Skip to main content
Games Radar Newsarama Total Film Edge Retro Gamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The smarter take on movies
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Chris Evans as Captain America in Avengers: Endgame
Marvel Movies From the Avengers assembling to "I am Iron Man," Marvel fans are discussing the MCU's biggest goosebump-raising moments
David Harbour as Red Guardian in Thunderbolts
Marvel Movies Avengers: Doomsday star hails the Russos' "special sauce" after admitting he was originally "not convinced" that the Marvel crossover could juggle its massive cast
Best superhero movies: close-up images of Captain America, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
Superhero Movies The 25 best superhero movies of all time
Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania
Marvel Movies Avengers: Doomsday directors tease it's even bigger than Endgame as Paul Rudd hints at more practical, "jaw dropping" sets in the MCU crossover
Gambit (Channing Tatum) in Deadpool and Wolverine
Marvel Movies Channing Tatum says Avengers: Doomsday tops Deadpool and Wolverine for crowd-pleasing moments that will "make your brain ooze out of your ears"
Frodo in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Movies The 32 greatest movie trilogies of all time
Julia Garner as Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four - First Steps
Marvel Movies Fantastic Four director says there "was never anything I had to fight [Marvel] for" after confirming all deleted scenes were removed for the "greater good"
Darth Vader in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Movies The 30 best movies on Disney Plus to watch right now
Robert Downey Jr. sitting in a chair at the end of a long line of chairs
Marvel Movies Avengers: Doomsday release date, cast, plot, and more news
James Marsden as Cyclops in X2
Marvel Movies X-Men star James Marsden says you can "feel" that Avengers: Doomsday is "something special": "The world is ready for this movie and these worlds to collide"
Anthony Ramos as Major Daniel Gonzalez in A House of Dynamite.
Movies The 25 best movies on Netflix to watch this week
Spider-Man 2
Sci-Fi Movies 21 years later, Spider-Man 2 is back in theaters and it’s still one of the greatest superhero movies ever made
Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine in Deadpool and Wolverine
Marvel Movies MCU Phase 5: Every movie and show from Marvel's Phase 5, ranked
Robert Downey Jr. during the Doctor Doom announcement at Marvel's SDCC 2024 panel
Marvel Movies First look at Avengers: Doomsday comic-accurate costumes for the X-Men and more has hit the internet
The best horror comedies
Action Movies The 15 best horror comedies that will have you laughing from behind your sofa
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies
  3. Action Movies

The Best Joss Whedon Movie Moments

Features
By Matt Risley published 25 April 2013

The Avengers director's greatest scenes, characters and gags

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

X-Men: Dickish Dialogue

X-Men: Dickish Dialogue

Before he was a big 'third biggest movie of all time' director hotshot, Whedon slowly muscled his way into Hollywood by polishing other's scripts. While Bryan Singer's X-Men was a veritable success all its own, there are a couple of unforgettable moments that came courtesy of Whedon's penmanship.

First, the good - nay, amazing. Whedon was able to sum up the entirety of the Cyclops/Wolverine love/hate relationship with one simple exchange. After Wolverine returns from fighting shapeshifter Mystique, he has to prove he is who he says he is.

Wolverine: "Hey hey - it's me."

Cyclops: "Prove it."

Wolverine: "You're a dick."

Cyclops: "Ok."

On the not so great side, he also came up with this amazing stinker, as Storm tries to appear bad-ass (and fails miserably) in a battle with Toad.

Storm: "Do you know what happens to a toad when it's struck by lightning?"

*dramatic pause/audience bewilderment*

Storm: "The same thing that happens to everything else."

Ooh. Terrifying.

Page 1 of 15
Page 1 of 15
Avengers Assemble - Shakespeare in the Park

Avengers Assemble - Shakespeare in the Park

Avengers Assemble could have been an unholy, ridiculously convoluted mess. So it's a massive testament to Whedon - who not only directed, but wrote the screenplay - that he not only balanced each character's screentime, but nailed their voices so effectively - all the while infusing them with his own trademark wit.

Case in point, the first coming together/insane fight-off between the Avengers' triumvirate of awesome - Captain America, Thor and Iron Man.

While the whole scene bristles with super-powered tension, it's his quips that make the coming together of these three seem so instantly at odds and yet familiar.

Case in point, this insta-classic line from Iron Man to Thor, which Downey Jr. nails with perfect snark:

"Shakespeare in the Park? Doth mother know you weareth her drapes?"

Page 2 of 15
Page 2 of 15
Serenity - Wash :(

Serenity - Wash :(

Damn you Whedon. NOT AGAIN.

