Even the weakestMarvel Cinematic Universemovies manage to deliver some standout moments. Whether it’s a surprising emotional beat or a jaw-dropping action sequence, these scenes demonstrate why audiences still care aboutthe MCU timeline, even when the film falls flat. While not enough to fully save the movies, these scenes hint at what could’ve been.
From early entries likeThe Incredible Hulkto recent divisive titleslike Ant-Man & the Wasp: QuantumaniaandEternals, these scenes either reframe characters, elevate the stakes, or just deliver pure superhero spectacle. So, even if these lessfavorable Marvel moviesdisappointed overall, these must-see scenes deserve to be revisited.
10Hulk Vs Abomination
The Incredible Hulk
For all its pacing and tonal issues,The Incredible Hulkdeliversone of the MCU’s most brutal fightsin its climax. The showdown between Hulk and Abomination is loud, destructive, and raw. It’s the kind of monster brawl audiences expected but hadn’t yet seen in superhero cinema.
Taking place on the streets of Harlem, the fight tears through buildings and vehicles as two gamma-powered titans go all out. It’s a rare instance in early MCU history where the stakes feel personal and physical. The clash shows how uncontrolled powercan lead to catastrophe.
It also gave Hulk a moment of true heroism when he protects civilians mid-battle. This sequence doesn’t just redeem much of the slow buildup — itdefines Hulk’s moral compassand shows what a more dangerous version of him could look like. It’s a must-watch for Hulk fans.
9Eternals' Opening Scene
Eternals
WhileEternalsstruggled under the weight of exposition and tone, its opening scene hinted at something special. Set in 5,000 B.C. Mesopotamia, the sequence introduces the titular team ina visually stunning battle against Deviants. It’s epic in scale and beautifully shot, immediately separating itself stylistically from the rest of the MCU.
The costumes, powers, and group dynamic are all on display without needing a lengthy backstory. More importantly, it presents the Eternals as mythic beings,protectors of humanityrather than traditional superheroes. This tone, grand and reverent, could have redefined how cosmic Marvel stories are told.
Unfortunately, the rest of the film never fully capitalized on this introduction’s promise. Still, this opening is a jaw-dropping glimpse into whatEternalscould have been. It hinted at a sweeping, bold saga thatfelt more like modern myththan standard blockbuster fare.
8The Probability Storm
Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania
Despite its underwhelming plot and lackluster visuals,Quantumaniabriefly embraces its weirdness during the Probability Storm sequence. As Scott Lang tries to retrieve the multiversal core, he’s pulled intoa kaleidoscopic scenario. Countless versions of him appear – from Baskin-Robbins Scott to infinite Ant-Men.
It’s a surreal and visually clever moment that highlights how far the Ant-Man movies could go when they embrace sci-fi absurdity. Beyond spectacle, the sceneworks emotionally: all versions of Scott unite with a singular goal: to save his daughter. That cohesion became the metaphorical key to his success.
It’s funny, strange, heartfelt, and visually inventive. It’s a rare moment whereQuantumaniataps into genuine multiversal creativity. While the rest of the movie getsbogged down in exposition and murky stakes, this sequence is a reminder of how Ant-Man’s powers can lead to deeply imaginative storytelling.
7Thaddeus Ross Transforms Into Red Hulk
Captain America: Brave New World
WhileCaptain America: Brave New Worldfelt insubstantial, one scene was a standout: the transformation of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross into the Red Hulk. The transformation represents the culmination of Ross’s long-running MCU arc, dating all the way back toThe Incredible Hulk. After years of pursuing the Hulk, Thaddeus istransformed into the very thing he hates.
Harrison Ford offers a captivating performance. There is a palpable terror that spreads throughout himquicker than his new red hue. It is dripping with poetic irony as Ross realizes what is happening to him.
The scene is intense, explosive, and emotionally charged, capturing the consequences of Ross’s obsession with power and control. It alsomarks a new direction for Hulk-related storiesin the franchise, bringing a powerful anti-hero into the fold. The following fight with Sam Wilson’s Captain America was also thrilling.
