Captain America is one of the most beloved heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it is an endless pleasure to rewatch some of his greatest hits throughout the series over and over again. Chris Evans’ Captain America performance is easily among the MCU’s best, which is something considering the star-studded nature of the franchise. There are so many excellent scenes in Steve Rogers’ MCU journey that are worth revisiting, even years later.
There are several things that can make a given Captain America scene so rewatchable. Admittedly, the vast majority of his easiest sequences to return to are exciting action scenes, worth digesting several times to appreciate every little detail of the choreography. In other instances, the raw tenacity of Chris Evans’ acting chops as Captain America make a scene endlessly entertaining to revisit over and over again.
10
The elevator fight
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is easily the highest-rated film in the Captain America Solo trilogy by most accounts, and sequences like the elevator fight scene make it obvious why. The tension of HYDRA’s infiltration of SHIELD reaches a breaking point when Captain America enters a crowded elevator full of double agents, knowing that he is likely on them. Because a fight is coming, Steve asks calmly”Before we start, would anyone like to get off?“
With the introduction, a tense, claustrophobic fist fight breaks out, with Captain America going one-on-nine against the HYDRA infiltrators. Despite the overwhelming odds, Captain America is miraculously able to restore all nine of his opponents, despite the fact that no one held back. From the moment the battle begins to the finishing overhead shot of the carnage, there is so much to go back and appreciate about that particular moment.
9
Captain America wields Mjolnir
Avengers: Endgame
The moment when Captain America finally wields Mjölnir is one of the most cheer-worthy moments in movie history, let alone among the MCU. When the Avengers come up against Thanos for the second time, the Avengers seem to be on the ropes, with the Mad Titan effortlessly handling Thor, Iron Man and Captain America all at the same time. The enchanted hammer slowly rises, and flies into Thanos’ head just as it seems he is about to kill Thor, only to fly back into Captain America’s hand.
The outburst that came from the audience in the theaters during this moment was really something special. Even watching the moment today, it’s hard not to feel shivers run down your spine as Captain America proves himself worthy of Thor’s power. The fact that this scene was set up so many years earlier by the Avengers: Age of Ultron Party scene just makes it all the more satisfying.
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Captain America fights
Avengers: Endgame
Of course, the climactic battle with Thanos is far from the only interesting action beat of Captain America’s journey. During the time heist in New York, Steve Rogers is interrupted while trying to make off with Loki’s scepter. The moment in which Captain America faces off against a confused, younger version of himself from 2012 makes for a fascinating fight.
It’s quite impressive how well the choreography is able to sell Steve Rogers fighting himself, with the stunt double swaps being impossible to detect. The hand-to-hand combat is quite visceral and intricate, absolutely worth going over multiple times. Even if the scene is slightly killed by Captain America, who makes one of the most weak-old jokes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe while commenting on the appearance From his own rear in his original suit.
7
Steve Rogers dives on a grenade
Captain America: The First Avenger
Not every Captain America scene worth repeatedly revisiting necessarily has to be bombastic action. Sometimes, seeing the strength of character responsible for making Steve Rogers Captain America in the first place is worth coming back to several times. The standout example of this is in the origin story Captain America: The First Avenger, Which sees a physically ill Steve Rogers try his best to make it through basic training and into the super soldier program.
To test the willpower of the recruits, Tommy Lee Jones’ character throws a dummy grenade into their formation, declaring it to be a live explosive. While every other soldier runs for cover, Steve Roger dives on what he believes to be an active grenade, ready to protect his comrades from the shrapnel with his body at the cost of his own life. This abominable act of sacrifice is the final straw that proves his ability as a candidate for the Super Solider Serum, and his confused question”Is this a test?“Is endlessly fond of reawakening.
6
Steve Rogers gets his date with Peggy
Avengers: Endgame
Another moment worth coming back to for its emotional value rather than its excitement is Steve Rogers’ last scene in the entire MCU (so far), the last scene of Avengers: Endgame. Until then, Steve lived with missing a romance with Peggy Carter as the biggest regret of his life, forever sacrificing his own happiness in the line of duty. Years after waking up in the modern day regretting his missed date, Steve finally takes his chance to live a simple, happy life with Peggy in the past.
