Top 10 Best Fight Scenes In Marvel And DC Superhero Movies

Top 10 Best Fight Scenes In Marvel And DC Superhero Movies

Seeing our favourite heroes and villains clash on the big screen is always a treat, but the ones you'll find here have taken those battles off the page and made them some of the most iconic moments in cinema...

Feature Opinion
By JoshWilding - Aug 01, 2016 09:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Batman vs. Superman


As I said last week when I took a look at the ten worst superhero movie fight scenes of all-time, these battles are almost always pretty awesome. The reason for that mostly boils down to the fact that it's just great to see these larger than life comic book characters brought into live-action for the fights we could previously only put into motion in our heads, but some are obviously much better than others. 

Those are the ones you see in movies which do more than just pit two CGI characters against each other in a blur of punching. Instead, they instead deliver confrontations which are truly memorable, unique, and inventive. So, with that in mind, what you'll find here then are the ten fight scenes which stand out as being the best of the best. Something tells me that this is going to be a controversial one...

10. X-Men vs. En Sabah Nur (X-Men: Apocalypse)



The appearance of Oscar Isaac's En Sabah Nur will forever remain divisive, though we can all probably agree that the iconic comic book villain could and should have looked a little better. Regardless, his final battle with the X-Men in X-Men: Apocalypse was undeniably impressive, and probably the most comic book-y sequence ever featured in this franchise.

Magneto placing those two metal girders in front of the villain in an "X" symbol may have been a little silly, but it was still a very satisfying and long overdue moment in that character's story arc. Just as exciting was seeing the team use their powers together to take down Apocalypse, while Jean Grey unleashing the Phoenix was an awesome nod to the source material which nicely sets the stage for her future in this rebooted X-Men Universe. 

9. Batman vs. Bane (The Dark Knight Rises)



Including this one here may upset those disappointed by the very grounded confrontation between Batman and Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, but I believe that this is an underrated gem. Not only did Christopher Nolan surprise us all by recreating the iconic "Break the Bat" moment from the comic books, but  the fight scene which preceded that powerful and goosebump inducing moment was just as amazing.

Choosing to forgo Hans Zimmer's superb score in place of the noise of Batman and Bane's grunts and the sound of fists hitting flesh was a genius move and really helps to distinguish this from other superhero movie fight scenes. For the first time ever in this franchise, it really felt like Batman was in danger and running scared from this far more powerful foe, and that put moviegoers on the edge of their seats as they rooted for the Caped Crusader to emerge triumphant. 

8. Spider-Man vs. Lizard (The Amazing Spider-Man)



As many problems as this franchise had, the battle between Spider-Man and The Lizard in Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man reboot was incredible, especially as it was created almost entirely with special effects (that includes the corridor it took place in). It's a great feat of VFX and arguably one of the best examples of Spider-Man being effectively brought to life on the big screen.

This particular superhero movie fight scene saw the iconic Marvel superhero utilise his webbing, wall-crawling and reflexes to hold off The Lizard's vicious attacks, and was real edge of your seat stuff. Of course, the sequence also included an incredible cameo from Stan Lee, with a scene which saw him play a librarian oblivious to the fight going on behind him. The tune playing on his Walkman complemented the action perfectly, and this sequence just goes to show the greatness Webb is capable of. Blame Sony for stifling that.

7. Superman vs. General Zod (Man of Steel)



Of all those listed here, this superhero movie fight scene is perhaps the most controversial. Many fans and moviegoers took issue with the widescale destruction and loss of life which resulted from the battle between Superman and General Zod, but what else would you expect when two God-like beings come to blows in the middle of a city like the fictional Metropolis?

The fact that the Man of Steel ends their clash by snapping Zod's neck also didn't sit well with some, but it's a powerful and memorable way to end an action-packed and thrilling battle. The lack of action in Bryan Singer's Superman Returns was more than made up for in this movie, and it's a shame that Man of Steel has come under so much fire for delivering what many fans had been crying out for after watching the hero creep on his ex in his last big screen adventure. 

