Summary
- MCU fight scenes are often emotionally significant, whether they result in fatal consequences or demonstrate poignant character development.
- The most heart-wrenching battles evoke emotions based on the context and relationships between the characters involved.
- The MCU has delivered intense and heartbreaking fight scenes that make audiences feel invested in the outcome, showcasing the sacrifices and emotional turmoil faced by beloved heroes.
While watching super-beings simply duke it out can often be entertaining, the most heart-wrenching Every MCU movie features fight scenes that are known for being spectacular, but are also proficient in making the audience feel invested in the stakes - whether it is for the fate of one character, or the entire universe. After all, it can take just a few short minutes of trading super-powered blows before one of the franchise's most beloved heroes ends up biting the bullet.
Heart-wrenching moments in MCU battles aren't limited to fatal consequences, however; there are many that are designed to move audiences based purely on the context in which they take place. These may comprise a confrontation between heroes. Or moments that mark a particularly poignant instance of character development. With that in mind, here are the 10 most heart-wrenching fight scenes in the MCU.
10 Thor And Loki Fight Kurse And The Dark Elves In Thor: The Dark World
Thor: The Dark World may be among the worst-ranked MCU movies in the entire franchise, but that does not mean it is without its fair share of emotional heft. It is in one of Thor: The Dark World’s most consequential fight scenes that this is most apparent. This was the scene that saw Thor and Loki’s brotherly love culminate in Loki rescuing Thor from Kurse, only to fall to the same blade. Of course, this turns out to be a somewhat disappointing fake-out just several scenes later, but it was still a heartbreaking scene at that moment due to the show of selflessness from a thus-far exceptionally selfish god.
9 Scott Lang Fights Kang In Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantamania
While Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantamania may have rendered the MCU's Kang more disappointing than Thanos, it succeeded in delivering some compelling scenes as Scott Lang fights tooth-and-nail for his daughter's safety. This is most evident in the final moments of the film, which sees Scott tussling with the arguably far superior Kang in a frantic attempt to keep the newest arch-villain from pursuing Cassie and unleashing himself on the world above the Quantum Realm. While Ant-Man is often the go-to guy for comic relief, his delivery of the line "I don’t have to win. We just both have to lose." was a hard-hitting demonstration of his heroic willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice akin to Tony Stark himself in Avengers: Endgame.
8 Peter Parker Fights The Green Goblin In Happy's Condo In Spider-Man: No Way Home
The heart-wrenching nature of this MCU fight scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home is multifaceted but decidedly punctuated by the death of Aunt May and her pivotal final words. It is also Green Goblin’s successful sabotage of Peter and May’s noble plan to “cure” the multiverse-hopping villains, however, that delivers an extra emotional blow in this bout. It both renders Peter’s well-intentioned refusal of Steven Strange’s wishes obsolete and reinforces the notion that not everybody can be saved, leaving Peter to subsequently fall down a pretty dark path when he nearly enacts brutal revenge on Osborne.
7 Tony Stark Fights Steve Rogers And Bucky Barnes In Captain America: Civil War
Captain America: Civil War, while beloved by fans for its seminal Avengers vs. Avengers fight scene at Leipzig/Halle Airport, features one noticeably grittier moment between Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and Bucky Barnes. Stark's quick wit flies out the window upon discovering that Bucky (although brainwashed at the time) is responsible for the death of his parents. The fight that follows is a no-holds-barred attempt by Stark to put Bucky down as Steve attempts to position himself between them, with all parties often exchanging a worrying level of force. It is a captivating albeit discomforting fight scene characterized by the heartbreaking exchange that sees Cap explain "He's my friend," before Tony responds, "So was I."
6 Killmonger Fights T’Challa For The Wakandan Throne In Black Panther
Black Panther establishes T’Challa as a comionate leader of his nation, Wakanda. This comion and pursuit of peace are starkly demonstrated in his reluctant face-off with his cousin, Erik Killmonger, as they engage in a traditional fight for the throne. Despite T’Challa gaining the upper hand first, he refuses to deliver a killing blow and commands Killmonger to yield - a courtesy that Killmonger is not so quick to extend. The reactions of T’Challa’s loved ones, who cannot intervene as Killmonger proceeds to maim and ostensibly kill his cousin, only help to make this fight scene even harder to watch.
5 Shuri Fights Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
This pivotal MCU fight is rendered all the more heart-wrenching by the context in which it takes place. New Black Panther Shuri is struggling to come to with the loss of her brother and mother. This manifests as a decidedly more vengeful version of the Black Panther, which is illustrated by Shuri’s unexpected meeting with her implacable cousin, Erik Killmonger, in the Ancestral Plane. A vision of Ramonda before Shuri can deliver the final blow, however, is a particularly poignant scene that seemingly convinces Shuri to act as her late brother would and show mercy.
4 Steve Rogers Fights Brainwashed Bucky Barnes In Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Despite including some of the best fight scenes in the MCU, Captain America: The Winter Soldier also delivers plenty of emotional blows as we watch Steve Rogers reluctantly wail on his erstwhile best friend, Bucky Barnes. One of the movie’s climactic scenes sees Steve implore a brainwashed Bucky “Please don’t make me do this,” before letting loose with his iconic shield when Bucky fails to stand aside. The pain in Cap’s eyes as he momentarily renders Bucky unconscious, before then being shot by his supposed brother-in-arms is a truly intense moment that helps to elevate this MCU powerhouse as one of the best installments.
3 Peter Quill And The Guardians Fight Ego In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2
The heart-wrenching final fight scene of Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 sees Peter Quill and the Guardians attempt to kill Peter’s own father, the Celestial “Living Planet”, Ego. The premise itself is heavy enough, but Peter’s willingness to relinquish godlike powers due to his affinity for his fellow mortals and Yondu’s tear-jerking sacrifice to save Quill’s life makes this MCU fight among the most saddening. The typically lighthearted Guardians franchise certainly struck a chord in this one scene alone, before doubling down with the entirety of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
2 The Avengers, Guardians, and Wakandans Fight Thanos In Avengers: Infinity War
The final battle in Avengers: Infinity War engenders just about every emotion possible, only to end with that fateful final snap. Throughout it are harrowing moments aplenty, however, as the audience bears witness to Thanos making short work of (nearly) every Avenger on the field, the double-death of Vision with Wanda's agonizing yet ultimately fruitless sacrifice, and Thor's painful proximity to victory before realizing that he "should have gone for the head." There aren't many movies that end in crushing defeat, but this climactic fight is one that will stay with MCU fans forever.
1 Natasha Romanoff Fights Clint Barton On Vormir In Avengers: Endgame
Watching Clint and Natasha struggle over who should be the one to sacrifice themselves in order to retrieve the Soul Stone in Avengers: Endgame is among the most tragic scenes in the entire MCU. It is one fight where the consequences are dire but necessary, and one in which rooting for either side feels impossible. While many MCU fights can enrapture the audience so much that they wish it would never end, this scene does the same but for entirely different reasons. Ultimately, however, the audience is left knowing that Clint, with a loving family that awaits him on the other side of their success, was probably the one that should have survived despite the painful consequences.
