It's likely that we'll be seeing the last of Captain America in one of the next two Avengers movies. With Chris Evans saying that he'll walk away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe after finishing up on Avengers 4, many have assumed that Cap will be killed in the battle against Thanos. While he surely has a few big moments left before this happens, let's look back at some of his most memorable scenes so far.
Transformation & Chase - Captain America: The First Avenger
It didn’t take long for Steve Rogers to have his first big moment as Captain America. Immediately after being given the Super Soldier serum, Steve Rogers is forced to spring into action and chase an undercover HYDRA agent who stole a vial of the serum.
Seeing Cap get used to his powers is pretty fun, but the fact that he puts them to use right after gaining them makes the scene even more interesting. Steve clearly has some trouble adjusting to life as a superhero, but despite crashing into a window and apologizing a number of times, he shows that he was what it takes to become Captain America.
This is a superhero who is not exactly sure of himself but still unflinchingly does the right thing anyway. The chase scene captures who Steve is as a character at that moment in time, and teases the kind of hero he’ll become in the future.
Thor’s Hammer - Avengers: Age of Ultron
Since its inclusion in the promotional campaign for Avengers: Age of Ultron, this scene has generated some debate among Marvel fans. After a party at Avengers Tower, the heroes take turns trying to lift Mjolnir. While none prove to be successful, for a second there, Cap was able to lift the hammer just a little bit.
Thor’s smug smile quickly disappears from his face, and Captain America says he can’t lift it. Many fans have speculated that Steve could have lifted Mjolnir if he wanted to, but chose to make it appear as if he was unworthy. After all, being able to move the hammer just a bit doesn’t make much sense, even by comic book logic. Can a person only be a little bit worthy? I don't know about that...
Cap is a pretty great guy, and acknowledging that lifting the hammer would cause Thor to question his whole existence is just another example of this.
Brooklyn - Captain America: Civil War
While Captain America: Civil War is full of heroes, there are still plenty of big moments for its titular character. There’s the scene where he holds down a freaking helicopter, as well as him freeing the imprisoned Avengers at the end of the movie. However, there’s one small moment that really stands out.
Spider-Man’s introduction into the MCU was one of the highlights of the movie, and his brief interaction with Captain America tells us all we need to know about the two characters. After the pair fight for a bit, Cap tells Spider-Man that he has heart, and asks where he’s from. When Spider-Man replies with “Queens,” Cap smiles and replies with “Brooklyn.”
This nice bit of New York banter is another reminder of how despite the lore and legend surrounding the title of Captain America, Steve Rogers is still very much that well-intentioned kid from Brooklyn. This is where is real strength comes from, even though the serum doesn’t hurt.
"Hulk, Smash!" - The Avengers
Captain America is the leader of the Avengers, despite the fact that he is far from the most powerful one on the team. His ability to lead is evident in a few scenes, like the end of Age of Ultron and the opening fight in Civil War, but the final battle in The Avengers illustrates this the best.
After all the heroes are united in the middle of Manhattan, Iron Man fittingly prompts Cap to give out the orders, and that’s exactly what he does. After devising a plan of attack, Cap tells each member of the team what their job is, and ends his speech by delivering the iconic line: “Hulk, smash!”
While the big egos on the team clashed earlier on in the movie, everyone is willing to accept Captain America as the boss once it’s time to fight. This is the moment where the team really comes together, and Captain America is a big part of why that happens.
Elevator Fight - Captain America: The Winter Soldier
While Captain America’s first two appearances in the MCU were pretty well received, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is what really made him a fan favorite. After the release of the Russo brothers’ first foray into the superhero genre, nobody would be making jokes about how the guy in the goofy red, white and blue spandex doesn’t belong on the Avengers.
The Winter Soldier solidified Cap’s status as a total badass, and no scene demonstrated this like the elevator fight. Before taking out 10 S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in a crowded elevator, he famously asks if anyone wants to get out. Foolishly, nobody takes Cap up on his offer, and the result is a pretty amazing fight sequence.
The action in The Winter Soldier wasn’t as cartoonish as a lot of other superhero movies, and this fight certainly demonstrated this. The audience feels each bone-breaking punch and kick that Cap lands, further proving how strong the super soldier really is.