Pucker up
As Seen In: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
The Moment: Just before jumping aboard the Red Skull’s plane, Steve Rogers gives Peggy a farewell kiss, before looking over at Colonel Phillips. “I ain’t kissing you,” growls the Colonel, gruffly.
Why It’s Great: Tommy Lee Jones’ delivery and comic timing are a joy to behold.
Gangster's Paradise
As Seen In: The Green Hornet (2011)
The Moment: Hornet and Kato take the Black Stallion out for a spin, throwing some Coolio on to the stereo and singing along to Gangster’s Paradise .
Why It’s Great: The Green Hornet might not have been everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying the fun to be had in this scene. After all, everyone loves Gangster’s Paradise .
Hulk smash!
As Seen In: The Incredible Hulk (2008)
The Moment: In the midst of the almighty tear-up between Hulk and the Abomination, the big green rage-ball is at last afforded the opportunity to roll out his catchphrase: “Hulk… SMASH!”
Why It’s Great: After the chin-stroking tedium of Ang Lee’s Hulk , it’s a blessed relief to see the Hulk back to doing what he does best: Hulking out!
Fistfight
As Seen In: Thor (2011)
The Moment: Thor fends off a number of SHIELD operatives using only his bare hands, whilst all the while, a bow-toting figure watches on from the shadows…
Why It’s Great: Thor gets a proper opportunity to show off his muscles for the first time, whilst the Hawkeye tease is an excellent piece of fanboy-baiting…
Enter the Widow
As Seen In: Iron Man 2 (2009)
The Moment: The Black Widow shows off some of her best moves, leaving a posse of armed goons feeling the worse for wear without breaking so much as a sweat.
Why It’s Great: Scarlett Johnasson isn’t overburdened with screen-time in Iron Man 2 , so it’s nice to see her make the most of the opportunities afforded to her. Plus. There’s the small matter of that catsuit to consider…
Hang-time
As Seen In: Spider-Man (2002)
The Moment: The final scene of Sam Raimi’s opening adventure, in which Spidey swings through downtown Manhattan, the camera swooping after him as he goes.
Why It’s Great: It’s a scene that gives the audience a sense of what it would actually feel like to be Spider-Man. And damn, it feels good.
Pick up a Penguin
As Seen In: Batman Returns (1992)
The Moment: Insulted by a yuppy political type at an official function, the Penguin shows off his animal side by taking a big chunk out of the luckless chap’s nose. Ouch!
Why It’s Great: Because despite the Penguin’s hideous appearance, the guy is really asking for it.
Bridging the gap
As Seen In: X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
The Moment: Magneto shows off the full extent of his powers, ripping San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge from its foundations, and moving it to a location that better suits his purpose.
Why It’s Great: The Last Stand might suck, but in the bridge scene, it does have one solid gold set-piece.
Fear the Scarecrow
As Seen In: Batman Begins (2005)
The Moment: Dr. Jonathan Crane offers to show Carmine Falcone his mask. As it turns out, it’s not a pretty sight.
Why It’s Great: Ra’s al Ghul might be the film’s primary villain, but Scarecrow makes off with all the scariest moments. Very creepy indeed.
Striptease
As Seen In: Sin City (2005)
The Moment: Hartigan is left speechless by the dance routine performed by Nancy Callahan, played by none other than the ultra-slinky Jessica Alba.
Why It’s Great: Come on, don’t make us spell it out for you!
Claws out
As Seen In: X2 (2003)
The Moment: Wolverine goes claw to claw with Lady Deathstrike in X2 ’s most fearsome action sequence. But for those mutant regenerative powers, this would be an absolute bloodbath.
Why It’s Great: It’s a brilliantly kinetic brawl, with a suitably grisly payoff. We love the clunk made by Deathstrike’s adamantium-filled body as it hits the bottom of the tank.
Showdown
As Seen In: Road To Perdition (2002)
The Moment: Michael Sullivan finally faces down employer John Rooney in a rain-drenched shootout straight out of the Old West.
Why It’s Great: It’s the satisfying payoff to a wonderful noir, and it couldn’t be more dramatically executed or beautifully composed. Simply magical.
Taking flight
As Seen In: Iron Man (2008)
The Moment: Tony Stark attempts to modify his suit’s flight capabilities, recording many a false start along the way…
Why It’s Great: RDJ plays this one for laughs, and plays it brilliantly. His exchanges with his bumbling robot helper are pretty chucklesome, and the scene in which he finally takes to the skies is genuinely exhilarating.