If it's one thing Whedon does better than crafting loveable characters, it's torturing them (and the audience). Knowing from his TV work that he has a habit of killing off fan-favourites, audiences were probably bracing themselves for a cast death or two in Firefly 's migration to the big screen.

But - *SPOILER ALERT* - Wash? Really?! After crash-landing the whole crew and ship safely, his victory is snatched so cruelly away from him - mid-poetic sentence! - by a violent attack by a bunch of Reavers.

Not only was it a breathtakingly brutal and shocking way to kill him off, but Wash was the undoubted heart of the TV show and movie - making the loss feel all the more devastating.

Page 3 of 15
Page 3 of 15
Speed - Pop Quiz, Hot Shot

Speed - Pop Quiz, Hot Shot

It doesn't matter how high-brow your tastes go, you'd have to be dead inside not to at least mildly enjoy the bombastic ridiculousness of Speed .

While the credited writer of Speed is listed as Graham Yost, Yost himself said that Whedon wrote most of its dialogue.

And while it's never going to win any Oscars, the snappy one liners and playful banter saved the movie from becoming an earnestly po-faced (and ergo clunky) action movie.

Ortiz: "Just keep it steady."

Annie: "Oh, thanks for the tip, Ortiz."

Or….

[after the elevator falls]

Young Executive: "Jesus. Bob, what button did you push?"

Or…

Howard Payne: "Pop quiz, hotshot."

Page 4 of 15
Page 4 of 15
Avengers Assemble - Galaga

Avengers Assemble - Galaga

A key reason for Whedon's Avengers working quite so well was his ability to craft a script that retained the humanity amidst all the God-punching, Hulk-smashing, city-demolishing craziness.

While the main characters all have their fair share of surprisingly relatable moments (Cap's excitement at finally getting a pop culture reference gets us every time), it's one brief but brilliantly disarming background player who provides one of the biggest laughs.

Working for S.H.I.E.L.D and dealing with world-ending threats every day must be fun, but when it comes down to it, it's just like any other workplace. Which is why we loved the worker who was caught playing Galaga during work hours. There are only so many portentous end-of-the-world Nick Fury speeches you can sit through in one week, you know?

Page 5 of 15
Page 5 of 15
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog - Every Song

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog - Every Song

When the Writers' Strike hit Tinseltown back in 2007-2008, productivity hit an understandable low. That is, for everyone but Joss Whedon who used the opportunity to make a studio-free, creator-owned musical superhero internet series (and when you put it all together, a movie of sorts - yes, we're stretching, but it's brilliant - so ssh).

Every song and scene's stuffed with catchy medleys and often hugely inappropriate gags. Case in point, the douchey 'good guy' superhero Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion), who revels in schmooching the object of his nemesis Dr Horrible's affection right in front of his face.

Oh, and pointing out that, as for his name? Yep, the 'hammer is [ his ] penis'.

Page 6 of 15
Page 6 of 15
Serenity - River Owns Everyone

Serenity - River Owns Everyone

While Serenity and its TV prequel Firefly are full of brilliantly realised, surprising and endlessly loveable characters, it's arguable that River is one of Whedon's all time greats.

95% mild-mannered, mentally-afflicted crazy-person, and 5% super-kick-ass, deadly and kung-fu-tastic sleeper assassin, she's given two brilliant scenes in Serenity to own the floor.

And oh, how she does. Taking everything he'd learnt on Buffy , and then channelling it through a big-screen lens, Whedon directs each fight scene with style, heft and visceral awesomeness.

The bar scene is everything you've ever wanted the Star Wars cantina brawls to be, while the climatic battle with the deadly reavers is a ballet of scythe swinging, eviseration-y beauty.

Page 7 of 15
Page 7 of 15
The Cabin In The Woods - Sparkly Death Unicorn

The Cabin In The Woods - Sparkly Death Unicorn

While The Cabin in the Woods manages to balance the horror/comedy tonal blend pretty much perfectly throughout, there's no greater combination of the horrific, the hilarious and the flippant than with the brief cameo of one murderous unicorn, who spears one man to death before cantering off down the corridor to the tune of some magical, sparkly musak.

Page 8 of 15
Page 8 of 15
Toy Story - Pixar Perfection

Toy Story - Pixar Perfection

The first Toy Story was groundbreaking for countless reasons, but the adventures of Woody, Buzz and co would never had connected so hard had they not had the character, story and dialogue to back up the then-groundbreaking visuals.

Whedon acted as one of the writers on the original movie, lending a warmth and humour that is, at times, quintessentially, undeniably Whedon-y.

Can anyone hear this classic Buzz/Woody exchange and argue that anyone but him was behind it?

Woody: "You are a TOY!"

Buzz: "You are a sad, strange little man, and you have my pity."

