Top 20 Best Action Scenes in Marvel Movies

Top 20 Best Action Scenes in Marvel Movies

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best crafted and most exhilarating action moments from Marvel films. Spoilers will follow.

#20: Logan & Wade Fight the Deadpool Corps

“Deadpool & Wolverine” (2024)
Set to Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” Wade and Logan tear their way through a horde of Deadpool variants. Bullets and limbs fly as the action unfolds in an R-rated one-take. With a hundred Deadpools involved in the mix, there are of course a few laughs thrown in as well. The scene is so chaotic that you’ll probably have to go back and rewatch it a few times to catch every detail. What really sets it apart is the inclusion of Wolverine’s mask. After years of waiting, fans got to see Hugh Jackman don the cowl, and its debut was absolutely worth the wait.

#19: Spider-Man vs. Green Goblin

“Spider-Man” (2002)
While “Deadpool” has delivered plenty of violence, Sam Raimi proved that a PG-13 fight can be just as intense. In this final battle, Green Goblin savagely beats Spider-Man, with visceral camerawork and slow-mo to make us feel every hit. Few scenes capture the raw brutality that a man with super strength could unleash. It’s not just the Green Goblin we’re talking about. When push comes to shove, Peter fights back and delivers an equally vicious beatdown. The fight finally ends when Norman gets killed by his own glider – a fitting conclusion to this dark and gritty finale.

#18: Spaceship Fight

“Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014)
Despite being a relatively obscure Marvel title, “Guardians” was a huge hit – in large part due to a variety of exhilarating and action-packed moments. However, while the all-out brawl scenes, such as the Prison Break, serve to provide viewers with stimulating visuals, they can never quite compare to the intimacy of a one-on-one bout between sisters. Opting to settle their sibling rivalry once and for all, Gamora and Nebula engage in intense bladed combat aboard The Dark Aster. After a hole is blown into the wall of the ship, Nebula finds herself hanging on for dear life. But rather than siding with her sister, she decides to end things her way.

#17: Spider-Man Takes Down the Kingpin

“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018)
With the Spider-Gang back in their home dimensions, Miles is left to fight Wilson Fisk alone. Fortunately, his newfound confidence gives him the edge he needs to hold his own. Their battle is full of swift movement and vibrant colors, bringing a comic book aesthetic we haven’t seen in other “Spider-Man” films. There are even onomatopeias and impact frames to punctuate the hits. Most of them come from the Kingpin at first, but with a bit of motivation from his family, Miles lands the final blow, proving that Spider-Man always gets back up.

#16: Contest of Champions

“Thor: Ragnarok” (2017)
Although the Hulk and Thor have fought before, their gladiatorial match is the main event. Forced to fight in the Grandmaster’s arena, Thor tries to get out of it by calming his friend down. This, of course, hilariously backfires. Thor then tries to get through to Hulk the old-fashioned way. He’s surprisingly able to stand his ground with an oversized hammer, but the jade giant eventually pins him down. Then in one of the film’s biggest reveals, Thor summons lightning powers to even the playing field. Unfortunately, the Grandmaster cuts the game short, just when things were starting to ramp up.

#15: Wolverine vs. Lady Deathstrike

“X2: X-Men United” (2003)
These two bladed mutants get right to the point. The X-Men’s most fierce combatant meets his match when pitted against Lady Deathstrike. Most fans remember this scene for its brilliant martial arts choreography and the fact that Wolverine comes face-to-face with another adamantium-enhanced mutant – one who would have bested him if not for his healing abilities. But while Deathstrike certainly leaves her mark, nobody beats Wolverine in a knife fight. While Nightcrawler’s White House Breach scene earlier in the film is certainly memorable, watching Deathstrike and Logan clash their adamantium claws is a highlight of the series as a whole.

#14: Hulkbuster vs. Hulk

“Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015)
Have you ever had a fight with a friend? Have you ever had a fight with a friend who can transform into a 1,000-pound embodiment of rage and destruction? Well, Tony Stark has. Any scene that involves the Hulk on a rampage calls for powerful and loud visuals, and this scene provides that in spades. Equipped with his Hulkbuster suit, Tony tries everything to subdue an out-of-control Bruce Banner before he levels an entire city. Using his trademark witty quips and banter, Tony tries desperately to save Banner from himself and the judgment of the general public.

