If there is a type of movie that everyone can get excited about, it is the superhero genre, with the MCU revolutionizing cinema with massive events that nobody wanted to miss out on. There is a lot to love about these films, from the characters in Thunderbolts* to the comedy in Thor: Ragnarök. However, the best aspect is arguably the battles, whether they are a massive epic brawl or a single hand-to-hand combat fight.
Superhero movies are meant to excite and exhilarate, and there is no better way to achieve this than by providing an awesome battle or fight scene, which is why this list will rank the ten greatest battles in superhero movies. Based on their scale, importance, memorability, choreography, the moment, fan opinion, and general quality, these ten battles are the best part of their respective movies. No TV shows will be featured, so sorry, Daredevil.
10
Opening Fight Scene – ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (2024)
This entry only lists one specific fight, but basically any battle in Deadpool & Wolverine would fit, which is why it serves as an all-encompassing fight for the movie. Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) wants a sense of purpose, and when he finds it, he must use the help of a sad and pathetic version of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman).
There are so many fun fights in Deadpool & Wolverine, from Deadpool fighting all of his variants to the battle against one of the MCU’s strongest villains to the multiple battles between him and Wolverine. However, the most iconic and memorable happened right at the beginning, where Deadpool desecrated Wolverine’s corpse to use as a weapon. The choreography, set to the tune of N’Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye,” was well-done, and the background song made it all the better.
9
Black Panther vs Killmonger – ‘Black Panther’ (2018)
Black Panther is critically the best MCU movie and a true triumph of the superhero genre. But while it focused on acting, narrative, and themes, it also had a couple of great battles for fans. T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) inherited the throne of Wakanda, but when Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) challenges him for the throne, they have a battle for the future of the country.
Most of the fights on this list are here simply because they are entertaining and memorable. However, T’Challa vs Killmonger is on this list because of its importance and meaning. Their battle was a clash of ideologies and represented the core themes of the film. They had multiple fights, but the meaning was present in both, and in the end, the fight resulted in character development and story implications.
8
Warehouse Fight – ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ (2016)
The DCEU was a disaster, but it didn’t end without some good films and good moments. However, one of the best parts about this universe was its fight scenes, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice excelled in that category. Batman (Ben Affleck) disapproves of Superman (Henry Cavill) and sets out to kill him, and hopefully stop the meaningless destruction.
There are a lot of things wrong with Batman v Superman, but it nailed the fight scenes, and the best is undoubtedly Batman in a warehouse fighting a bunch of thugs. This thrilling fight scene showcased the best of the Caped Crusader’s abilities, from raw strength to battle IQ to ingenuity to pure badassery. The now-famous sequence is a memorable Batman moment and one of the greatest cinematic fight scenes.
7
Logan vs X-24 – ‘Logan’ (2017)
This list is just Marvel and DC, but Marvel extends further than just the MCU, with 20th Century Studios’ X-Men universe delivering one of the greatest superhero movies ever, Logan. In the near future, mutants are all but extinct, but Logan has one chance to help the future. He helps a little girl escape the clutches of the government, hoping to see the mutants and live on.
The film features X-24, a cloned version of Logan that is better than he is in every way. Their final fight was more of a symbolic clash rather than an epic sequence, but that is why it makes it on this list. This rage-filled battle between two sides of the same coin ends with poetic beauty and tragedy, symbolizing Wolverine’s character arc beautifully and proving that Logan is better than every MCU movie.
6
Team Cap vs Team Iron Man – ‘Captain America: Civil War’ (2016)
The Russo Brothers are coming back for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, which is amazing because they do some of the best fight scenes, as proven by their multiple appearances on this list, starting with Captain America: Civil War. When Captain America and Iron Man disagree on the future of superheroes, they battle it out to decide the outcome.
There is usually a clear villain in a fight, but not in Captain America: Civil War. Instead, it was a battle between two conflicting ideologies that both could be right. Watching former allies duke it out was riveting and stunning, plus the sheer entertainment value was enough to earn a spot on this list. The stakes were high, and the tension slowly ramped up, delivering an incredible battle that went down in history.
5
Batman vs Bane – ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012)
The warehouse fight scene was one of the characters’ best, but it was only against henchmen, and it would’ve been better if he had fought someone strong. There is only one villain who can physically and mentally break the Bat, and that is Bane (Tom Hardy) from The Dark Knight Rises. The ruthless villain forces Batman (Christian Bale) out of exile to come and save the day.
Batman vs Bane is one of the most iconic superhero fights of all time from the comics, and the cinematic adaptation didn’t disappoint. It was a brutal beatdown that was visually striking and narratively rich, enhancing the experience. It resulted in complete and utter failure for Batman. It is renowned because it dared to beat the hero without remorse and plays into the themes of the film, proving to be a thrilling superhero movie.
4
Captain America vs The Winter Soldier – ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ (2014)
The Russo Brothers make their second appearance on this list with Captain America: The Winter Soldier, a defining superhero movie that scratches that espionage thriller itch. As Captain America (Chris Evans) tries to adjust to modern times, he is suddenly thrust into a global conspiracy that involves him, his past, and one of his most trusted friends, whom he thought dead.
This list highlights the fight as Captain America vs The Winter Soldier, but it refers to the highway fight scene, which is a gold standard among superhero battles. With barely any CGI, this practical fight was choreographed to perfection, including many hidden details that add to the nuance of the battle. Plus, it revealed the identity of the Winter Soldier, adding narrative weight to this magnificent fight.
3
Superman vs Zod – ‘Man of Steel’ (2013)
Fans seem to either love or hate Zack Snyder, but whatever they feel, they have to admit that he does fight scenes well, as seen in Man of Steel. This movie highlights the origin of the titular hero, from the destruction of his home planet to his youth on Earth to finally coming out as the Man of Steel. But his biggest battle will be against Zod (Michael Shannon), who wants to terraform Earth.
Man of Steel was full of great fight scenes, including Superman’s battle against the two Kryptonians in Smallville. However, the best was his final battle against Zod in Metropolis. The CGI was remarkable, and the flying shots were flawless, resulting in a gorgeous fight scene ripe with destruction. There aren’t many better DC battles than the sheer scale and weight of Superman vs Zod.
2
Train Fight – ‘Spider-Man 2’ (2004)
Spider-Man is one of the most popular superheroes, and therefore, has gotten countless movie adaptations, but there has yet to be one that has topped Spider-Man 2. When an experiment gone wrong turns the brilliant Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) into the supervillain Doctor Octopus, he blames Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) and is hellbent on getting his revenge.
This fight isn’t just a senseless brawl, but a series of problems that Spider-Man has to overcome, and this unique choreography leads to a creative fight scene that has stood the test of time. It is technically and narratively impressive, as when Spider-Man’s identity is revealed, the citizens protect him. In the end, the train fight in Spider-Man 2 is a perfect fight scene and an excellent superhero movie to watch this winter.
1
Everyone vs Thanos – ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)
The Russo Brothers’ final appearance on this list is also at the top, and there is no better superhero battle than the one in Avengers: Endgame. After the devastating loss they previously suffered, the Avengers discover time travel and go back into the past to collect all the infinity stones and put an end to Thanos (Josh Brolin) for good.
Some battles may be more thematically important or meaningful, but the sheer scale of the final fight in Avengers: Endgame elevates it to the top of the list. The stakes were through the roof, the importance was paramount, the technical achievement was groundbreaking, and the hype was unmatched. In the end, this full-scale war between heroes and villains was a cinematic experience for the ages and remains the best superhero battle ever.
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