MCU: 5 Movies Which Had The Best Climaxes (& 5 Which Absolutely Sucked!)
Apart from world-building and setting the foundation for the superhero genre, the MCU had had its share of unforgettable cinematic experience and generic cookie-cutter blockbusters. Like any other movie, the MCU movies also need a tight script with a focused beginning, engaging characters, and a climactic ending. But sadly, some movies have hit the right spot while the others have missed by miles. And since, the MCU also has the added burden of world-linking, the importance of climactic scenes become manifold. Let’s see which movies fared well and which ones were absolutely forgettable.
10. Worked: Avengers: Age of Ultron
Joss Whedon’s Avengers: Age of Ultron was a blockbuster but received mix responses from fans and critics. Yet, Age of Ultron did get one thing right; its climactic ending. After the event at Sokovia, Tony left and Clint retired from the superhero business.
In the aftermath, Captain America and Black Widow took the responsibility of training the new recruits. For long time comic book fans, the movie came quite close when Steve Rogers said “Avengers, A-” before the scene abruptly ended. Instead, the fans got their real treat in Endgame when Captain America finally said: “Avengers, Assemble!”.
9. Didn’t Work: Captain Marvel
For all its glory, Captain Marvel fell short when it came to wrapping up the movie on a high note. As a part of the world-building, its ending felt quite forced and out of character for Carol Danvers.
Despite being a hero type, it seems quite unlikely that Carol would abandon Monica and Rambeau to continue her intergalactic crime-fighting. But to serve the greater purpose, it had to be done.
8. Worked: Black Panther
Black Panther was a refreshing superhero flick for the MCU. Featuring its first black superhero set in the fictional African nation of Wakanda, Black Panther focused a lot on itself rather than the bigger MCU.
King T’Challa’s speech at the United Nations was Wakanda’s first step towards opening its border to the outside world. His moving speech, which will always be relevant, established his noble and righteous character, unafraid to take on new challenges.
7. Didn’t Work: Iron Man 2
MCU’s world-building is often a double-edged sword. In Iron Man 2, Nick Fury talks a bit more in detail regarding the Avengers initiative to Tony Stark. As a result, it focuses a lot more on the future of the MCU than the character itself, apart from Natasha Romanoff’s personality assessment of Tony Stark.
It’s not exactly a bad climax, as the scene between Tony, Rhodes, and Senator Stern is quite funny when the two heroes are begrudgingly awarded medals for their heroics.
6. Worked: Spider-Man: Far From Home
Not the best Spider-Man movie, but Far From Home got its climax on point. After the apparent death of Mysterio, Peter Parker gets into a relationship with MJ, which is a wholesome ending for the teenage hero.
But, things got really interesting when J. Jonah Jameson of The Daily Bugle appears on a large screen and reveals that Spider-Man is Peter Parker.
5. Didn’t Work: Thor: The Dark World
Widely regarded as one of the most forgettable movies of the MCU, Thor: The Dark World was an absolute disaster. Sadly, the climax of Thor 2 was as disappointing as the movie.
After defeating Malekith, Thor gets Jane Foster and visits Odin before going on his next adventure. Loki masquerading as Odin could be seen from miles away, since the foreshadowing of his shape-shifting abilities earlier in the movie.
4. Worked: Iron Man
Iron Man (2008) is one of the best movies of MCU, undoubtedly. From Robert Downey Jr.’s impeccable acting to Favreau’s direction, the movie was almost flawless for an origin story and the stepping stone for MCU.
Tony Stark’s decision to not take the conventional hero route of maintaining a secret identity was well appreciated when he said “I am Iron Man” to a room full of reporters, discarding Phil Coulson’s cover-up story. Badass, personified.
3. Didn’t Work: Iron Man 3
Despite being a box-office hit, Iron Man 3 absolutely ruined Iron Man’s iconic nemesis, The Mandarin. That unnecessary plot twist was a cheap trick.
Also, the ending of Iron Man 3 was anti-climactic, as Tony decided to destroy all his suits to mend his relationship with Pepper Potts. I mean, we knew that was never a permanent solution.
2. Worked: Avengers: Infinity War
For years, fans were complaining that the MCU never really put its heroes in high stakes where defeat was truly possible. And everything changed with Infinity War.
Infinity War left the fans speechless, unable to fathom the event when Thanos snapped his fingers, wiping out half of the universe in the process.
1. Didn’t Work: Doctor Strange
Scott Derrickson’s Doctor Strange was a visual spectacle with the formulaic MCU storyline. Though the movie did use a ridiculously ingenious way to fight Dormammu, it wasted Kaecilius despite having great potential.
Playing it safe till the last frame, Stephen Strange becomes the Sorcerer Supreme and takes up residence in the Sanctum Sanctorum to further enhance his magical knowledge. What climax?
