Warning: This article contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again.
Some of the most memorable moments in theMarvel Cinematic Universehappened in the opening scenes ofMarvel’s movies and TV shows. The opening moments of superhero movies are arguably the most important, as a powerful and exhilarating opening scene can set the tone for the remainder of the project, dictating whether audiences have a good time or not. Marvel has become adept at producing incredible opening sequences, and projects such asAvengers: Infinity War, Deadpool & Wolverineand, most recently,Daredevil: Born Againfit the trend perfectly.
In recent years, Marvel has been taking bigger risks with its projects, which has also meant that recent opening scenes have contributed to some of the wildest, most boundary-pushing andmost unexpected moments in the MCU. This isn’t an entirely new thing, however, asclassic Infinity Saga movies, includingCaptain America: The Winter Soldier, Doctor Strangeand evenIron Man, the MCU’s first installment, have also kicked off with incredibly powerful moments. This will surely continue as the MCU keeps growing, though it will be hard to forget the most recent.
10Foggy Nelson Is Killed By Bullseye
Daredevil: Born Again (2025)
The most recent project in the MCU began with perhaps the most shocking and intense opening sequence, asDaredevil: Born Againkicked off with Matt Murdock, Foggy Nelson and Karen Page being ambushed by a vengeful Benjamin Poindexter, a.k.a. Bullseye. This scene picked up from the ending ofDaredevilseason 3 perfectly, but unfortunately culminated in the untimelydeath of Foggy Nelson, which came as a major surprise to MCU audiences. Theories had been rife about Foggy possibly meeting his end inBorn Again, but nobody expected this to be the series' first scene.
Elden Henson’s Foggy Nelson was a central part of Matt Murdock’s development inNetflix’s originalDaredevilseries, introduced as his best friend and legal partner before also becoming a staunch ally to Daredevil. Originally,Henson wasn’t expected to return forDaredevil: Born Again, but the series' massive creative overhaul in 2023 allowed him to return, but only for his death to be depicted on-screen. This marked an incredibly strong start forDaredevil: Born Again, and this intensity and shock-factor continues through the entire first season.
9The Ancient One Fights Kaecilius & His Zealots
Doctor Strange (2016)
Scott Derrickson delved deep into the magical and mystical corners of the MCU with 2016’sDoctor Strange, and this was put front-and-center immediately.Doctor Strange’sopening scene sawMads Mikkelsen’s Kaeciliusand his zealots brutally behead the librarian of Kamar-Taj, steal pages from the Book of Cagliostro, and be pursued by the Ancient One to London, where they escape.This intense sequence of events is breathtaking to watch, including some awe-inspiring visualsthat laid the foundations for the innovative and exciting visual effects in the rest of the Phase 3 movie.
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This scene not only revealed Kaecilius' power and mission, but also proved how much of a match the Ancient One was for him and his followers.Tilda Swinton’s Ancient Onewas a formidable warrior and mentor to the likes of Kaecilius, Mordo and Doctor Strange, and it was great to see her show off her magical prowess by trapping Kaecilius and his zealots in the Mirror Dimension.Doctor Strange’sopening moments marked a strong introduction to magic in the MCU, and this has only become more impressive as Doctor Strange’s heroic career has developed.
8Kate Bishop Sees The Battle Of New York
Hawkeye (2021)
Theevents of the Battle of New Yorkwere well-documented in 2012’sThe Avengers, but the opening moments ofHawkeye’spremiere, “Never Meet Your Heroes,” gave us a different perspective on this incredible sequence of events.Hawkeyeopened by showing us the Battle of New York from the perspective of a young Kate Bishop, whose family penthouse in New York City was damaged during the Avengers' fight against Loki, allowing her to witness Clint Barton’s epic jump from a nearby building. This one scene inspired Kate Bishop’s entire archery obsession, which eventually came full circle.
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It’s always thrilling when Marvel sets new storylines during times of classic MCU events, so it was fantastic to see the Battle of New York revisited inHawkeye.The Battle of New York surely had a huge impact on many residents of the MCU, Kate Bishop being just one, so it was great to get just a glimpse of one hero emerging because of this fight. It was also brilliant to get to see the youngerClint Barton in action again, reminding us why he was so important to the Avengers team even back then.