He does this after returning Mjölnir and the Infinity Stones to their original place in the timeline, explaining that he wanted to try some of the “lives” Tony was always telling him to get. The film only shows a tiny glimpse of it, but the simple chemistry Steve and Peggy have in that brief moment is a beautiful moment to put on repeat. For all the fantastic elements of Avengers: Endgame, The fact that the film ends with a happy couple in a simple suburban house makes for one of the most perfect MCU endings ever.
5
Captain America and Bucky overwhelm Iron Man
Captain America: Civil War
While most great Captain America moments are great to come back to for the action or their narrative weight, Bucky and Captain America’s team up against Iron Man at the end of Captain America: Civil War is a rare scene that contains both. The scene begins with Tony on a rampage after learning that Bucky was the one behind his parents’ death, even if he wasn’t in control of himself at the time. Sticking up for his friend no matter what, Captain America remorphably joins Bucky in battling his fellow Avenger, wielding Iron Man’s powerful suit in tandem.
The emotional stakes of this battle are some of the highest of any MCU action scene, which only heightens the brilliant stuntwork. It helps that Bucky and Captain America’s combination attacks on Iron Man, passing the shield back and forth between one another, is an impressive ballet of moving elements that requires multiple viewings to fully appreciate. At the end of Captain America telling Iron Man “I can do this all day” once again, the scene proves that at the time, Tony was just another bully for Steve to stand up to.
4
The train reveal
Avengers: Infinity War
As great as intense battles and high emotional impacts are, sometimes sheer fan service wins the day for Captain America. Being back in Avengers: Infinity War is a shining example of a return to history done right. When Black Widow desperately tries to fight the alien forces of Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive in an isolated train station, her situation seems dire, only for a train to pass and reveal a unique silhouetted figure.
The absolute aura Captain America radiates while silently standing in the shadows is palpable, and makes for a fun visual to come back to over and over again. Catching Midnight’s polearm from the air as the Avengers musical Sting swells, this moment was the perfect way to deal with the long-awaited return of Captain America to the MCU after not appearing in a movie for two years. The hype generated by Steve’s beatdown against the alien invaders is perfect for repeat viewing.
3
The Highway Fight
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Everyone loves a good cinematic car chase, and while the bombastic highway fight in Captain America: The Winter Soldier Only technically qualifying, the battle that ensues is one of the most iconic scenes in the entire Captain America trilogy. As Steve, Natasha and Sam escape with captured HYDRA double agent Jasper Sitwell in tow, they find themselves in the Winter Soldier’s crosshairs once again. Bucky mercilessly executes Sitwell on the highway before going after Captain America and company.
The fight choreography of Steve and Bucky’s showdown is some of the best in the MCU, using Bucky’s metal arm, Steve’s shield, knife fighting close combat techniques and wrestling moves all at once. The gravity of the reveal of the Winter Soldier’s identity is not lost on the audience either, making this another great Captain America scene that combines spectacle with a thrilling ethos. Between the martial arts moves and the delicate performances of Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan, the scene works in a vacuum like a miniature action movie all its own.
2
The helicopter arm curl
Captain America: Civil War
Captain America’s tumultuous friendship with Bucky gets him into trouble more than once, as seen in Captain America: Civil War. Although Bucky tries to escape Steve to avoid troubling him further, Steve quickly lets his old friend know that he is not ready to give up on him so easily. Even as Bucky tries to escape via stolen helicopter, Captain America rushes in to stop him, summoning every ounce of willpower (and his Super Soldier Serum) to physically hold back the vehicle as best he can.
Unlike most rewatchable Captain America scenes, this moment has a very specific reason to return to. That is to say, Chris Evans’ body here is the most impressive of any MCU scene, biceps bulging as he struggles to hold back a literal aircraft. As a bodybuilding manual alone, this particular Captain America scene has likely been revisited hundreds of thousands of times.
1
Captain America finally gets to say his catchphrase
Avengers: Endgame
In the comics, Captain America’s famous catchphrase is “Avengers, assemble!“, a call he uses to incite his fellow heroes into action. Avengers: Age of Ultron. This only makes the payoff when he finally gets the chance Avengers: Endgame All the more gratifying.
Every beat of this scene is pure perfection, from Captain America strapping his cracked shield to his arm while steeling himself to take on Thanos’ army alone to the brilliantly blaring OST as the fallen heroes join the battle through Doctor Strange’s portals. When Steve called Mjölnir to him one more time, he finally got to say one of the greatest quotes from Captain America in the MCU. Captain AmericaHis heel turn from lost determination to assured victory here is entertaining every time.