Though TV series such as WandaVision and Loki course through the slow-burn route, most MCU projects maintain a fast pace by including numerous fight scenes. Thanks to big budgets and talented directors, the clashes are always well choreographed. Accordingly, they have a high rewatch value.
With 27 movies and 18 different shows to analyze, picking the best fight scenes can be a daunting task. Thankfully, the staunchest fans can be found on Reddit threads making the selection process much easier. According to these Redditors, a few MCU fight scenes stand unmatched in the canon.
The Highway Battle - Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
In this scene, Captain America, Black Widow and Falcon take on a brainwashed Winter Soldier and STRIKE operatives who are loyal to HYDRA on a freeway in Washington D.C. FewWatermelonlesson0 says, "It's been over five years and they haven't had a fight scene nearly that impressive again."
Many villains tend to underestimate the Avengers, but Winter Soldier never takes any chances. Despite being a capable fighter, he makes sure the STRIKE team stays with him most of the time to offer support. And he throws just about everything he has at the trio, including grenades and Captain America's own shield. He impressively switches fighting tactics on a dime, using machine guns, grenade launchers and knives before settling for fisticuffs.
Killmonger Fights T'Challa For The Throne - Black Panther (2018)
JasonZod feels one of the best Black Panther fights is also one of the best in the MCU. They describe the waterfall fight as "the best combination of acting, music, action, sound, and writing." In it, Killmonger successfully defeats T'Challa to become the new ruler of Wakanda.
The major thing that makes the fight a brilliant one is that there's a tense audience that's all rooting for the hero but cant interfere because such actions would go against traditions. There are also rare moments when blood and cuts are shown, something the MCU movies mostly refrain from. And as the Redditor puts it, there's something about the music and sounds. it's no surprise that the movie was nominated for Best Sound Editing & Mixing at the 2019 Academy Awards.
Doctor Strange Vs. Thanos (Avengers: Infinity War)
After failing to take the Infinity Gauntlet off, Doctor Strange confronts Thanos in what ends up being an epic duel. About the fight, LunarTales writes, "It was really cool seeing Strange give Thanos a hard time with duplicates, powerful bolts of energy and canceling out his black hole."
Though Thanos wins, Strange still stands proud as the only Avenger to truly match the Mad Titan in intellect during combat. The fight is full of numerous unforgettable moments, including one where Strange uses the duplication spell to split himself into an army of clones. But what's more impressive about the duel is that each move by one party is effectively countered by the other. The energy blast from the Power Stone is countered by the open gateway while the Space Stone hole is countered by the butterflies.
The Battle Of New York - Avengers (2012)
In the battle, the Avengers successfully defend Earth against Loki and his Chitauri army. Redditor zoecornelia says "the sequence turned me into a hardcore MCU fan," adding, "It was so well done and lasted just long enough and really showed everybody's skills."
Just about every character that's involved in the battle gets the opportunity to shine. Apart from killing the Chitauri, nearly every member of the Avengers gets to face off against Loki, with Hulk giving him the most brutal beatdown. Even funnier is that in the middle of the chaos, Stark still manages to throw in a pop culture reference by making a Game Of Thrones joke, claiming that Thor reminds him of the show.
Shangi-Chi Bus Attack - Shang Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)
Taserface616 declares that the bus action sequence has "the best choreography in the MCU." In the scene, Ten Rings operatives, led by Razor Fist, attack Shang-Chi on a bus in order to acquire the Eye Of The Dragon.
It's the scene where Razor Fist makes a case for himself as one of the best movie henchmen. Every possible martial art skill imaginable is deployed, with Shang-Chi doing his best to dodge an opponent who is clearly superior, thanks to his prosthetic blade arm. The tension keeps packing up because of the danger the fight poses to the passengers. Everything that could go wrong does indeed go wrong, including the driver getting knocked out.
Daredevil Hallway Fight - Daredevil (Season 1)
In the second episode, Russian thugs set up a trap for Matt by kidnapping a young boy. A fight thus ensues in the hallway and Predgrid declares that "Nothing else comes close."
The fight takes the one-man-army trope to a whole new level making Matt refuse to surrender, even when he's extremely exhausted. The choreography is brilliantly done too, with the fight spilling in and out of rooms but the general action remaining limited to a single hallway. And it all happens in a single cut too.
STRIKE Elevator Attack - Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
After meeting Alexander Pierce, Captain America gets ambushed inside an elevator by STRIKE agents. Redditor rslashreddituser calls the fight amazing "not just because of how cool it was seeing a fight in the tiniest imaginable area for a fight, but also how it's an amazing fight scene in a movie that is about fighting."
It's indeed extraordinary how Captain America manages to knock out all the agents despite having limited space to maneuver. And as serious as the fight is, it isn't without its comical moments. In one of the quotes that prove Captain America is the funniest Avenger, he asks: "Before we get started, does anyone want to get out?" It's remarks like these that have made the MCU such a delightful franchise.
Battle Of The Rainbow Bridge - Thor: Ragnarok
Towards the final stages, Thor and Valkerie challenge Hela at the Rainbow Bridge, leading to epic warfare. WassupSquatch says "Seeing Thor realize his full potential was hella gratifying."
The battle is littered with unforgettable moments, including one where Thor charges up with lightning and uses it to his advantage. Valkerie proves to be a formidable baddie too by holding off the protagonists without a sweat for long periods of time. And had she not been betrayed by the Executioner, she would probably have own.
Rogers And Stark's Final Confrontation - Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Having initially struck a truce, Stark becomes furious when he learns that Barnes killed his parents and that Rogers kept it from him. A fight thus ensues. Redditor kbbib2 says, "It was very emotionally impactful and the cinematography in that scene was incredible."
Stark is the easier person to root for in the fight because he is the aggrieved party. Watching him destroy Barnes' robotic arm.is truly spectacular. And to avoid making one of the Avengers appear stronger than the other, both of them are denied victory once again. Luckily, they eventually manage to erase their animosity.
Castle Vs. Rykers Island Inmates - Daredevil (2015)
Castle gets attacked by fellow inmates at Rikers Island after they learn that he killed Dutton. But despite being outnumbered, he successfully kills all his attackers. About the action sequences, AvtarStateIsHydrated says, "It is a masterpiece. Complete. Comprehensive."
The level of sheer brutality is what distinguishes this particular fight from all others in the MCU. From battle cries to blood, there is o shortage of gruesome moments. Moreover, Carson keeps on demonstrating why he is the superior fighter by using his fellow inmates' weapons against them.