#13: Expressway Fight

“Deadpool” (2016)
There are a number of tried-and-true ways to build an intro sequence in a superhero movie, and then there’s Deadpool’s way. On the Merc with a Mouth’s quest for vengeance, he encounters a troop of henchmen traveling down a freeway in an SUV and decides to give them all a taste of his “maximum effort.” The entire scene works as both visual eye candy, as well as a comical delight, staying true to the character’s nature. The film’s willingness to make fun of itself compliments the over-the-top violence of the scene, which also successfully sets the tone for the rest of the movie.

#12: The High Evolutionary’s Ship

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (2023)
With thousands trapped on the ship of the High Evolutionary, the Guardians stay to make sure no one is left behind. The only problem is the small army of Hell Spawn and guards in their way. With some teamwork and an epic soundtrack, they make it through in a stunning one-take sequence. Every member of the team gets their chance to shine, from Drax laying the smackdown to Nebula blasting foes with her cyborg abilities. While the previous films had impressive action, this scene perfectly captures just how effective the family of misfits is.

#11: Cap & Bucky vs. Iron Man

“Captain America: Civil War” (2016)
This two-on-one showdown is the film’s true climax. After learning that the Winter Soldier killed his parents, Iron Man becomes hellbent on making him pay. Of course, Captain America steps in to protect Bucky from his fellow Avenger, which leads to all three of them duking it out. Watching these heroes turn against each other is a heartbreaking spectacle. It’s especially hard to see Bucky lose his arm, and Cap nearly deliver a fatal blow. The fight concludes on a somber note, with Steve leaving behind both his shield and friendship with Tony.

#10: Spider-Men Assemble

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021)
When the first teaser dropped, fans couldn't wait to see if Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield would cross over into the MCU. The three Spider-Men more than delivered, giving us a team-up for the ages. From their web-slinging teamwork to the hilarious banter, the final battle at the Statue of Liberty has just about everything fans could hope for. There were even callbacks to music and dialogue from past Spider-Man films. To this day we still get emotional when Peter Three rescues MJ. There’s also the moment when Peter Two stops his fellow Spider-Man from killing Norman Osborn, which felt like a perfect passing of the torch.

#9: Quicksilver at the Pentagon

“X-Men: Days of Future Past” (2014)
There is another version of this scene where Quicksilver saves an entire school of mutants, and it’s pretty incredible. However, it doesn’t top his initial introduction to the franchise. During Magneto’s Pentagon breakout, armed guards hold the mutants at gunpoint. Little did they know that they were up against one of the most powerful Marvel characters – and we’re not talking about Wolverine. Set to Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle,” Quicksilver uses his super speed to take them all down.[a] Everything you see in this scene is a technical achievement in itself. The drops of water and floating pots and pans all appear to be moving in slow motion, as Peter finds increasingly humorous ways of knocking out the guards.

#8: Freeway Attack

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014)
The second entry in the Captain America series is among the best films the genre has to offer and is filled with memorable action scenes, including Nick Fury being ambushed by a team of Hydra soldiers. But the scene in which The Winter Soldier attacks Black Widow and Cap takes the cake as the best and most impactful sequence in the film. The movie abandons the MCU’s typical large-scale, city-destroying superhero action scenes in favor of a much more grounded approach, making the scene all the more impressive and intimate. The scene ends with Steve knocking off the Winter Soldier’s mask to discover that the man he’s been fighting is really his childhood friend Bucky; a man he believed to be dead.

