In just over a decade, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has offered its viewers moments of heroism, tragedy and excitement. They've inspired countless fans to reach higher, push further and go faster, but one aspect of the MCU's many films that haven't been explored too much has been terror and fear, but there are some moments that dip their toe in the genre. While there have been a handful of moments that sent a chill down the spines of viewers, these five moments are no doubt the scariest to experience, both in a literal and existential sense.
The Hulk's Debut Was Destructive
The Incredible Hulk has always been described as an amalgamation of Frankenstein's Monster and Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. 2008's The Incredible Hulk perfectly captured these moments when Bruce Banner was pushed to transform into his angrier and greener form. After nearly evading a group of special ops soldiers sent by General Ross, Banner encountered some workplace bullies that sent his heart rate over the edge, triggering a change. While he was shrouded in darkness for the whole fight, the devastation spoke for itself as The Hulk injured the attackers and begged to be left alone. It was a unique moment that showed the character's strength and vulnerability rolled into one and proved just why he's so dangerous.
Ultron Reveals Himself to The Avengers
Avengers: Age Of Ultron may be the quippiest entry in the Avengers franchise, but it offered one of the most bone-chilling moments in the MCU. Ultron's birth was changed radically from the comics, but his creation and understanding of humanity were perfectly captured. After he hijacked the remains of a damaged Iron Legionnaire, Ultron crashed a party with the Avengers, lurching into the room as he mimicked the cries of a newborn and oil leaked from the damaged vessel. His snark was slowly being born, so his cold robotic logic took prominence and showed how dangerous he could be and how ambitious he was.
The Celestial Emergence of Tiamut in Eternals
Eternals was the perfect blend of science-fiction and mythology as it showed Earth's history and the galaxy's most remarkable creations. Because of the cosmic scale of the story, there was also true cosmic horror that came in the form of the massive Celestials. While Arishem was the most disarming, the real terror came from the revelation he harbored that the planet was nothing more than an egg for another Celestial to be born from. The revelation made humanity feel smaller than ever and was enough for those that witnessed the massive being sticking out of the ocean to question the nature of their creation. The Emergence not only carried great stakes but also harbored a truth few could comprehend.
The Scarlet Witch Chases Down America Chavez
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was considered the first official horror film for the MCU, and it delivered for the most part. The story worked well with Sam Raimi's kinetic and breakneck style, but the real terror came from the menace of The Scarlet Witch. From the moment she revealed herself as the villain, her power alone was enough to make her a threat. The film drove that fact home through her pursuit of America Chavez, as she killed countless sorcerers in Kamar-Taj. She also twisted herself to escape various traps and even killed the most powerful members of The Illuminati. It was clear that she was relentless, and the film made no qualms about showing this in all its gory glory.
The Snap Changed the Game of the MCU
While violence and huge moments are a great way to convey terror to an audience, no moment could compare to the silent revelation of Thanos' victory in Avengers: Infinity War. Throughout the film, heroes tried to keep the Mad Titan from obtaining the stones necessary to erase all life. When the time came that they could finally end it all, a moment of hubris sealed their fate. Thanos' gloating preceded a snap that led to dead silence in the film as he escaped while heroes like Black Panther, Falcon, Bucky Barnes and Spider-Man faded from existence. It was an apocalyptic moment that felt as hopeless as it was reserved. Since then, no MCU moment has topped Thanos' snap.