7Natasha Romanoff Has A Childhood In Ohio
Black Widow (2021)
Black Widowhad its problems, and it is not widely regarded as many viewers' favorite Marvel movie. However, theopening moments of 2021’s retrospectiveBlack Widowmoviestand out as some of the MCU’s most impactful, poignant and harrowing scenes.The beginning ofBlack Widowtakes place in 1995 and explores Natasha Romanoff’s childhood as a spy living with a surrogate familycomprising Alexei Shostakov, Melina Vostokoff and Yelena Belova, the former two on a long-running mission in Ohio. This idyllic childhood ends in tragedy for Romanoff and Belova when they’re taken to the Red Room.
Young Natasha Romanoff was portrayed by Ever Anderson, known for roles inResident Evil: The Final ChapterandPeter Pan & Wendy.
It was wonderful to see some ofNatasha Romanoff’s history explored, as she went a decade in the MCU without this happening.A small backstory scene inAvengers: Age of Ultronfueled interest in seeing Black Widow’s history brought to the screen, and whileBlack Widowultimately failed to give audiences what they wanted, the opening scenes packed a real punch. These first scenes andBlack Widow’sopening credits made Romanoff’s entire MCU story even more tragic and heartbreaking.
6The Avengers Travel Into Space & Kill Thanos
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
2019’sAvengers: Endgamemarked the culmination of the entire Infinity Saga, and it opened with some of the MCU’s most shocking and unexpected moments. Firstly,we saw Clint Barton’s entire family fall victim to Thanos' snap from the end ofAvengers: Infinity War, before Tony Stark delivers a goodbye message to Pepper Potts from deep space. When he’s rescued and the Avengers find out where Thanos has escaped to, they find him and realize the Infinity Stones have been destroyed. This promptsThor to swiftly behead Thanos, leading to the shocking"Five Years Later"time-jump.
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This was an extended opening sequence that packed several powerful punches one after another.Hawkeye’s family’s demise, Tony Stark and Nebula’s dire situation, the Avengers' argument back on Earth, the revelation of Thanos destroying the Infinity Stones and the five-year time-jump all provided intense shocks for this emotionally-heated montage. This set a dramatic and emotional tone for the rest ofAvengers: Endgame, which never let up - a testament to the work of Marvel Studios and the Russo brothers, which makes the MCU’s upcoming crossovers even more exciting.
5Steve Rogers Meets Sam Wilson
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
One of the MCU’s best friendships is that betweenSteve Rogers and Sam Wilson, and this began in the opening moments of 2014’sCaptain America: The Winter Soldier. Before Wilson officially became the Falcon to Rogers' Captain America, the pair met while on a morning run around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.This scene has now become truly iconic, especially since Rogers'“On your left"quote was continuously repeated between the pair. This kick-started a friendship that would last for several years and would eventually lead to Wilson succeeding Rogers as Captain America.
What If…?season 3 repeatedCaptain America: The Winter Soldier’sopening scene, though explored what it would have been like had it been shared by Sam Wilson and Bruce Banner.
Even thoughSam Wilson couldn’t keep up with Steve Rogers in a speed race, he proved himself to be a worthy ally inCaptain America: The Winter Soldier’sopening moments nevertheless. Wilson continued the conversation with Rogers when it could have naturally ended, bonding with him over their military careers, and delivering the essential advice that Rogers listen to Marvin Gaye’s “Trouble Man” album from 1972.Avengers: Endgamesaw Rogers pass theCaptain America mantle onto Sam Wilson, bringing this scene full circle five years later.
4N’Jobu Describes The History Of Wakanda
Black Panther (2018)
Captain America: Civil Warset the stage for Wakanda’s debut in 2018’sBlack Panther, andthe opening moments of Ryan Coogler’s MCU directorial debut featured an incredible animated montage exploring the entire history of Wakanda. Animated by Perception and narrated by Sterling K. Brown’s N’Jobu, theopening scene ofBlack Pantherfeatured N’Jobu explaining Wakanda to his young son, Erik Stevens, a.k.a. the boy who would become Killmonger. This was a truly beautiful sequence that set the tone for the visually-innovative and thrillingBlack Panther.