#7: Chase Through Nueva York

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (2023)
Led by Spider-Man 2099, an army of multiversal Spider-people chase after Miles Morales. Among them include the 1960’s cartoon Spider-Man, and Ben Reilly, a clone of Peter Parker from the comics. Even more bizarre inclusions are Spider-Rex and Spider-Monkey. This sequence is more than just an easter egg hunt. The chase is the film’s most thrilling set piece and visually one of the best in the franchise. For over ten intense minutes, Miles races through a futuristic New York City, narrowly evading capture. It all culminates in a showdown on a train bound for space. Luckily, Miles gains the upper hand, giving him the opening to make a daring escape.

#6: The Battle on Titan

“Avengers: Infinity War” (2018)
This film gives us plenty of moments to choose from. The battle in Wakanda is one of the many highlights, especially because of Thor’s epic entrance. But the fight on Titan against Thanos had even better superhero action. After the Avengers and Guardians finally come up with a plan, they manage to overwhelm and restrain Thanos with their combined powers. When that doesn’t go as planned, Doctor Strange and Iron Man take him on in epic one-on-one fights. The teamwork from our favorite Marvel heroes, and the sheer creativity on display, easily make this one of the best action sequences from the “Avengers.”

#5: The Battle of New York

“The Avengers” (2012)
Avengers Assemble! This film is a significant landmark in the history of the superhero genre, and this scene – the first time our heroes join forces to become a real team – is a big part of its legacy. For life-long fans and newcomers alike, the long-awaited live-action team-up of this iconic superhero group more than delivered. The grand sequence takes place across Manhattan, with the impending threat of an alien invasion by the Chitauri raising the stakes and presenting our heroes with seemingly impossible odds of saving the city. No character is short-changed in the scene, and the camaraderie and banter between the group came off as completely authentic. Fans couldn’t wait to see more.

#4: The Train Scene

“Spider-Man 2” (2004)
You’ll find everything you need to know about Spider-Man – his drive and unrelenting will to help people, and the physical toll that that responsibility takes on him are aptly demonstrated. Doc Ock sends a train full of people speeding towards their doom, and Spidey makes a desperate effort to stop it by standing at the front and webbing every passing building to slow its momentum, sacrificing his own body in the process. Peter is shockingly unmasked, and the audience can see the intense expression of pain on his face as he exhausts all his strength to fight the train’s force. This epic sequence concludes with the rescued citizens realizing that their hero is just a kid. Shocked, they promise to keep his identity a secret.

#3: Logan’s Last Berserker Rage

“Logan” (2017)
Hugh Jackman’s first R-rated film as Wolverine did not disappoint. Every fight had all the blood and brutality we wanted to see from the character, and it’s especially the case in this scene. To save a group of mutant children from the Reavers, Logan unleashes his rage like never before. He cuts down every cyborg he comes across in a thrilling berserker rage. He even teams up with his daughter X-23, who also made a badass entrance earlier in the film. Together they tear through their remaining enemies in a satisfying final showdown. The stakes had never felt so personal, as Logan wasn’t fighting to save the world, but to protect the only family he had left.

#2: Airport Battle

“Captain America: Civil War” (2016)
This scene is what dreams are made of for diehard Marvel fans. You’ve seen them all fight alongside each other, but you’ve never seen them go head to head like this – at least, not on the big screen. Not only were viewers blessed with seeing the original Avengers face off; they also got the opportunity to see franchise newcomers such as Spider-Man and Black Panther join the fray. The fight choreography, clever use of each hero’s powers, and quippy dialogue, works in unison to bring together what will surely be known as one of the most memorable scenes in MCU history.

#1: Everyone Assembles

“Avengers: Endgame” (2019)
There was only ever one way the Infinity Saga was gonna end – with Captain America leading the charge against Thanos. Nearly everyone in this splash panel gets time in the spotlight, from Black Panther tossing the Gauntlet to Spider-Man to Wanda nearly defeating Thanos by herself. It’s no exaggeration to say that each moment is probably someone’s favorite from the entire MCU. And we’re still not over the bittersweet death of Tony Stark. But it wouldn’t be much of a grand finale if it didn’t make you cheer and cry at the same time. When it comes to Marvel action, It really doesn’t get any better than this.


If you’ve seen every Marvel film, chances are there’s a scene that you think should’ve made it. Let us know what it is in the comments!