Top 10 MCU Moments That Shaped the Marvel Cinematic Universe

This article is part of MCU Ranking Week on ScreenRant, during which we’re rolling out our official ranking of all 37 Marvel Studios’ movies. We’re also diving deep into the MCU franchise and the films themselves. Check out our MCU Ranking Week launch article to find out more!

Since 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has built a monolithic franchise of films on the foundations of some absolutely spectacular moments. Whether or not you’re a Marvel fan, or if you even agree that superhero movies belong in cinema, it’s hard to argue with the accomplishments of the MCU over the last 17 years.

With a total of 37 theatrical releases as of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the MCU has racked up an impressive $32.3 billion at the box office, which equates to nearly $900 million per film. In addition, the fact that the MCU has been able to deliver so many movies and series, all tying in to one shared universe is a spectacular accomplishment.

But it was no accident that Marvel Studios was able to build this impressive empire. Over the course of these stories, the MCU has created one of the most captivating fictional worlds, with a handful of moments shaping events across the board.

The Avengers Initiative

Going back to the beginning, with 2008’s Iron Man, there was one standout moment that made everything else possible. While the idea of a post-credits scene is not an original concept from the MCU, they used it to great effect.

In a clip that saw Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark speaking with Nick Fury, it unveiled the first taste of what this shared universe could deliver. Samuel L. Jackson was not a featured actor in Iron Man, but in the role of Nick Fury, he became an integral piece of tying this world together.

And while this scene was just a hint of what was to come, without it, the connective tissue would have been a harder sell. As such, this moment may not be the strongest in this ranking, but it is pivotal for the MCU’s future, and thus worth including.

The Fall of SHIELD

Years later, in 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Nick Fury would have a much more significant role opposite Chris Evans as Steve Rogers. Steve still struggles to fit into the modern world, but things get infinitely more challenging when the organization that revived him turns out to be corrupted by HYDRA.

SHIELD played an important role in the early MCU, as the organization that brought the heroes together to take part in Nick Fury’s Avengers Initiative. But when SHIELD fell, the heroes had to adapt and establish new protocols without government oversight.

The Guardians Break Out Of Prison

Meanwhile, in the same year, the Guardians of the Galaxy made their debut and expanded the world of the MCU out into the depths of space. While Thor had previously showcased other realms, space was an unexplored corner of the Marvel universe.

And leading the charge on this frontier was the ragtag group of heroes led by Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord. Initially, none of these characters had any desire to form a team, but when the group put their heads together to break out of prison, it forged a bond that would shape the next decade of their stories.

Iron Man Vs Captain America Fight

Then in 2016, the troubles that had been brewing in the MCU for a few years finally came to a head. As a result of heroes operating without governmental supervision, the leaders of the world became anxious, which in turn led to the creation of the Sokovia Accords.

This legislation was intended to keep heroes in line, monitor and supervise uniquely powered individuals, and ensure they were not using their powers to act conversely to the best interests of humanity as a whole. However, the Accords caused a division between the heroes themselves, as they began to take sides.

This led to Tony Stark and Steve Rogers being on opposite teams, and getting into one of the most iconic and tense fights ever seen in the MCU. Both heroes had their reasons for fighting, but the way this impacted their personal relationship was devastating.

Spider-Man Debuts In The MCU

However, as much as Tony and Steve’s rivalry caused upset, Captain America: Civil War also saw the debut of one of the most popular characters ever created in the MCU – Spider-Man. The film rights for the character had long been held by Sony, which made it seem impossible for the hero to swing into the MCU.

However, Marvel Studios and Sony were able to come to an agreement that allowed Tom Holland to play a live-action Spider-Man in the MCU, with his first appearance coming in 2016’s Civil War. Since then, Peter has been an invaluable part of the MCU, and one who continues to shape the wider story.

Loki Saves The Multiverse

Speaking of shaping the wider story of the MCU, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki is another character whose arc runs parallel to the larger narrative. Initially, Loki was a villain who accidentally pushed the Avengers to work together back in 2012’s The Avengers due to his plans to take over the Earth.

However, since then, the character has had two distinct redemption arcs. Initially, when the original Loki sacrificed himself to save his brother at the hands of Thanos, and subsequently when a variant of Loki was captured by the Time Variance Authority (TVA).

This later version of Loki had a change of heart over two seasons of a solo series on Disney+, which culminated in the character gaining power over time and space, and becoming a literal guardian of the multiverse, and its many timelines.

Thanos’ Snap Ripples Throughout The Universe

In 2018, the MCU redefined the superhero genre as a whole when they released Avengers: Infinity War. A movie that not only saw the heroes defeated, but one that ended with half of all life across the universe being snapped out of existence.

This tragic loss was too much to bear for many heroes, with some, like Hawkeye, becoming dark avengers, while others chose to turn away from being a hero all together for fear of causing more harm than good. It’s one of the most chilling ends of any superhero film, and a defining moment for the MCU as a whole.

“Five Years Later…” The Snap Is Reversed

Especially because the snap’s effect had a permanent impact on the universe. In Avengers: Endgame, the heroes come together to find a way to reverse Thanos’ snap, and to defeat the Mad Titan once and for all. However, recognizing that the five years known as the blip shouldn’t be erased entirely, the heroes brought everyone back five years later.

Of course, the return of half of the populations across the universe is cause for celebration. But, with people grieving, dying, being born, and moving on in the interim, reintegrating wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for everyone. And these implications have been explored in multiple projects such as The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Thunderbolts*.

“I Am Iron Man”

One of the most recognizable lines in the entire MCU is one that bookends Tony Stark’s story. In Iron Man, Tony utters these words at the end of the film in a press conference, revealing to the world that he is in fact the vigilante superhero known as Iron Man.

This moment shaped the MCU as a world where not all superheroes hide their identity. It also established a tone for the world that would have a knock-on effect across the MCU. And of course, Tony repeats these words in his final confrontation with Thanos, before using the Infinity Stones to snap Thanos and his army out of existence.

The Avengers Assemble

Finally, certainly one of the most iconic moments of the series, and the one that proved this series is more than just a concept, but actually something that works – the moment when the Avengers assemble for the first time in the Battle of New York.

With Loki threatening the future of the planet and all of humanity, the heroes gathered together and formed a team of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Up to this point, these characters all operated independently, with their stories taking distinctly different directions. But The Avengers proved that connecting the stories together could enhance them even further.

There are many moments throughout the MCU that helped to shape the world of these stories, but this has to be the one that not only inspired the most excitement and hope for the future, but actually proved the concept in a whole new way.