Plane sailing
As Seen In: Superman Returns (2006)
The Moment: A jumbo jet looks set to plough into a packed baseball stadium, until the Man of Steel makes a timely appearance to stop it just inches short of the pitch. Good save, Supes!
Why It’s Great: Superman Returns may not have been well-loved by the fans, but this early set-piece is easily one of the most spectacular of any Superman film.
Big night out
As Seen In: Blade (1998)
The Moment: Blade infiltrates a vampire nightclub and sets about laying as many of the pointy-toothed buggers to waste as he can before the cops show up.
Why It’s Great: It’s a pretty explosive way of introducing your lead character, that’s for sure. As the man says, “there are worse things out than vampires tonight… like me.”
Muscle memory
As Seen In: A History Of Violence (2005)
The Moment: Viggo Mortensen’s diner comes under threat from a pair of robbers, only for the proprietor to display a hitherto unsuspected ability to kick ass…
Why It’s Great: Up until this point, Mortensen has studiously played his character as a gentle, loveable everyman, which is why the transformation is so shocking when it eventually arrives.
Runaway train
As Seen In: Spider-Man 2 (2004)
The Moment: Doc Ock sends a metro train careering out of control, causing Spidey to risk life and limb to bring it to a safe halt.
Why It’s Great: You really get the sense that Spider-Man is being pushed to his very limit here, which makes it all the more satisfying when he pulls off the save. He gets some well-deserved applause to boot!
Bank job
As Seen In: The Dark Knight (2008)
The Moment: Chris Nolan kicks off his second Bat movie with a slickly executed bank heist, involving the Joker and a host of expendable henchmen.
Why It’s Great: Shot using IMAX cameras, the sequence is both visually spectacular and pleasingly nasty, as the Joker proves his ruthlessness with a fiendishly well-devised plan.
Becoming The Crow
As Seen In: The Crow (1994)
The Moment: Eric Draven comes over all Lazarus, as he hauls himself from his grave before giving himself a goth-rock makeover.
Why It’s Great: It’s a little overwraught, but there’s no debating how effective this little sequence is. In just a few short minutes, Draven has transformed from a corpse to an avenging angel of death!
We have a Hulk
As Seen In: The Avengers (2012)
The Moment: “I have an army,” hisses Loki to a defiant Tony Stark. “We have a Hulk,” comes the reply.
Why It’s Great: The movie hasn’t even been released yet, and already this is looking like an iconic moment. Too excited for words…
War is Hell
As Seen In: Hellboy (2004)
The Moment: The WW2-set battle scene is the movie’s first big set-piece, and it delivers in big, explodey spades. What a way to kick things off.
Why It’s Great: If in doubt, include a big fight scene with a bunch of hissable Nazis. It never fails to entertain…
Iron Man escapes
As Seen In: Iron Man (2008)
The Moment: Tony Stark turns the tables on his captors, using his newly created suit of armour to blast his way out of his cave-based prison and back to freedom.
Why It’s Great: There’s quite a long build-up to the first reveal of Stark’s prototype suit, so when it finally arrives, it’s met with a real sense of satisfaction.
Thor vs. Destroyer
As Seen In: Thor (2011)
The Moment: Thor goes toe-to-toe with the devastating Destroyer. Needless to say, there’s a fair bit of collateral damage when these two start going at it.
Why It’s Great: The character of Thor is built around his spectacular strength, so the final battle has to be pretty epic to fully put him through his paces. Thankfully, this one delivers.
Graveside lament
As Seen In: Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm (1993)
The Moment: Having sworn to avenge their deaths, Bruce Wayne breaks down at his parents grave, confessing his guilt at the solace he has found with Andrea Beaumont. “I know I made a promise,” he begins, “but I didn't see this coming. I didn't count on being happy.”
Why It’s Great: It’s a powerful moment, and one that carries as much emotional clout as anything in the live-action movies.
Rorschach rampage
As Seen In: Watchmen (2009)
The Moment: Rorschach take on a whole squadron of police officers, using nothing but an aerosol, a cigarette and a grappling hook to wreak havoc on his pursuers.
Why It’s Great: Jackie Earle Haley’s Rorschach is the best thing in Zack Snyder’s adaptation, and he’s at his most intimidating in this bruising set-piece.
Phoenix from the ashes
As Seen In: X2 (2003)
The Moment: At the end of the film, a bird-shaped shadow can be seen swooping across the waters of Alkali Lake… a rather phoenix-shaped bird, wouldn’t you say?