Page 9 of 15
Page 9 of 15
Avengers Assemble - Hulk Smash

Avengers Assemble - Hulk Smash

Even if you were a massive fan of Ang Lee and Louis Leterrier's bi-polar approaches to The Hulk , it'd be hard to argue that any one solo movie ever truly nailed his appeal.

Whedon found a way, with a perfectly balanced role as a permanently ticking timebomb nestled within the core of The Avengers. When the id/green rage monster is finally unleashed, it's spectacular.

But it's the surprising choice to use him as comic relief that was truly inspired. The two laugh out loud/fist-pumpingly brilliant moments in the movie's climax prove Whedon's proficiency in comic timing.

Not only did he settle the argument of who'd win in a (very brief and unexpected) fight between Thor and Hulk, but he pulled the rug out from under the audience (and Loki), who were expecting a mega-climatic showdown with the devious deity.

Instead, Hulk picked Loki up and whacked him into the ground like a giant Asgardian Whack-a-Mole.

Page 10 of 15
Page 10 of 15
The Cabin In The Woods - The Bait & Switch

The Cabin In The Woods - The Bait & Switch

Before The Cabin In The Woods was released, the plot and its story secrets were on super-lockdown. Which is why the opening scene was so disarming, hilarious and confusing.

We knew it was a horror, with a creepy cabin in the woods where young nubile things would likely visit and then die messily.

So opening with the everyday mundanity of two office workers discussing the joy of baby-proofing kitchens was the ultimate misdirect.

As they pootle along in their golf cart, you get a hint of the weirdness to come, but it's only until the super-loud smashcut of the title that the tone is set - unpredictable and blackly humorous, any preconceptions or convention expectations you had are immediately thrown out the window.

Page 11 of 15
Page 11 of 15
Thor - Thor-some Post-Credits Scene

Thor - Thor-some Post-Credits Scene

Many people don't know that Whedon was in charge of filming Thor 's post-credit scene. And while it was Kenneth Branagh who did such a good job of introducing the Asgardian beer-chugger to movie audiences, it was that final easter egg that properly got us jazzed for what a cohesive Marvel movie universe - and more importantly, the tantalising possibilities of Avengers Assemble - could bring.

The scene, where Dr Selvig is recruited by Nick Fury to investigate the power of the Tesseract is intriguing enough. And then that final, exhilarating tease - with Loki appearing in the mirror behind Selvig and pulling his puppet strings, all sneery malevolence - gave us hope that Loki could prove an enemy that could take on the combined might of Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

Page 12 of 15
Page 12 of 15
The Cabin In The Woods - Ditzy(?) Bottle Blonde

The Cabin In The Woods - Ditzy(?) Bottle Blonde

The Cabin In The Woods sets its intentions out pretty early, but it's testament to Joss Whedon and director/co-writer Drew Goddard's smarts that they're able to justify and rationalise pretty much every horror convention you've ever seen along the way.

The reason the ditzy bottle blonde always makes the dappiest, most anti-Darwinian of decisions? She's being made stupider with IQ-sapping hair dye. The reason the two hot ones get it on at the least appropriate time? Pheromones are being pumped into their environment to make them get their horn on.

Page 13 of 15
Page 13 of 15
The Lion King 2 - A Sing-Song Sign of Things to Come

The Lion King 2 - A Sing-Song Sign of Things to Come

Here's your random Whedon fact of the day (well, according to IMDb anyway).

Whedon has gone on to win plaudits aplenty for his musical prowess (not only did he write, direct and score Buffy's infamous musical episode and the hugely acclaimed Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog, but he also scored his forthcoming adaptation Much Ado About Nothing ), but here's a little known fact…

His first foray into zeitgeist tune-tinkling came courtesy of writing the lyrics for everyone's favourite Lion King *cough* 2 *cough* classic, 'My Lullaby'.

Enjoy.

Page 14 of 15
Page 14 of 15
Buffy The Vampire Slayer - The Introduction

Buffy The Vampire Slayer - The Introduction

Sure, the movie may have been a camp, schlocky mess - but that was never Whedon's fault.

What we should be thankful for is that he took the chance to introduce the world to the creation of a character that would go on to redefine genre TV.

A strong, ass-kicking lead woman who riled against the pop culture conventions, she laid the groundwork for geek TV and movies to come.

