One of the fans' most significant praises of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is its action sequences. While it's easy to have comic book characters duke it out and make it look entertaining, the MCU tends to go the extra mile with deep characterizations of the heroes and villains and the creativity of their powers.
Most MCU movies have enjoyable action sequences, but the final battle tends to be the most impactful. The characters go all out in their beliefs and abilities and come out the other side as different and better people, which ends the film on a high note.
10 Ant-Man's Battle Against Yellowjacket Blends Intensity And Silliness
The climax of Ant-Man (2015) has the villainous Darren Cross, aka Yellowjacket (Corey Stoll), hold Scott Lang's, aka Ant-Man's (Paul Rudd) daughter, Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson), hostage. The two battle in their shrunken states on a Thomas the Tank engine set.
The battle is amusingly saccharine with its imagery of a child's toy and looks intense in the two's superhuman abilities up close and the impact and hurling of multiple objects. However, it will occasionally zoom out to show its harmless and anti-climactic nature, given that most of the things they use are solely plastic. The idea was by former director Edgar Wright, and one can only wonder what more could have been if he had stayed on the project.
9 Doctor Strange Annoys Dormammu, An Inter-Dimensional Entity, Into Surrender
Doctor Strange (2016) begins its final battle with the Dark Dimension destroying Earth and the sorcerers that could defend it in the wake of the Ancient One's (Tilda Swinton) death. Thus, Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) enters the Dark Dimension to end the threat by fighting the evil entity, Dormammu.
Strange uses the time stone to create an endless time loop that repeatedly forces Dormammu to kill Strange, infuriating the entity. Fans see Strange's wariness of the plan at first grow into confidence as he realizes it's working, and his powers only grow from his failed experiences. Dormammu gets so annoyed he bends to Strange's demands, thus defeating the villain in a most unorthodox but effective way.
8 Peter Parker's Fight Against The Green Goblin Is Unlike Any Of His Prior Battles
The final battle of Spider-Man: No Way Home has Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man (Tom Holland), team up with two alternate versions of himself to cure a series of villains from other universes. However, Peter's resolve gets tested when the Green Goblin (William Dafoe), who had earlier killed his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), shows up.
Before the two start fighting, Peter's eyes show rage and vengeance unlike anything in his previous battles. The audience and Peter's friends see the horrifying implications of that anger through every blow against the Goblin, culminating in Peter attempting to murder him. It is only through Peter 2's guidance (Tobey Maguire) that he calms down and completes the mission.
7 Thor's Battle Against Hela And Her Forces Features Stunning Imagery Backed By An Ideal Soundtrack
The final act of Thor: Ragnarök has Thor (Chris Hemsworth) return to Asgard to defeat his sister, Hela (Cate Blanchett). He finds himself overwhelmed by her until a vision from his late father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), informs him of the untapped potential of his powers, saying he is more potent than he believes.
This inspirational speech leads Thor to unleash a lightning surge to decimate Hela and her army. The scenes of him and his allies fighting imbue awe through the imagery and "The Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin. Although it doesn't fully take down Hela, fans still feel the impact of the whole thing at the end of it all.
6 The Battle For Earth In Avengers: Endgame Brings A Decade Of The MCU's Efforts Together
Steve Rogers, aka Captain America (Chris Evans), begins the final battle in Avengers: Endgame prepared to face Thanos (Josh Brolin) and his army alone, despite the odds against him. However, things change when Thanos' restored snap victims return through Strange's portals to fight by his side.
The sentimental emotions ride high with the return of each victim, and it gradually shifts into amazement, flying high as they merge and charge against Thanos' forces. Although Thanos is a different version from the one in Avengers: Infinity War, the emotions ride high within the heroes as each moment carries the unique identities they've formed over several movies.
5 Steve And Bucky's Battle Against Iron Man Packs Heavy Emotion Within Old Bonds
Before Captain America: Civil War's final battle, Tony Stark, aka Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), makes a truce over the Sokovia Accords conflict with Rogers and his long-time friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). However, he witnesses old video footage of Bucky killing Tony's parents. Tony is enraged at Rogers for keeping this information and declares war on him and Barnes.
The actors' performances and characters' actions embody the hurt and betrayal they feel in having to fight each other more brutally than ever. Even though the protagonists do not kill each other, it cuts deep knowing that these relationships, built on a compelling foundation, have little chance of mending.
4 The Battle Of New York In Avengers (2012) Encompassed The Joy Of Seeing Multiple MCU Heroes Together
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The climax of Avengers (2012) sees the formerly divided and separated heroes come together in New York to take on Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his alien army. Audiences previously saw them work off each other in personality, and in this scene, they saw them together in action.
The action embraces its grand scale that encompasses the feeling of reading a comic book. The heroes live up to what many audiences want them to do. Captain America takes a leadership role, Thor brings forth lightning, Hulk smashes things in all his glory, etc. Thanks to their developed personalities, they shine by utilizing and combining their best skills.
3 The Battle Of Wakanda In Avengers: Infinity War Shows Thanos' Impending Doom
The final battle in Avengers: Infinity War takes place in Wakanda. It begins as a fight against a bunch of cannon fodder against Thanos' forces. However, the threat grows when Thanos finally shows up to take the final Infinity Stone, the Mind Stone.
Fear and heartbreak run rampant as audiences see the heroes use all their strength to hold off Thanos, only to fail miserably. The intensity mounts with each attempt, even knowing that the Mind Stone's destruction will be for naught due to Thanos' acquisition of the Mind Stone. It shakes viewers to the core when Thanos succeeds as realization slowly sets in.
2 Captain America's Fight Against Bucky In Captain America: The Winter Soldier Physically And Mentally Challenges The Characters
The final fight in Captain America: The Winter Soldier has Captain America, and his allies stop Hydra's world domination plans by infiltrating their main headquarters to expose them. It eventually leads him into a fight with a brainwashed Bucky.
Despite Bucky's brainwashing making him disregard his old friendship, Steve's refusal to fight his friend feels heavy due to prior flashback scenes showing their bond. While the fight isn't as riveting as the film's previous ones, it leaves viewers wondering how everything will turn out okay if such a thing is possible. While Steve fails to free Bucky, it ends on a comforting note that at least some of Steve's words pulled through to him.
1 Quill's Battle Against Ego In Guardians Of The Galaxy 2 Has Heart And Humor
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), angrily attack his father Ego (Kurt Russell) upon learning the latter killed the former's mother. Ego draws on Quill's energy to activate seedlings to devour several worlds.
Quill uses his celestial powers in a humorous way that defines his character. He transforms into a giant version of Pac-Man, who destroys Ego in the video game's character's style. The battle also features plenty of Quill's adopted father, Yondu (Michael Rooker), who gets amusing one-liners and the time to make amends over his toughness with Quill, making his sacrifice all the more meaningful.