6. Batman vs. The Joker (The Dark Knight)



Batman and The Joker exchange blows for real at the end of The Dark Knight when the Clown Price of Crime takes it to the Caped Crusader with a crowbar (in a very nice nod to the comic books, as it was one of those which he used to murder Robin). However, it's the brief battle between these two when The Joker is in police custody which is the real stand out as an interrogation turns into a vicious beat down.

Why? Well, the villain reveals that Batman will have to choose between saving his love interest or Gotham City's District Attorney. It's a tense few minutes shot to perfection by Christopher Nolan, and Christian Bale and Heath Ledger delivered performances so utterly brilliant that the eventual clash between Ben Affleck's Batman and Jared Leto's Joker will need to do an awful lot to come anywhere close to this. 

5. Hulk vs. Abomination (The Incredible Hulk)



The Incredible Hulk had a lot of issues in terms of story, and with a so/so critical and commercial reaction, it's arguably the only blip for Marvel Studios. However, regardless of what came before it, the final battle between the Hulk and Abomination was one of the best recreations of the comic books yet.

It featured everything you could possibly want from a clash between two larger than life characters, and while the fact that it took place between two CGI creations meant that the human connection was somewhat lost, it was impossible to not root for the Green Goliath as he battled one of his greatest foes in the middle of New York City. Yes, the hero taking on The Hulkbuster in Avengers: Age of Ultron was amazing, but too short for my liking, hence why this clash of the titans earns a place here.

4. Captain America vs. The Winter Soldier (Captain America: The Winter Soldier)



The Russo Brothers know how to deliver when it comes to action, and Captain America taking on his former WWII sidekick in an emotionally charged sequence which culminated in a way which nicely set the stage for Captain America: Civil War was pretty much perfect. As a battered and bloodied Steve Rogers struggles to reach his friend - now The Winter Soldier - and stop the HYDRA controlled Helicarriers from killing thousands, tension is at an all-time high.

However, the powerful ending which sees Cap help Bucky, only to be beaten by him and subsequently saved is immensely satisfying from both the perspective of fans and regular moviegoers. Even the hardest hearted fanboy must have had a tear in their eye when Cap said, "I'm with you 'till the end of the line", but the directors of Captain America: The Winter Soldier would outdo themselves just two years later.

3. Spider-Man vs. Doctor Octopus (Spider-Man 2)



Over 10 years and three Spider-Man movies later (four if you count Captain America: Civil War), this remains the best fight scene featuring the character to ever grace the big screen. Kicking off in a clocktower before moving to the top of a train, it's an action-packed and thrilling spectacle which plays a big role in why Spider-Man 2 is still considered one of the best superhero movies/sequels of all-time.

Even now, the special effects are pretty much flawless, while Spider-Man's attempt to save those in the train embodies everything which makes this iconic Marvel character one of the greatest ever (even him removing his mask is handled extremely well). It's cleverly choreographed too as Doctor Octopus and Spidey battle in, on top and on the side of the train, resulting in sheer perfection which has only just been topped by a couple of newer releases. 

2. Batman vs. Superman (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice)



Regardless of the many other faults Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice may have had, how anyone could not be wowed by the fight between the Dark Knight and Man of Steel is beyond me. The brutal fight between these two heroes incorporates Kryptonite, nods aplenty to The Dark Knight Returns, and even the kitchen sink (well, sort of) as the Caped Crusader goes to war with the Man of Steel in a sequence which demands multiple viewings.

While the decision to have Batman win won't please fans of Superman, that's obviously nowhere near as controversial as the whole "Martha!" thing. Regardless of your feelings on both of those things though, this sequence is impressive from start to finish and just like seeing the comic books come to life. As a result, it's hard to fault it, and even if you hated everything else about Batman v Superman, this was worth the entrance fee. 

