroes joining the Avengers for the very first time.
The airport battle in Civil War remains a flawless MCU moment, and it simply never gets old. Seeing former friends and allies turn on one another is upsetting, but the action is so well-crafted that it’s difficult not to appreciate the spectacle of the moment. There’s very little not to love about Civil War’s airport battle, as it showcases multiple MCU heroes in a moment as epic as it is devastating.
7 Spider-Man Picks Himself Up Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) Though Spider-Man"s MCU story is packed with pivotal moments for the young hero, there is one especially underrated scene that only gets better with age. After his brief introduction in Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming followed Peter Parker as he operated a hero under Tony Stark’s mentorship, complete with a high-tech Stark suit. Left without his suit and its functionality, Spider-Man finds himself trapped under rubble by the Vulture.
The moment that Spider-Man wills himself to get up and get himself clear of danger is hugely inspiring. Seeing the adolescent hero acknowledging his own power rather than relying on his idol was just a glimpse of his true potential, and it came in an emotional and perfectly written scene. It’s a moment that speaks to the inner strength of the MCU’s Spider-Man, and it genuinely never gets old.
6 Iron Man Defeats Thanos Avengers: Endgame (2019) Perhaps the most bittersweet moment in all the movies of the MCU, the ending of Avengers: Endgame sees Iron Man defeat Thanos once and for all. After the epic clash of heroes and villains in the Battle of Earth, Iron Man is able to gather the Infinity Stones, giving him the upper hand over Thanos. Seizing the advantage, he snaps his fingers, defeating the Mad Titan at the cost of his own life in one of the most iconic heroic sacrifices of all time.
Replying to Thanos’s “I am inevitable” with “and I am Iron Man” lent the moment even more power. Tony Stark’s final act, being one of pure selflessness in order to protect others, is especially triumphant considering the overall thrust of his character arc, and it remains powerful years after Endgame’s release. It’s a moment that never seems to grow old, no matter how often it"s rewatched.
5 Iron Man Tests The Mk. II Iron Man (2008) There are many incredible moments in Iron Man’s MCU story, but the first time he takes flight remains one of the best. After refining his initial plans into a more advanced model, Tony Stark sets out to test the Mark II. What was initially intended to be a brief test impulsively turns into a full flight, in a moment that is completely characteristic of Stark’s recklessness in the MCU’s early days.
The scene doesn’t age because it remains one of the most fun and immersive moments in the MCU. The framing of Iron Man’s first flight puts the audience in his position, offering up the thrills of Stark’s new invention. It’s a moment that distills everything about Stark into a single scene, perfectly capturing the essence of the character in a single remarkable sequence that cemented the cinematic potential of the MCU.
4 Captain America Wields Mjolnir Avengers: Endgame (2019) As one of the MCU’s most important and beloved heroes, Captain America plays a huge role in the events of the Infinity Saga. A leader of the Avengers and a role model to his fellow heroes, Steve’s worthiness to wield Mjolnir was hinted at in Avengers: Age of Ultron. However, Avengers: Endgame sees Cap wield Mjolnir in a moment that came as a welcome surprise and an epic cinematic development.
The shot of Steve Rogers holding Mjolnir has become synonymous with the Battle of Earth, because it proved to be an instant fan-favorite. There was no other Avenger more worthy of lifting Thor’s hammer, and seeing the idea that Captain America could wield the power of Thor confirmed on the big screen was a major triumph. The iconic nature of the moment and the implications it has for Steve’s character mean that it genuinely doesn’t age.
3 The Avengers Assemble For The First Time The Avengers (2012) 2012 saw the release of The Avengers, the much-anticipated culmination of four years of build-up. The heroes introduced in the franchise’s previous movies finally appeared together on-screen, with much of the movie establishing the necessity for the titular team. The film’s climactic battle saw the Avengers finally become a true team, with a single sweeping shot capturing all six founding members in one of the franchise’s most memorable and beloved moments.
From the Hulk’s timely transformation and one-punch knockout of a Chitauri Leviathan to the perfectly posed team shot, it’s a moment that has been etched into cinematic history. Everything about the Avengers assembling for the first time is flawless, particularly considering the events surrounding their introductions to one another. The moment remains every bit as powerful as it did in 2012, indicating that it simply will not age.
2 The Three Spider-Men Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) Though the MCU is one of the most comprehensive franchises in movie history, rights issues have led to some disappointments for fans. Spider-Man"s late arrival in the franchise saw the MCU take a different approach from previous iterations of the character, leading to many comparisons between the three live-action Spider-Man actors. It wasn’t until Spider-Man: No Way Home’s Multiverse narrative that the three versions of the character were able to appear together.
After months of denying their involvement in the movie, the appearance of Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire was truly incredible. Seeing the three Spider-Men suit up to fight alongside one another was one of the most exciting cinematic experiences of all time for fans of the character, paying off decades of storytelling in a single epic moment. No matter how often it’s revisited, the moment remains every bit as amazing as it was upon release.
1 Captain America’s Elevator Fight Scene Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) The MCU has been exciting fans since its inception, but one scene in particular has remained a consistently undeniable crowd pleaser. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is considered one of the MCU’s best ever movies, thanks in no small part to its remarkable action sequences. Partway through the film, Cap finds himself in an elevator full of Hydra sleeper agents. He quietly and calmly asks if anyone would like to leave before the fight scene abruptly begins.
The claustrophobic and brutal scene that follows is the MCU’s greatest action sequence. The tightly-shot, viciously violent display shows Captain America at his best, fending off multiple henchmen against the odds in what may well be his finest cinematic moment. It can be watched again and again, as nothing about the scene has aged at all – it"s still the best fight scene in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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