6Loki Fakes His Death
Thor: The Dark World
Thor: The Dark Worldis often ranked among the MCU’s weakest films, weighed down by a forgettable villain and uneven tone. Yet it does get one thing very right: Loki. His apparent death during a battle with Kursehits hard, thanks to Tom Hiddleston’s performance and the brothers’ growing bond.
Loki’s sacrifice feels genuine in the moment, giving Thora chance to mourn and reflect.However, the reveal that Loki faked his death (impersonating Odin and seizing the throne) flips the scene from tragic to thrilling. It’s classic trickster behavior, executed with subtle buildup and a satisfying twist.
This one sequence injects life into an otherwise bland third act. It alsosets up far more interesting storiesdown the line. It’s proof that even a weak MCU film can deliver when it fully embraces its best character.
5Black Widow Fights Security Guards
Iron Man 2
Iron Man 2has its moments, but it’s often criticized for being too chaotic and overstuffed with setup. One bright spot is the hallway fight where Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) dismantles a room full of Hammer Industries guards. It’ssleek, fast, and expertly choreographed, showing a more grounded and deadly side of the MCU.
Dressed in her now-iconic black suit, Natasha uses grapples, flips, and pinpoint strikes to tear through her enemieswith style and efficiency. The contrast between her flawless fight and Happy Hogan’s comically slow battle with a single guard adds a fun, lighthearted touch. More importantly, it immediately cements Natasha as a major player in the MCU.
The scene is perhaps thegreatest demonstration of Black Widow’s gadgetry and weapons, which largely disappeared in subsequent appearances. Here, Black Widow is not just eye candy or backup, but a real powerhouse in close combat. This sequence justifies her spot on the Avengers roster all on its own.
4The Chase Scene
Ant-Man And The Wasp
Ant-Man and the Waspis generally seen as one of the lighter, less essential MCU films. Yet it does feature one of the franchise’smost inventive action sequenceswith the car chase through San Francisco. What makes it stand out isn’t just the choreography; it’s the use of shrinking and growing in real time.
Cars, people, and even a Hello Kitty Pez dispenser are resized mid-chase. It created constantvisual surprises and laugh-out-loud moments. The Wasp zipping in and out of vehicles, Luis navigating a Hot Wheels storage case, and Ghost phasing through objects all come together to create controlled chaos.
It’s creative and uniquelyAnt-Man. The car chase made full advantage of the characters’ powers in a way no other MCU movie could. While the film overall might be forgettable, this chase sequence delivers the kind of high-energy fun that reminds audiences thatsuperhero movies can still surprise.
3Hulk Vs Hulkbuster
Avengers: Age Of Ultron
Avengers: Age of Ultronhas its defenders, but it’s often seen as one of the weaker Avengers outings. Still, it delivers one of the MCU’smost thrilling set pieceswhen Hulk fights Iron Man’s Hulkbuster in the streets of Johannesburg. As Tony Stark unleashes “Veronica,” his specially designed anti-Hulk armor, the two titans go toe-to-toe in a destructive frenzy.
The fight is massive, kinetic, and emotionally fraught, as Tony tries to minimize damage while holding back a completely enraged Hulk. The choreography and effects are top-tier, showcasing theoverwhelming force of both characters. It’s one of the few fights in the MCU that feels both fun and terrifying.
It also plants early seeds of Hulk’s internal struggle with control, guilt, and identity. These themes would echo throughout his later MCU appearances. This isblockbuster action done right, even if the surrounding movie falters.
2The Prison Break
Black Widow
ThoughBlack Widowarrived too late to fully do justice to Natasha Romanoff’s story, it at least deliversa standout action sequencein its first act: the snowy Russian prison break. As Yelena and Natasha fly in to extract their surrogate father, Red Guardian, everything goes sideways. The escape involves snipers, avalanches, helicopters, and chaos on every level.
Red Guardian’s haphazard personality and strength complement Natasha’s tactical brilliance perfectly. Indeed, the scene allowseach character’s distinctive traits to flourish. It neatly conveyed the complex family dynamics within a single scene.
