Top 10 Heartbreaking Marvel Moments That Still Hurt
#10: Peter Holds Onto Tony
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
We all know this film is famous for killing off many beloved characters. From Bucky Barnes to Scarlet Witch, many of our favorites were turned to dust by Thanos. One death, however, was especially upsetting. After Doctor Strange and the Guardians disappear, we hear Spider-Man call out to Tony off-screen. Even before he comes into view, we know exactly whats happening to him. The next few seconds are agonizing to watch as he clings to Tony in his final moments. Even though we had a feeling hed be revived later, it was still gut-wrenching to see a scared kid helplessly beg for his life.
#9: Scott Reunites With Cassie
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The Infinity Sagas finale was filled with tear-jerking moments. No one left the theater with dry eyes, and it wasnt just the character deaths that got to us. When Ant-Man escapes the Quantum Realm and returns home, he discovers that five years have passed, and that his daughter, Cassie, is now a teenager. The moment she bursts into tears and embraces him is nothing short of heartbreaking. Paul Rudds performance conveys all the pain of a father realizing he missed watching his little girl grow up. While he may not have lost anyone close to him in the end, what he did lose was just as devastating: time he can never get back.
#8: Peter Doesnt Catch Gwen in Time
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
As soon as Emma Stone was cast as the character, fans immediately began speculating about her fate in the Amazing Spider-Man films. Many predicted that she would be killed off just as she was in the Marvel comics. So youd think that would prepare us for her demise, but her chemistry with Andrew Garfield made it impossible not to get attached. Their connection felt too real. Watching their romance grow and watching them risk their lives for each other got us emotionally invested. All that made her murder at the hands of the Green Goblin so devastating. That, on top of Garfields all too convincing performance, made the moment particularly striking.
#7: Yelena & Bob's Void
Thunderbolts* (2025)
Whether we like it or not, the past helps shape who we are. No one understands that more than Yelena Belova. Throughout Thunderbolts*, she wrestles with guilt and loneliness, haunted by memories she can't outrun. This struggle comes to a head when she enters the Void, the manifestation of Bob Reynolds depression and insecurities. There she's forced to relive her memories as a child assassin and forced to confront her current dependence on alcohol. She then glimpses into Bob's traumatic history with abuse and substance use. Fortunately, the two come together to find a way forward. Their journey, however, was no less painful to witness.
#6: Logan's Grave
Logan (2017)
Wolverines death is easily one of the most heartbreaking moments in cinema. The burial scene, however, is what brings his story to a powerful close. After giving his life to save a group of mutant children, Logan is laid to rest. The usually quiet Laura delivers a moving eulogy, quoting Shane a Western about the burden of killing. Logan's sacrifice ensures she won't have to carry the same burden. In one final tribute, she turns the cross on his grave to form an X. It's a small yet deeply moving gesture, honoring his legacy as an X-Man and as a hero to the next generation.
#5: Uncle Ben Dies
Spider-Man (2002)
With great power comes great responsibility. Ben Parker's words still resonate to this day and it's the tragedy behind them that gives them weight. After letting an armed robber escape, Peter finds his uncle dying in the streets of New York. The moment is made unforgettable by Tobey Maguire's raw performance, perfectly expressing the grief of losing a parent. The heartbreak deepens when Peter learns that the killer is the same man he let go. Had he acted before, Uncle Ben might have lived. Later reboots include similar scenes, but none hit as hard as the original.
#4: Tony Stark Finally Rests
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
In the aftermath of the Snap, Tony Stark managed to make a happy life for himself. He settled down in a quiet cabin with Pepper Potts and their daughter, Morgan. That's what makes his choice by the end of the film so heartbreaking. Faced with the chance to undo Thanoss damage, Tony gladly risks his happy ending to bring everyone back. In the final battle, Tony seizes his moment. He takes the Infinity Stones, snaps the Mad Titan out of existence, and pays the ultimate price. Watching the MCU's first hero fall is hard enough. Knowing he leaves behind his family and countless friends that's beyond words.
#3: Shuri Burns Her Funeral Garments
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Chadwick Bosemans passing was a huge loss for everyone, especially for those in the cast of Black Panther. To honor his life, the filmmakers conveyed the emotions surrounding his legacy through a story about T'challas passing. Throughout the film, Shuri struggles to cope with her brother's sudden death, even after her mother urges her to move on. Then, in the wake of Ramonda's death, Shuri takes on the Black Panther mantle and finally burns her funeral robes, taking the time to mourn her brother one last time. The moment is, of course not only a poignant tribute to T'Challa, but a remembrance of Chadwick Boseman and his legacy.
#2: The World Forgets Peter Parker
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
As if being dead for five years wasn't enough, Tom Holland's Spider-Man goes through the ringer in his third solo film. After the veil between dimensions is broken in the final act, Peter realizes that the only way to save the multiverse is to make everyone forget his existence. His sacrifice does work, but it takes a heavy toll. His best friend, Ned, and girlfriend, MJ, no longer remember him. In another act of selflessness, Peter decides that the best way to keep them safe is to stay away. It may be a sad turn of events, but it's also a perfect display of Peter putting others before himself.
#1: The End of Batch 89
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
It's implied in the previous volumes that Rocket had a tragic backstory. Little did we know he had one that would make us bawl our eyes out. Since he was an infant raccoon, Rocket was experimented on by the sadistic High Evolutionary. He was only able to endure the pain because of his friends Lylla, Floor, and Teefs. When the Evolutionary orders their incineration, Rocket finally attempts to break them out. The escape goes horribly wrong, and he's left as the sole survivor of Batch 89. His cries and the villain's mocking imitation are downright haunting. Although it seems that Rocket's friends moved on to some kind of afterlife, the animal cruelty they suffered never fails to get us emotional.
What's the saddest Marvel moment where someone doesn't die? Tell us down in the comments.
