10 MCU Movie Endings That Are Genuine Masterpieces

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The ending to a film is extremely important. One can have what some think to be the greatest plot out there, but without a good ending to finish it off, and wrap everything up in a nice bow, the experience will be tainted. This can especially be said for the likes of superhero movies. With how much they've taken over the industry over the past few decades—the Marvel Cinematic Universe specifically—the reputation of these flicks has minimally wavered.

In the case of the MCU, this could, in part, be because of some of the amazing endings their films contain. When some of these adventures find their finales, the way said endings are executed has the ability to leave audiences feeling even more excited about the product than they'd been without it. A story can really be hyped up in people's minds if it leaves them feeling awesome at the end.

'The Avengers' (2012)

Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Hawkeye, Thor and Black Widow stare at the camera in The Avengers.

After Phase One of the MCU had begun to truly thrive between 2008 and 2011, it was up to The Avengers—the first big crossover movie—to solidify this as a true, bona fide cinematic universe. It's one thing to have some characters appear in other hero's movies, but The Avengers was going to prove that a big, multi-character crossover could be successful. Boy, oh boy, did it do just that.

After the devastating Battle of New York, The Avengers go their separate ways with a voice-over from Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) talking about how, now that they've come together, despite going their separate ways, they'll come back when something like this happens again. "Because we'll need them to," is how he specifically puts it. It leaves the door open for their solo franchises to continue, while promising the audience that, yes, they'll be coming together once more.

'Black Panther' (2016)

The cast in formal outfits walk intently through an office with purposeful expressions in Black Panther

One of the most impactful superhero movies out there is, without a doubt, Black Panther. It didn't just find itself penetrating the cultural zeitgeist because it did something truly amazing by having an almost all-Black cast and crew, but the story itself was truly moving and thought-provoking. Director Ryan Coogler knows how to make an effective movie, with more than applies to the ending, as well.

Something that really stands out about T'Challa's (Chadwick Boseman) character arc in Black Panther is the way that Coogler emphasizes how imperfect not only the protagonist is, but the country of Wakanda—more specifically their previous leaders—too. This movie's villain, Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), is so beloved because the ending decides to highlight how, while he was doing some despicable thiongs, he had a lot of validity to what he believed. It keeps the main characters accountable. T'Challa actually learns from his enemy, setting an ideal for the other leaders of the world and other Marvel superheroes, too.

'Iron Man' (2008)

Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark with a slight smile at a press conference in Iron Man.

The project that started it all is important and impactful not only because of how great of a movie it is, but additionally because of how it ends. The final moments of Iron Man are what helped put it, and the upcoming MCU, on the map. Up until this point, superhero movies decided to focus on heroes that had secret identities, and it was relatively unheard of for one to not have one. Iron Man, however, changed that completely.

The "I am Iron Man" quote is one of the most popular in modern superhero cinema for this very reason. This moment not only totally shocked viewers, but also got them super intrigued about how on Earth the people over at Marvel Studios were going to move forward in this franchise with such a huge shift in the typical superhero status quo.

'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' (2022)

After the terrible passing of series star Chadwick Boseman, no one really knew how in the world the series was going to continue post-passing. Expert director Ryan Coogler, thankfully, knew exactly what to do and handled the situation with grace and prowess—turning Black Panther: Wakanda Forever into not just a great movie, but a huge tribute to the deceased lead. This truly comes through in the final scene.

After completing her character arc, Shuri (Letitia Wright)—sister of T'Challa—takes some time to herself to finally burn the funeral robes for her brother, to the amazing musical track of "Lift Me Up" by Rihanna. Alongside the world watching Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Shuri gets to finally find comfort in her grieving.

Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap

Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory?

🕷️Spider-Man

😈Daredevil

🤖Iron Man

💀Punisher

⚡Thor

🛡️Cap

FIND YOUR HERO →

What drives you to do what's right? Choose the answer that feels most like you.

AWith great power comes great responsibility — I protect those who can't protect themselves. BMy faith and my conscience — I believe justice must be served, even in the dark. CLegacy and ego, honestly — but I've learned that others depend on me now. DThe system failed. Someone has to make sure the guilty actually pay. EDuty to the innocent and honour to my name — I was born to protect realms. FThe values I was raised with — freedom, decency, and never backing down from a bully.

NEXT QUESTION →

It's 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you'd think.