1. #TeamCap vs. #TeamIronMan (Captain America: Civil War)



It's hard to put into words just how incredible this entire action sequence is, especially as it's the one part of the movie which demands multiple viewings in order to really take it all in. Shot entirely in IMAX (with the same cameras the Russos plan on using for Avengers: Infinity War), this breathtaking battle between the members of #TeamCap and #TeamIronMan could very well be the best superhero fight scene ever put in a comic book movie.

It's made all the greater by the fact that each of the characters is given a chance to do something cool enough to make their respective fans leave the cinema with a smile. From Black Widow to Scarlet Witch and The Vision, this mind-blowing set piece is like the comics come to life, and when you throw stuff like Spider-Man making his MCU debut to battle the likes of Falcon, Bucky, and freaking Giant-Man into the mix, it just gets even better.

Which of these is your favourite superhero movie fight scene? Have we missed any which deserve a mention here? As always, weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below.

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MrDandy
MrDandy - 8/1/2016, 9:05 AM
Batman vs Superman at number 2?

Madness!

That was five minutes of two people just punching each other in the face in an abandoned bathroom and made no sense in how it began, how it was fought, and how it ended.
WhenTheyRise
WhenTheyRise - 8/1/2016, 9:25 AM
@MrDandy - Agreed! The fight was disappointing.
MrDandy
MrDandy - 8/1/2016, 10:35 AM
@WhenTheyRise - The animated version of that fight from the Dark Knight Returns deserves the spot more than BvS
Anonymous47
Anonymous47 - 8/1/2016, 10:36 AM
@MrDandy exactly, I would have putting the fight between Captain America and Iron Man and Winter Soldier in no 2 because it had all those moments that were just goosebumps all through.
webheaded
webheaded - 8/1/2016, 9:06 AM
Spider-Man vs The Lizard??? But the whole thing looked like a cutscene from a videogame.
MrPositive
MrPositive - 8/1/2016, 9:07 AM
IronGenesis
IronGenesis - 8/1/2016, 9:08 AM
Civil War #1????
They aren't even Fighting.

#thankyouscarletwitchforthatsignedDCFans

Batman v. Superman #2????
The Warehouse Scene or even the Doomsday FightScene topped both of those.
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 8/1/2016, 9:12 AM
@IronGenesis - LOL... Both BvS fight scenes were lacking in the bulge... Batman vs Superman would've been good had they not ended on that MARTHAAAAAA moment... Also Doomsday fight had decent moments the fight all together felt rushed.
I would take all Civil War fight scenes and action scenes over any BvS scenes. But thats just my opinion you didn't ask for, but yeah BvS could've been way better and more epic but they F-ed it up.
MrPositive
MrPositive - 8/1/2016, 9:18 AM
@IronGenesis -







IronGenesis
IronGenesis - 8/1/2016, 9:29 AM
@MrPositive - Sweet Action!
I think then it should probably be Winter Soldier Vs. Black Panther as they are the only ones playing for keeps.
Riiku
Riiku - 8/1/2016, 9:46 AM
@MrPositive - There was no action, He said.
MrDandy
MrDandy - 8/1/2016, 9:09 AM
I'd go with

1) Team Cap vs Team Iron Man
2) Joker vs Batman (Batpod sequence)
3) Captain America vs Winter Soldier
4) Battle of New York (The Avengers)
5) Spider-Man vs Doc Ock
6) Superman vs Zod
7) Ant-Man vs Yellowjacket
8) Hulk vs Abomination
8) Batman vs Bane
10) Smallville Brawl (Man of Steel)
10)
MrDandy
MrDandy - 8/1/2016, 9:11 AM
@MrDandy - Bonus

11- Quicksilver sequence (Days of Future Past
12- Nightcrawler sequence (X-Men United)
MiopTop
MiopTop - 8/1/2016, 12:11 PM
@MrDandy - First Thor action scene in Jotunheim is underrated. Iron Man in Golmirah should be on the list too. Iron Man in Monaco as well, and Cap on the Lemurian Star is still my all-time favourite. Avengers vs HYDRA was pretty awesome too, and Hulk v Hulkbuster as well.

Batman vs Bane should be higher on your list too.
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