Page 15 of 15
Page 15 of 15
Matt Risley
See more Movies Features
Read more
Chris Evans as Captain America in Avengers: Endgame
From the Avengers assembling to "I am Iron Man," Marvel fans are discussing the MCU's biggest goosebump-raising moments
 
 
David Harbour as Red Guardian in Thunderbolts
Avengers: Doomsday star hails the Russos' "special sauce" after admitting he was originally "not convinced" that the Marvel crossover could juggle its massive cast
 
 
Best superhero movies: close-up images of Captain America, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
The 25 best superhero movies of all time
 
 
Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania
Avengers: Doomsday directors tease it's even bigger than Endgame as Paul Rudd hints at more practical, "jaw dropping" sets in the MCU crossover
 
 
Gambit (Channing Tatum) in Deadpool and Wolverine
Channing Tatum says Avengers: Doomsday tops Deadpool and Wolverine for crowd-pleasing moments that will "make your brain ooze out of your ears"
 
 
Frodo in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The 32 greatest movie trilogies of all time
 
 
Latest in Action Movies
Amazing Spider-Man #39 art
Spider-Man 4 may be drawing directly on one of Marvel's most recent comic events that brings in Daredevil, Luke Cage, She-Hulk, Shang-Chi, Tombstone, and many more
 
 
Tom Holland as Peter Parker unmasked and in the middle of a fight during a scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home
Spider-Man: Brand New Day won't be getting an IMAX release, according to the planned 2026 schedule
 
 
Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill in Batman v Superman
2 years after it officially ended, DC fans are appreciating the DCEU's best moments: "When the DCEU got things right man was it beautiful"
 
 
Batman
The Flash director Andy Muschietti promises updates on his DCU Batman movie The Brave and the Bold are coming soon
 
 
Daniel Craig in new James Bond movie No Time to Die
Despite previous reports suggesting James Bond was worth $1 billion, Amazon only paid $20 million for the rights to the 007 franchise
 
 
Keanu Reeves in Constantine
James Gunn says he's spoken to Keanu Reeves about Constantine 2, but hasn't read a script yet
 
 
Latest in Features
Halo: Campaign Evolved screenshot
Halo: Campaign Evolved hands-on: Is this Unreal Engine 5 remake a bizzaro world Combat Evolved or an "opportunity to pave the way for the future of Halo"?
 
 
Chainsaw Man
Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man has convinced me that anime can never return to the bad old days of non-canon movies
 
 
Spooky Express screenshot showing a small skeleton shaped train carrying a vampire passenger past a scared human
Spooky Express is an adorable puzzle game that has me mapping out tracks in Trainsylvania to help undead passengers, and it's perfect for Halloween
 
 
A Pokemon trainer posing for a photo in front of Lumiose City's tower in Pokemon Legends Z-A
Pokemon Legends: Z-A makes the world feel livelier than ever before, but it's not because of Lumiose's design
 
 
Mel staring head-on with one red eye in Hades 2
I spent 507 days obsessed with playing Hades 2, so I'm revisiting the first roguelike to decide which is my actual favorite
 
 
Tessa Thompson as 'Hedda Gabler' in Prime Video drama Hedda
New Prime Video drama Hedda from The Marvels' Nia DaCosta is a masterclass on how to reboot a classic story
 
 
  1. Iliad box, tokens, and components laid out on a white surface
    1
    It’s hard to imagine there are many gamers who won’t enjoy this quick but tactical board game for 2 players
  2. 2
    The Outer Worlds 2 review: "The Fallout New Vegas creators have crafted a masterful space age RPG that's willing to play game master to my silliest decisions"
  3. 3
    Once Upon a Katamari review: "Time traveling cowboy adventures, ninja thievery, pirate battles, and more make this the most inventive evolution of the series yet"
  4. 4
    Jurassic World Evolution 3 review: "Far from a fossil, this park builder is one you'll keep coming back to, despite its flaws"
  5. 5
    Ninja Gaiden 4 review: "Thrilling action and deep blood powers make this the series' best and a stunning return to form"
  1. Chainsaw Man
    1
    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"
  2. 2
    Tron: Ares review: "Misses out by swapping the Grid for the real world"
  3. 3
    One Battle After Another review: "One of the best studio movies in years and an instant classic"
  4. 4
    The Conjuring: Last Rites review: "Not bold or memorable enough for the Warrens' final chapter"
  5. 5
    Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle review: "Roars past Mugen Train as Demon Slayer's best adventure yet"
  1. Some of the young cast of IT: Welcome to Derry, including Phil (Jack Molloy Legault), Lilly (Clara Stack), and Teddy (Mikkal Karim-Fidler).
    1
    IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
  2. 2
    Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"
  3. 3
    Marvel Zombies review: "A fun expansion of the What If episode with delightful MCU Easter eggs and truly gross R-rated kills"
  4. 4
    Gen V season 2 review: "As strong as the first season, if not stronger"
  5. 5
    Wednesday season 2 part 2 review: "Ortega shines, but it's a zombie who steals the entire show"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...