The MCU has faced its fair share of criticism when it comes to fight scenes. Despite a diverse range of characters, superpowers, equipment, and settings, some fans argue that too many MCU movies end with two people with very similar powers engaging in a fistfight.
There is truth to this criticism, but it is by no means the rule for the MCU. Many films have fights that truly stand out. Whether this is due to their scale, inventive use of superpowers, unique settings, or simply being weird, the MCU has depicted battles that wouldn't be possible in other franchises.
10 Kaecilius Attacks Mordo, Strange, & The Ancient One In The Mirror Dimension (Doctor Strange)
One of the many things Doctor Strange is still applauded for by fans is using its premise fully. The first movie in the MCU focusing on magic, the film doesn't restrict itself to people throwing light at one another or using a few tricks like teleportation — it gets undeniably weird with its fights.
In one of the most notable fights, Kaecilius and his henchmen attack Strange and Mordo after being trapped in the Mirror Dimension. Empowered by the Dark Dimension, they are able to twist reality, and all Strange and Mordo can do is run until the Ancient One steps in. During the chase and battle, the characters twist matter, gravity, and even perception itself to create an unforgettable battle.
9 Tony Stark Escapes A Pair Of Raptors (Iron Man)
Iron Man may seem like a relatively humble movie in comparison to the star-sweeping epics that have since taken over the MCU, but it still contains one of the series' most unique and gripping battles. After Tony enters a No-Fly zone, a pair of F-22 Raptors are sent to shoot him down.
What follows is an intense aerial dogfight as Stark attempts to escape the Raptors without harming their pilots — all while attempting to phone Rhodes to explain the situation. The stakes are upped even further when Tony has to unjam the parachute of one of his attackers while still under attack.
8 Ant-Man Fights Yellowjacket (Ant-Man)
The most creative fight scenes often play with perception — and no franchise specializes in that better than the size-shifting antics of Ant-Man. Although the movie's final fight scene does pit two very similar characters against one another, the change in size allows for a visual spectacle to close out the film.
With Ant-Man and Yellowjacket battling in a children's bedroom transformed by the microscopic scale, an innocent environment becomes a battleground. Carpet becomes rugged terrain, toys become buildings, and a Thomas the Tank Engine becomes relatively life-sized.
7 Ebony Maw & Cull Obsidian Invade New York (Avengers: Infinity War)
Avengers: Infinity War has a lot of fights even by MCU standards. An early battle takes place in New York where Tony Stark, Strange, Wong, and Peter Parker have to defend the city — and the Time Stone — against the Children of Thanos.
Featuring some of the most diverse powers in the MCU, their fight sees magic, telekinesis, portals, nanotechnology, and sheer brute strength. The battle rages back and forth for some time and gives fans plenty of memorable dialogue from heroes and villains alike.
6 Carol Danvers Shuts Down Yon-Rogg (Captain Marvel)
In Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers is repeatedly criticized by Yon-Rogg. He frequently challenges her to do better and prove herself to him. The two come face-to-face in the film's third act. After a tense stand-off, Yon-Rogg warmly admits that he's proud of Danvers for how powerful she's become and invites her to defeat him hand-to-hand. In a subversion of the typical MCU fistfight, Danvers instead blasts him several hundred feet, ending the fight instantly before telling him she has nothing to prove.
5 Peter Quill & Ego Fight With Celestial Power (Guardians Of The Galaxy 2)
After spending most of the first Guardians of the Galaxy as an ordinary human — albeit a quick-witted and capable one — Peter Quill acquires superpowers when he visits the world of Ego in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Learning from his father how to use his Celestial nature to create and reshape matter, Peter Quill quickly grows more capable.
When the two inevitably come to blows later in the film, they both make expert use of these abilities. Beginning with just plowing through the hollows of Ego's world and weaponizing the matter around them, Star-Lord gets more creative as the battle goes on — he even attacks his father in the form of Pac-Man.
4 Asgardians Battle Across The Bifrost (Thor: Ragnarok)
Thor: Ragnarok received widespread praise for its characterization, humor, and action scenes. The film contains one of the most sprawling climaxes in the MCU as Thor, Valkyrie, Loki, Heimdall, the Hulk, and others battle Hela's forces across the Bifrost.
Featuring Banner turning into the Hulk to battle Fenrir, Valkyrie luring Einherjar over to her with a ship's flares, Loki coming to the rescue with a ship full of gladiators, and Thor awakening his true powers, the battle is one of the longest in the MCU. This fight showcases a vast array of character beats, fighting styles, and changes in dynamic — ending with Surtur being summoned and annihilating Asgard.
3 Clint Barton & Kate Bishop Defeat The Tracksuit Mafia (Hawkeye)
Prior to Hawkeye, Clint Barton's role in the MCU faced criticism due to his limited use of trick arrows; his USB arrow often mocked by fans. Hawkeye corrects this problem with a vast array of trick arrows deployed. Barton and Kate Bishop take on the Tracksuit Mafia at their full power in the finale. Flare arrows, Pym arrows, freeze arrows, and even a stray owl are used, marking one of the most extravagant fight scenes to come out of the MCU Disney+ series.
2 Ant-Man, The Wasp, & Ghost Battle For The Lab (Ant-Man & The Wasp)
In a diversion from the MCU formula, the heroes and villain of Ant-Man and the Wasp have entirely different powers. Both Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne have shrinking and growing abilities from their suits while Ghost weaponizes her natural intangibility.
In addition, there is a third party in the form of Sonny Burch and his goons. Rather than being a static fight, all three factions engage in a race to retrieve the miniaturized Pym lab. Various powers and technology are used to their fullest extent, creating one of the most dynamic battles in any MCU movie.
1 Stephen Strange Bargains With Dormammu (Doctor Strange)
Doctor Strange's climax is a fan-favorite for MCU enthusiasts. With the victory of Dormammu seeming certain regardless of whether or not Strange can defeat Kaecilius, Strange instead uses the Time Stone to rewind time, before entering the Dark Dimension to confront Dormammu face-to-face. Hopelessly outmatched, Strange is killed within seconds.
However, time rewinds, and Strange confronts Dormammu yet again. On the third iteration, he reveals that he has used the Time Stone to create a loop within the Dark Dimension. Although he has no chance of beating Dormammu, the loop is unbreakable unless Strange chooses, meaning he can trap the two of them together. After countless iterations and painful deaths, Strange forces a being immeasurably more powerful than him to negotiate, creating an ending acclaimed for its unique and clever writing.