The long journey of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has brought about a significant amount of heartbreak for nearly every superhero in the franchise. Over the course of its movies and television shows, the MCU has proven that superhero life is often fraught with tragedy and heartbreak as they grapple with their responsibility to protect the world from evil.
The MCU's recent transition into television has allowed the franchise to delve deeper into the characters, giving new opportunities to tackle more difficult subjects. However, the films continue to hold a special place in the heart of all MCU fans, with many of its saddest moments continuing to break hearts even upon a rewatch.
10 Wanda Mourns Vision's Death In WandaVision
Wanda's grief after Vision's tragic death in Avengers: Infinity War is a driving force behind the events of WandaVision. The eighth episode of the series, "Previously On...," poignantly illustrates Wanda's intense mourning as she discovers Vision's body being disassembled at the S.W.O.R.D. headquarters.
In a heartbreaking callback to Infinity War, Wanda attempts to feel Vision's presence using her magic. Contrasting her original line, "I just feel you," Wanda tearfully declares, "I can't feel you." The moment perfectly sets up the following scene, which sees Wanda unintentionally create the Westview Hex in an outpouring of grief.
9 Bucky Grapples With Guilt In The Falcon And The Winter Soldier
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier follows Bucky Barnes on a journey to absolve himself of his wrongdoings as the Winter Soldier. He remains haunted by the killing of one particular innocent victim, RJ Nakajima. His seemingly innocent friendship with RJ's father, Yuri, quickly turns heartbreaking when viewers learn of the family connection.
The storyline culminates in a tearful moment when Bucky reveals the truth behind RJ's death to his father. The scene is a crucial reckoning for Bucky as he comes to understand and accept that although he was the Winter Soldier, he did not have a choice in his actions.
8 Aunt May Dies In Spider-Man: No Way Home
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Peter Parker is put through the wringer in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Facing off against the villains from the previous Spider-Man films, Peter loses yet another parental figure in his life when Aunt May is tragically killed after an attack by the Green Goblin. Since Uncle Ben never appeared in the MCU, Aunt May's death carries the emotional significance for Peter's superhero journey that Uncle Ben had in the previous iterations of the character's story.
However, Aunt May's death packs a harder punch compared to the on-screen deaths of Uncle Ben. Fans grew to know and love Marissa Tomei's portrayal of the character across four MCU films before her demise.
7 Yelena Asks For Her Sister In Hawkeye
The death of Natasha Romanoff became even more heartbreaking with the introduction of her younger sister, Yelena Belova, in 2021's Black Widow. The film reveals the close bond that the sisters shared during their childhood.
While the film's post-credit scene showed Yelena mourning Natasha's death at a cemetery, Hawkeye presents an even more tragic moment. In Hawkeye, Yelena returns after the Blip and declares that she needs to let her sister know that she is okay, unaware that Natasha had sacrificed herself to allow Yelena and the rest of the snapped to return.
6 Marc's Mother Blames Him For His Brother's Death In Moon Knight
The tragic backstory behind Marc Spector's alter, Steven Grant, is revealed in Moon Knight's fifth episode, "Asylum." Showcasing several memories from Marc's childhood, the episode reveals that Marc's younger brother died tragically at a young age in an accident while the brothers were playing together.
Marc's mother blamed him for his younger brother's death, and she eventually became physically and emotionally abusive toward Marc. In an attempt to protect himself emotionally from the abuse, Steven remembers his mother as a kind and loving figure in his life.
5 The God Of Mischief Learns His Fate In Loki
The first episode of Loki follows the titular character after he is captured and taken to the Time Variance Authority for his escape in Avengers: Endgame. One heartbreaking scene sees Loki learn of his fate in the main MCU timeline after The Avengers.
Loki breaks down in tears when he sees the death of his mother, but it's when he learns of his own tragic fate that the scene becomes significantly heartbreaking. Loki is forced to confront the outcome of his life and the decisions that led him to that end. This knowledge becomes a driving force for Loki's character development throughout the series.
4 Natasha And Clint Fight For A Sacrifice In Avengers: Endgame
The close friendship shared between Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton has been adored by fans since the very first team-up of the Avengers. Their shared history has culminated in an unyielding loyalty to one another. Avengers: Endgame takes this friendship in a heartbreaking direction as the pair learn the truth behind the Soul Stone on Vormir.
Realizing that one must die in order to gain the stone, Clint and Natasha face off with one another, each arguing that they should be the one to die. Natasha outwits Clint, ending with Clint desperately clinging to her hand to keep her from falling. Natasha ultimately ends up jumping from Vormir, proving her willingness to do whatever it takes to complete the mission. Tragically, she leaves a heartbroken Clint behind.
3 Scott Realizes He Missed His Daughter Growing Up In Avengers: Endgame
Amid all of the losses in Avengers: Endgame, one moving reunion proves the pain of a unique kind of loss: lost time. When Scott Lang emerges from the Quantum Realm, he learns that, although it felt like only hours to him, five years had passed since he entered.
Scott goes to find his daughter, Cassie. Thankfully, she was not a victim of the snap, and the pair are reunited. However, the realization that Scott missed out on such important formative years in Cassie's life remains incredibly sad, as he lost the opportunity to watch his daughter grow up.
2 Quill Faces An Impossible Choice In Avengers: Infinity War
As the daughter of Thanos, Gamora plays a key role in Avengers: Infinity War. In an attempt to prevent Thanos' victory, Gamora asks Peter Quill to kill her if her father captures her so that the Mad Titan cannot use her to learn the location of the Soul Stone. This situation comes to pass after Thanos acquires the Reality Stone and arrives to use Gamora to get the Soul Stone.
Quill intervenes, aiming to shoot Thanos, but Gamora begs him to keep his promise to kill her instead. A tearful Quill grapples with the weight of the impossible choice, but he ultimately lowers his gun towards Gamora and pulls the trigger. Unfortunately, Thanos had already used the Reality Stone to render the gun useless.
1 Tony Makes The Ultimate Sacrifice In Avengers: Endgame
As the face of the franchise, Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man has been a fan favorite since the MCU began with his titular 2008 film. In Avengers: Endgame, Tony illustrates the immense growth his character has experienced when he makes the ultimate sacrifice to undo Thanos' snap from Avengers: Infinity War.
Tony's death is one of the saddest scenes in the franchise, particularly when Peter tearfully tells a dying Tony that they finally won. Endgame goes on to feature the hero's funeral, attended by his surviving superhero teammates, family, and friends.