Why It’s Great: It’s a brilliant tease for the Phoenix storyline, which could have been so much more if left in the hands of Bryan Singer. Sadly, Brett Ratner came along and botched it.
Unleashing Hell
As Seen In: 300 (2006)
The Moment: Leonidas ploughs his way through a horde of Persian aggressors, the camera slowing down and speeding up as the bloodletting and bone-breaking plays out in a symphony of violence.
Why It’s Great: It’s a beautifully choreographed sequence, and the high point of the film’s lengthy battle between the Persians and the Spartans.
Star-Spangled Man
As Seen In: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
The Moment: Cap joins a troupe of chorus girls for an all-singing, all-dancing rendition of Star Spangled Man .
Why It’s Great: The period trappings are great, and really help to establish the film in the relevant era, while the Hitler punches are an excellent way of acknowledging the character’s roots. Bravo!
Why so serious?
As Seen In: The Dark Knight (2008)
The Moment: The Joker holds a knife to the face of terrified mobster Gambol, regaling him with the tale of how he got his scars. The tension is almost unbearable…
Why It’s Great: The pencil trick has already shown us how brutal an adversary the Joker can be, and this nightmarish little tale only strengthens that impression. Plus, “Why so serious?” is a hell of a catchphrase.
Thanks but no thanks
As Seen In: X-Men: First Class (2011)
The Moment: Wolverine sends Xavier and Lensherr packing when they approach him to join the X-Men. “Go fuck yourself,” he says, amicably.
Why It’s Great: If you didn’t know it was coming, it’s the cameo to end all cameos! Brilliant stuff.
The vault
As Seen In: Thor (2011)
The Moment: Loki discovers that he is actually Laufey’s son, in this electric scene between Tom Hiddleston and Anthony Hopkins. Things will never be the same again…
Why It’s Great: Thor is jam-packed with action, but when the pace is allowed to slow slightly, there are some scenes that pack an emotional punch in there as well. This is one of them.
Calling card
As Seen In: Batman Begins (2005)
The Moment: Chris Nolan sets up The Dark Knight by having Lieutenant Gordon present Batman with a murder’s calling card… a joker from a pack of playing cards.
Why It’s Great: If this didn’t get you jumping out of your seat in the cinema, you probably don’t really like Batman!
Marv vs. Kevin
As Seen In: Sin City (2005)
The Moment: Mickey Rourke’s hulking Marv finally gets the better of the predatory Kevin (Elijah Wood), tying him to a tree, hacking his limbs off, then letting his dog finish the rest.
Why It’s Great: Despite Rourke’s brutality, it’s the placidly smiling Wood who is utterly terrifying here. As Marv remarks in wonderment, “he never screams…”
Nightcrawler
As Seen In: X2 (2003)
The Moment: X2 opens with a superbly pulse-quickening set-piece that sees Nightcrawler infiltrate the White House to deliver a warning to the President.
Why It’s Great: Nightcrawler’s acrobatics get this superior sequel off to a rollicking start, and are the perfect way to introduce the new mutant to an unfamiliar audience.
Single finger salute
As Seen In: X-Men (2000)
The Moment: Wolverine’s adamantium-clad skeleton triggers a metal detector, to the annoyance of Cyclops. Staring down his team leader, Wolvie retracts two of his claws, leaving only the middle one on display!
Why It’s Great: It’s a moment that captures the essence of the character perfectly. Plus, it’s very funny.
Potty mouth
As Seen In: Kick-Ass (2010)
The Moment: Hit-Girl makes her presence felt, hailing an apartment full of villains with the following choice rejoinder: “Okay you cunts… let’s see what you can do now.”
Why It’s Great: It might have got the tabloids in a right old lather, but there’s no denying that that’s a hell of a way to make an entrance.
Bat vs. Cat
As Seen In: Batman Returns (1992)
The Moment: Batman and Catwoman engage in a spot of fisticuffs upon a Gotham rooftop, with a subtext of sexual tension bubbling below the surface. Miaow!
Why It’s Great: Forget Halle Berry, Michelle Pfeiffer is impossibly sexy as Selina Kyle. And that kiss / face-lick is electric!
Hospital horror
As Seen In: Spider-Man 2 (2004)
The Moment: Doc Ock comes into being, laying waste to a room full of medical staff with his lethal tentacles.
Why It’s Great: Sam Raimi brings all his Evil Dead experience to bear on a scene that could be lifted directly from a horror film. There’s even a chainsaw in there for heaven’s sake!
