The Biggest Sci-Fi & Superhero Movie Moments of 2017, Ranked

2017 will go down in history as one of the biggest in genre movie history. While the overall box office slipped, fans experienced films featuring some of the biggest Marvel and DC superheroes, major movies based on non-superhero comics like Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and, oh yes - a new chapter in the ongoing Star Wars saga.

The high volume of blockbusters being produced gave us dozens of films rooted in action, sci-fi and fantasy. And though nearly every one of them had a scene that will remain permanently etched in the memories of moviegoers, there were ten moments that rose above the rest.

#10: THE IRON SPIDER (SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING)

Spider-Man: Homecoming focused on Peter Parker (Tom Holland) trying to win Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) approval and officially join the Avengers. Eventually, he would show Stark that it was the man, not the suit, that made the hero.

At the movie's end, Iron Man offered Spidey a spot on the team after all, as well as the famous Iron Spider armor. However, finally recognizing he was still in his learning phase, Peter respectfully declined. Still, this moment was big as it not only paid tribute to the Civil War comics where the wall-crawler accepted Stark's suit and then publicly unmasked, it led to what we can only assume is the engagement of Tony and Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow).

#9: CAESAR'S DEATH (WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES)

In the explosive finale of War for the Planet of the Apes, Caesar (Andy Serkis) suffered a fatal crossbow shot, just after leading his species to sanctuary and away from the murderous Colonel (Woody Harrelson). As he watched his people, including his son, Cornelius, and a young human, Nova, basking in freedom and unity, the ape succumbed to his injuries.

It was oddly poetic as the man who shot him, Preacher, was someone he once offered an olive branch to. Nonetheless, director Matt Reeves gave the classic character a fitting end; Caesar truly did deserve peace after such a long war.

#8: YONDU'S FAREWELL (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2)

James Gunn redeemed Yondu (Michael Rooker) in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 by having the mercenary rescue Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) from his evil father, Ego (Kurt Russell). Yondu was making up for doing Ego's dirty work in the past, sacrificing himself in outer space after he gave Star-Lord, no longer possessing Celestial blood, the only oxygen mask he had to survive.

As he died, Yondu reminded Quill, "He [Ego] may have been your father, boy, but he wasn't your daddy." It was heartbreaking to watch him freeze to death but it was a truly heroic death, and one that was well-earned.

#7: THOR LOSES AN EYE (THOR: RAGNAROK)

Director Taika Waititi made Thor: Ragnarok an action-comedy but he also gave the Marvel Cinematic Universe its first full-blown villainess in the Goddess of Death, Hela (Cate Blanchett). After she took over Asgard, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returned to fight his sister. There, in the course of battle, Hela, the hidden daughter of Odin, claimed her brother's eye.

No one saw this brutal move coming, especially as Marvel Studios already showed convention audiences footage from Avengers: Infinity War with the Avenger boasting both eyes. It was all misdirection, of course, hiding from fans just how closely Thor was poised to follow Odin's footsteps as Asgard's king.

#6: NO MAN'S LAND (WONDER WOMAN)

Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman was a critical and commercial success, enhanced by Gal Gadot's performance as Diana of Themyscira. Her power and grace was best represented by the "No Man's Land" action sequence, where Wonder Woman first stepped out into the field of battle in World War I.

She used her Amazonian shield and bracelets to deflect bullets, as well as her godlike abilities to evade the enemy's attacks, quickly becoming a symbol of hope, inspiration and triumph for Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) and the Allies.

Page 2: [valnet-url-page page=2 paginated=0 text='Superhero%20Face-Offs%2C%20a%20Mutant%27s%20Last%20Stand%20%26%20a%20Galaxy%20Far%2C%20Far%20Away']

#5: SUPERMAN vs. FLASH (JUSTICE LEAGUE)

In a Justice League mid-credits scene, Superman (Henry Cavill) and Flash (Ezra Miller) renewed their rivalry from the movie to determine just who is the fastest hero alive. When Superman returned from the dead thanks to the League's quick-thinking, he took on them on and proved he was faster, so this was Flash getting another shot at the title.

Not only did this recreate a scene comic fans have wanted to see translated to live-action for, oh, forever, the sequence also highlighted how much the DC Extended Universe wants to shift away from dark, gritty superheroism and veer more towards a lighthearted age of heroes.

#4: WOLVERINE'S DEATH (LOGAN)

James Mangold's Logan was a neo-Western, R-rated movie that gave comic fans the best representation of the character to date. Hugh Jackman's Wolverine was more violent and foul-mouthed than ever, yet he still tried his best to protect Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and X-23 (Dafne Keen) from the Reavers.

He eventually died at the hands of X-24, another clone of his, after being impaled on a tree but he accomplished his mission of saving young, endangered mutants. Jackman went out on the perfect note and when X-23 turned the cross on his grave into an 'X,' it was poetry in motion.

#3: SUPERMAN RETURNS (JUSTICE LEAGUE)

In Justice League, Batman and Cyborg used Mother Box technology to resurrect Superman. However, when the Man of Steel returned, it wasn't pretty. Superman, still experiencing dementia, took the fight to the League and really whipped their behinds. Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Aquaman and Flash all proved no match for a demented Kal-El.

Thankfully, Lois Lane (Amy Adams) arrived to calm him down, helping the hero regain his senses. Until then, it was quite the showdown, yet shockingly one-sided. This sequence, especially the one where he eyed Barry Allen at top-speed, reminded us that no one, not even a combined League, stands a chance against Superman. No wonder Batman wanted him back to fight Steppenwolf!

#2: GENERAL LEIA WIELDS THE FORCE (STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI)

Many fans were eager to see if Rian Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi would kill off the late Carrie Fisher's General Leia. When the First Order blasted her control room apart, throwing her into space, it appeared that was the moment.

However, Leia instead shocked audiences by displaying her ability to physically manipulate the Force for the first time. She managed to evade death and then fly back to the safety of her Raddus flagship. Fans are still wondering how she didn't freeze to death, but, well -- it's the Force. Deal with it. We're just glad she lived on to help deny the First Order victory.

#1: THE DEATH OF LUKE SKYWALKER (STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI)

When we finally learned what The Last Jedi meant, it came at a costly price. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) thwarted Kylo Ren's (Adam Driver) plans, allowing the Resistance to escape Crait, by using a Force projection to trick his former apprentice.

Sadly, this drained Luke's energy, and back on Ahch-To, he died watching a twin sunset, evoking the image of Tattooine in A New Hope. The fact that some fans are still angry by this scene illustrates how impactful it was. Luke's death, while inspiring the rebels to fight another day, marked the end of an era, and in the process gave the franchise one of its biggest moments, ever.