The geography of the scene is clear, the stakes are high, and it all feels appropriately brutal. This is exactly the grounded spy-thriller actionpromised byBlack Widow. While the rest of the film loses momentum with CGI-heavy third-act theatrics, this prison break remains a gritty highlight that could’ve belonged in a more espionage-driven MCU phase.
1Scarlet Witch Attacks Kamar-Taj
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madnessis a wild ride, and one that many feel didn’t live up to its full potential. However, one moment that absolutely lands is the attack on Kamar-Taj. Scarlet Witch, nowfully embracing her villain arc, unleashes hell on the sorcerers guarding the sanctuary.
It’s a horror-tinged siege sequence, complete with psychological tricks, magical warfare, and Wanda walking through mirrors like a demon. The sequence instantly repositions her asone of the most dangerous beings in the MCU. It also reflects director Sam Raimi’s horror sensibilities without feeling out of place.
The fear, tension, and awe this scene evokesprove that Wanda was the right character to center a filmlike this around, even if the rest of the movie didn’t capitalize on that potential. It’s unforgettable, unsettling, and one of the best MCU attacks ever staged. It stands as one of the most redeeming scenes from one of theMCU’s weakest movies.
Cast
The Incredible Hulk follows scientist Bruce Banner as he seeks a cure for the uncontrollable rage that transforms him into the Hulk. Pursued by military forces eager to exploit his powers, Banner confronts a formidable adversary, pushing him toward a reluctant return to civilization.
Eternals, directed by Chloé Zhao, follows a group of ancient aliens who have secretly lived on Earth for thousands of years. The film explores their reunion in the face of an unexpected tragedy and the threat posed by their age-old adversaries, the Deviants. Released in 2021, the film expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania follows Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne, joined by Janet van Dyne, Hank Pym, and Cassie Lang, as they navigate the Quantum Realm. Their journey introduces them to peculiar creatures and challenges their understanding of reality, pushing their abilities to new extremes.
Captain America: Brave New World (formerly titledNew World Order)marks Sam Wilson’s first MCU big-screen appearance as Steve Rogers' successor after receiving the suit and shield in Phase 4’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Anthony Mackie returns as the titular Avenger alongside Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Carl Lumby as Isaiah Bradley, and Tim Blake Nelson as The Incredible Hulk’s former ally Samuel Sterns. Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.After meeting President Thaddeus Ross, Sam is caught in a global crisis. He must expose the mastermind behind a sinister plot before the world descends into turmoil. Captain America: Brave New World marks the big-screen debut of Sam Wilson as Captain America, and Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut, replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.
Thor: The Dark World, the second installment in Marvel’s Thor series, follows the titular hero as he faces Malekith and the vengeful Dark Elves. With the universe threatened, Thor joins forces with allies, including Jane Foster, to thwart the cosmic peril and restore balance to the realms.
The third film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man 2, is an action-superhero film that occurs six months after the original film’s events. After outing himself as the heavy metal superhero known as Iron Man, Tony Stark goes to great lengths to avoid demands from the government for his tech. But, unfortunately, the technology Tony used to save his life is beginning to impact his health inversely - just in time for a man named Ivan Vanko to arrive, who creates his version of the Iron Man tech to settle a decades-long score with Howard Stark’s son.
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Ant-Man and the Wasp is a Marvel Cinematic Universe film released in 2018. Paul Rudd reprises his role as Scott Lang, who joins Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym on a perilous mission into the quantum realm. The film explores the challenges of balancing heroism with personal responsibilities.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Avengers: Age of Ultron, released in 2015, follows Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man and Captain America, as they contend with Ultron, a rogue AI with plans for global annihilation. This Marvel sequel sees The Avengers form uneasy alliances and embark on a perilous global adventure to thwart Ultron’s schemes.
Black Widow: Released in 2021, Black Widow follows Natasha Romanoff as she faces a conspiracy linked to her past. Pursued relentlessly, Natasha must confront her history as a spy and navigate fractured relationships from her previous life before becoming part of the Avengers.