I had a date
As Seen In: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
The Moment: Steve Rogers wakes up in present day New York, and realises what his displacement in time means for his love life. “I had a date,” he murmurs, wistfully.
Why It’s Great: It’s a pleasingly downbeat end to the film, and a moment that highlights the humanity of the man behind the shield.
A silent guardian
As Seen In: The Dark Knight (2008)
The Moment: Gary Oldman delivers a spine-tingling monologue to his son, as Batman heads out on the run. “We'll hunt him because he can take it,” he explains. “Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. A dark knight.”
Why It’s Great: The best sign-off line in comic-book movie history? You’d better believe it.
Frankenstein's Monster
As Seen In: X-Men: First Class (2011)
The Moment: Michael Fassbender’s Erik Lensherr tracks down a pair of former Nazis in a South American bar, using his powers to condemn them to a painful end…
Why It’s Great: Fassbender is so brilliantly angry here. “Let’s just say I’m Frankenstein’s Monster,” he snarls, “and I’m looking for my creator.” Love how he takes a minute to finish his beer…
Introducing Nick Fury
As Seen In: Iron Man (2008)
The Moment: Nick Fury pays Tony Stark a little visit in Iron Man ’s post-credit scene, telling him he has become part of “a bigger universe” and making reference to “The Avenger Initiative”.
Why It’s Great: The post-credit scenes would go on to become a given, but this one was a surprise, and a mammoth one at that. The first look at Nick Fury and a tease for The Avengers , all rolled into one? Welcome to geek nirvana!
Montage
As Seen In: Watchmen (2009)
The Moment: Watchmen ’s opening credits roll over a montage that neatly brings the viewer up to speed with the comic-book’s alternative timeline, all to the strains of Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin’ .
Why It’s Great: It’s a very neat way of presenting some of the weightier exposition of the comic-books, and looks pretty darn stylish to boot.
You can call me Joker
As Seen In: Batman (1989)
The Moment: The man formerly known as Jack Napier emerges from the shadows to have his revenge on a rival crime boss. “Jack?” he sneers. “Jack is dead my friend. You can call me… Joker.”
Why It’s Great: This is Nicholson on top form, one minute menacing, the next maniacal. The fairground music is also a nice touch.
Who's got you?
As Seen In: Superman (1978)
The Moment: When Lois Lane’s helicopter gets into difficulties, it looks as though the intrepid reporter is about to plunge to her doom. Fortunately, Supes flies in and plucks her out of mid air. “I got you,” he says. “You got me,” she replies, “who’s got you?”
Why It’s Great: A heroic moment, punctuated by a bit of wide-eyed incredulity… that’s a great moment right there.
The kiss
As Seen In: Spider-Man (2002)
The Moment: Spider-Man and MJ share their first kiss, MJ rolling up Spidey’s mask as he hangs upside down from a nearby building. Nice.
Why It’s Great: Despite the pouring rain and unconventional positioning, it’s a remarkably steamy moment. Andrew Garfield and Emmas Stone will have to go some to top it.
Kneel before Zod!
As Seen In: Superman 2 (1980)
The Moment: General Zod and his minions smash their way into the White House, forcing the President to “kneel before Zod!”
Why It’s Great: Terrence Stamp is superbly poised throughout this sequence, from the opening command, to the gentle correction of “God,” to “Zod”. Imperious!
I'm Batman
As Seen In: Batman Begins (2005)
The Moment: Having shredded the nerves of Falcone’s goons in the dockside warehouse, Batman heads straight for the crime boss himself, hauling him out of his car and screaming “I’m Batman” in his face. Yikes!
Why It’s Great: It’s our first chance to see Bale’s Batman in full effect, and he’s clearly not a man to be trifled with…
Wolverine goes feral
As Seen In: X2 (2003)
The Moment: Stryker’s troops lay siege to Xavier’s mansion, although they’ve reckoned without the “teacher” who’s stayed behind to mind the children…
Why It’s Great: Wolverine finally gets to put those claws to good use, slicing and dicing his way through the invading party. Badass…
Interrogation
As Seen In: The Dark Knight (2008)
The Moment: Batman gets a few minutes alone with the Joker in a GCPD interrogation room, only to find the tables turned on him by his cackling nemesis…
Why It’s Great: Heath Ledger is brilliantly insidious as the taunting Joker, whilst Bale also deserves props for embodying Batman’s impotent rage. A wonderful head-to-head, and the best moment in the best comic-book movie ever made.