This montage revealed that a vibranium meteor had infused the land around Wakanda with vibranium, allowing the heart-shaped herb to be used to empowerBashenga into the first Black Pantherand the first King of Wakanda, bringing together five tribes. The Jabari may have left for the mountains, but Wakanda used vibranium to become a technologically-advanced nation, and created a barrier to remain hidden from the outside world.This stunningly-animated scene is one of the MCU’s most memorable moments, and it’s a bonus that it gave us some important backstory.
3Deadpool Exhumes Wolverine’s Skeleton & Dances With The TVA
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Ryan Reynolds' debut in the MCU proper was a hilarious and exhilarating ride from beginning to end, and the opening moments of the movie are some of the most entertaining the franchise has ever seen.Responding to early concerns thatDeadpool & Wolverinewould ruin the emotional and tender ending of 2017’sLogan, the Phase 5 movie decided to deliberately do thisby havingDeadpool exhume Wolverine’s adamantium skeleton, hoping that his regenerative healing factor had brought him back to life. He just wanted a Wolverine to save his reality, but got a skeletal companion instead.
Deadpool & Wolverineconfirmed 20th Century Fox’sX-Menfranchise takes place on Earth-10005, an official reality in the MCU’s multiverse, and it survived the events of the Phase 5 movie, suggesting Fox’sX-Menfranchise characters can still return.
Deadpool was then mysteriously met by several soldiers working for the Time Variance Authority, who were immediately thrust into battle as Deadpool used Wolverine’s 206 adamantium bones as powerful weapons.Set to the tune of NSYNC’s “Bye, Bye, Bye,” and interspersed with scenes of Deadpool dancing in the woods, this opening sequence was remarkably violent, surprising and purely entertaining. There are hopes thatRyan Reynolds' Deadpool will return afterDeadpool & Wolverine, so we might see him show off his dance skills yet again soon.
2Thanos Acquires The Space Stone
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
WhileAvengers: Endgame’sopening sequence is one of the MCU’s most emotional,Avengers: Infinity War’sfirst scenesalso packed a serious punch, as Josh Brolin’s Thanos made his official first full appearance in the MCU.Thanos had been teased in the MCU as far back as 2012’sThe Avengers, butInfinity Warsaw him begin his quest to acquire the six Infinity Stones and wipe out half the population of the universe. InInfinity War’sopening scene, Thanos collects the Space Stone after attacking the Asgardian refugee vessel, which leads to the deaths of two fan-favorite MCU characters.
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Thanos kills Heimdall and Loki in the first few minutes ofAvengers: Infinity War, proving that Marvel Studios was not messing around with the Phase 3 crossover movie. Luckily,Heimdall sends the Hulk to Earth prior to his demise, allowing the Avengers to be warned of Thanos' impending attack, though this would ultimately be meaningless, as they still lost. This was a truly powerful full debut forThanos in the MCU, proving him to be one of Marvel’s most powerful and terrifying villains, and laying the foundations forInfinity Warto feature many more deaths.
1Tony Stark Is Abducted By The Ten Rings
Iron Man (2008)
One of the most memorable and exciting opening scenes in the MCU’s history occurred in the franchise’s very first movie, 2008’sIron Man.The very first scene of the MCU introduced Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark and saw him in Afghanistan, exploring his abduction by the Ten Rings, which kick-started his evolution into Iron Man. The movie soon skipped back to provide some essential backstory, but then rolled back round and caught up to finally transform Stark into Iron Man. This scene was an incredibleintroduction to Iron Man, and to the MCU as a whole.
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Victor Von Doom’s Doctor Doom
By delivering such a powerful and beloved performance inIron Man, Robert Downey Jr. became the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tony Stark might have sacrificed himself inAvengers: Endgame, butDowney Jr. has been confirmed to be returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom, which means he can revive his claim as perhaps the franchise’s most iconic and pivotal star.Iron Man’sopening scene will go down in history as one of the greatest, but Robert Downey Jr. will get the chance to deliver even more memorable moments in theMarvel Cinematic Universe.
