The Most Beautiful Scenes in Superhero Movies

christopherlandry
May 2, 2020
5 min read

Today, we're breaking down the 10 most beautiful scenes in superhero movies!

The superhero genre is known for its exciting, fast-paced action scenes, large-scale sweeping stories, and strong connection with its characters. These blockbuster movies are often described as exciting, entertaining, and fun. But every once in a while, we are treated to a scene that is truly beautiful. Today, we rank the 10 most beautiful scenes in superhero movies!

(Disclaimer: “Beautiful” is a highly subjective term. For this list, I will be taking into account shot composition, emotional impact, and my own personal preference. That means that this list is by no means objective, and is just my personal opinion. Let me know what you all think in the comments below!)

X-Men: Days of Future Past - Quicksilver's Time in a Bottle Scene

In one of the most memorable scenes to come out of the X-Men franchise, the newly introduced Quicksilver displays his mutant power (supersonic speed) as the world around him slows to a halt. As Jim Croce’s Time in a Bottle plays, the mutant makes quick work of the security offers that would have prevented his escape.

Captain America: The First Avenger - Cap Wakes Up

After Steve Rogers’ dramatic self-sacrifice at the end of Captain America: The First Avenger, Rogers is surprised to find himself still alive - and in the 21st century. When he landed down the Red Skull’s plane in the Arctic Ocean, Cap fully expected to die. Instead, his enhanced physiology allowed him to survive, being frozen and preserved by the icy conditions. When Rogers realizes that he is decades in the future, in an unrecognizable world, Nick Fury asks him if he’ll be alright. “Yeah,” Rogers responds, thinking of Peggy Carter, and the life he never got to live with her, “I had a date.” Cut to black, end of movie. Chills!

Aquaman: The Kingdom of the Trench

James Wan’s Aquaman was a surprise hit for many of us. After several rocky movies from DC, audiences were left wondering if Marvel’s biggest rival could ever hold a candle to them again. Aquaman proved that DC still has stories left to tell. One of the biggest surprises of the whole movie was the cinematography. The movie gave us several unforgettable shots, the most compelling of which can be seen as Aquaman and Mera dive into the monster-infested waters on a stormy night, with nothing but the dim light of a flare to guide them. The sheer scale of what our heroes are up against, revealed as the lightning creeps across the dark waters, lighting up the sea, is enough to bring a sense of horror and dread to anyone. The scene itself however, is one of the most visually interesting scenes in any recent superhero movie.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Groot's Sacrifice

Guardians of the Galaxy is about a group of space criminals coming together to work as a team and stop a greater evil. The story is about growth, change, and family. However, the one character who never needed to become a better version of themself was Groot. As the heart of the group, Groot was a gentle giant. Despite the fact that the sentient tree creature was restricted to only saying three words (“I am Groot”) he stole the hearts of audiences worldwide. In the finale of the film, as the team is hurtling towards the ground with no way to escape, Groot sacrifices himself by using his body to shield the rest of his teammates. His last words to his friends before he gives up his life for them? We are Groot.

Avengers: Age of Ultron - Vision and Ultron's Final Confrontation

At the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron, when evil is all but defeated, and good has triumphed, there is one scene that stands out from the rest of the movie. In this scene, the android Vision stands face to face with his creator, Ultron. These two robots both represent free will, and rebelling against what they were created to be. Ultron, created to protect humanity, tried to end it while Vision, created to destroy humanity, is ultimately what saves it. The two machines, surrounded by nature, have their final interaction before Vision ultimately destroys the last Ultron.

Guardian's of the Galaxy Vol. II - Yondu's Funeral

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 heavily featured themes of parenthood. Each of the Guardians have a paternal relationship with Baby Groot, the main villain Ego is Peter’s biological father, and Gamora and Nebula’s arc stems from the way their father Thanos pitted them against each other. However, this theme culminates with Yondu sacrificing himself to save Peter. After his death, Peter gives a touching eulogy before watching his surrogate father’s old teammates give him a proper funeral.

Dr. Strange - The Death of the Ancient One

The death of the mentor is a literary trope as old as time. In Dr. Strange, this comes as Stephen joins the spirit of the Ancient One on a balcony near the hospital. In her astral form, she has stretched out her final seconds, watching lightning crawl slowly across the sky and snowflakes drifting down at a near-imperceivable pace. The moment is not only packed with emotional weight, it is also absolutely gorgeous.

Black Panther - The Death of Killmonger

T’Challa’s bittersweet victory over his cousin is one of the most memorable scenes in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Killmonger was a sympathetic villain that the audience couldn’t help but root for. T’Challa tries to get him to a medic who could save his life, but Killmonger doesn’t want to live as a prisoner, like so many of his ancestors did. Instead, his dying wish is to sit and watch the sunrise over Wakanda, like his father always told him he would.

Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse - Leap of Faith

Into the Spider-verse came as a shock to many audiences. The animated movie quickly became a fan favorite among Spider-Man fans as a love letter to the character. One of the most memorable parts of the movie is its appreciation of expressions of art that are typically considered “lesser” - such as graffiti, graphic novels, and rap. In the climax of the movie, Miles Morales finally steps into his own as Spider-Man, taking a leap of faith, all set perfectly to the song “What’s up Danger,” resulting in one of the most memorable scenes in all of animation. Watching this scene, it’s no wonder that this movie won the Oscar for Best Animated Film.

Wonder Woman - Crossing No Man’s Land

Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman was a breath of fresh air for superhero movies. Not only was it the first well-received DC movie, it was also a return to form for the genre. At a time when dark and gritty hyper-realistic storytelling was taking over, Wonder Woman was a simple story about the essence of being a hero. Gal Gadot’s portrayal of Diana Prince as a fish-out-of-water who believes in the inherent good of mankind was an inspirational and empowering reminder of what the superhero genre is at its best: stories of people who want to help.