ASwinging between skyscrapers, keeping an eye on the neighbourhood. BRunning rooftops in Hell's Kitchen, listening for trouble. CIn my lab, upgrading my suit with a cold cup of coffee nearby. DStaking out a target I've been tracking for three weeks. ESomewhere between the stars, or at a feast that got out of hand. FOn a morning run — I was up at 4, actually. Couldn't sleep.

NEXT QUESTION →

How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What's yours?

AWeb them up and leave them for the police — again. BBuild an airtight case and dismantle their entire operation from the inside. CDeploy a containment system I designed specifically for them. Tech wins. DMake sure they don't escape a third time. Permanently. EChallenge them to single combat. Honour demands a decisive end. FRally allies, adapt the plan, and bring them in — by the book, even if it's hard.

NEXT QUESTION →

How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.

AEssential — my loved ones would be in danger if anyone found out who I am. BCritical — the mask protects my mission as much as my face. COverrated — I announced myself to the world and I'd do it again. DI'm a ghost. The less people know about me, the better. EMy name is known across the Nine Realms. There's no hiding it. FI don't hide — but I understand why some need to. Transparency builds trust.

NEXT QUESTION →

You've lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.

AWith guilt that never fully goes away — it pushes me to do better, every single day. BI channel it into purpose — their memory is the reason I keep fighting. CI buried myself in work for years. I'm only recently learning to face it. DIt transformed me completely. I'm not the same person I was before. EWith warrior's grief — I honour them by fighting with everything I have. FI keep moving forward. Stopping means letting the loss win.

NEXT QUESTION →

What's your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are.

AThe enthusiastic wildcard who somehow makes it work — and keeps the mood up. BThe strategist who works best alone but shows up when it matters most. CThe one who funds it, equips it, and occasionally takes over the whole operation. DI don't do teams. I'm more effective operating solo, on my terms. EThe heavy hitter — I crash in, draw fire, and turn the tide of battle. FThe leader — I earn trust, build the plan, and make sure no one gets left behind.

NEXT QUESTION →

Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are.

AClearly — I don't kill, and I wrestle with that line constantly. BI try to hold the line, but I've come terrifyingly close to crossing it. CPractically — I do what's necessary to protect people, including hard calls. DI crossed that line long ago. What I do is justice — the system just won't admit it. EIn battle, victory is justice. Mercy is earned — not automatic. FFirmly. The moment we abandon our principles, we become what we fight against.

NEXT QUESTION →

When you're not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story.

ATrying to juggle school, a part-time job, and not failing my friends. BWorking as a lawyer by day, fighting for justice in court and on the streets. CRunning a global company, attending galas, and pretending I'm sleeping enough. DQuiet. Isolated. Surviving with a clear mission and no distractions. ENavigating a bizarre and fascinating mortal world — coffee is extraordinary. FAdapting to a world decades ahead of everything I knew. Quietly, stubbornly.

NEXT QUESTION →

What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you're honest about what you're actually afraid of.

AThe people I couldn't save — and the ones I might not reach in time tomorrow. BWhether the monster I fight every night is starting to live inside me too. CThe threats I can see coming and whether my tech is actually good enough. DNothing. Silence is the only peace I get. I've made my choices. EWhether I'm truly worthy — of the hammer, of the throne, of the people I protect. FA world where no one stands up anymore. Where good people do nothing.

NEXT QUESTION →

The battle is lost. You're outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.

ACrack a joke to buy a second, then find the one web shot that changes everything. BBlock out everything except the sound of the next threat — and keep going. CActivate the emergency protocol I built for exactly this scenario. Always have a plan. DI don't accept that it's lost. I keep fighting until I physically cannot anymore. ECall the lightning. All of it. The storm answers to me. FPick up the shield. Stand up. Because as long as I can stand, it's not over.

REVEAL MY HERO →

Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is…

Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.

🕷️ Spider-Man

You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.

You do the right thing not because it's easy, but because no one else will.
You understand that responsibility isn't a burden you choose — it's one that finds you.
Whether it's a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up.
Peter Parker's lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn't a slogan to you. It's the code you live by, even when it costs you everything.

😈 Daredevil

You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.

You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks.
You've looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy.
Matt Murdock's duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own.
Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you.

🤖 Iron Man

Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.

You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic.
You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility.
Tony Stark's arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too.
You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you're willing to give everything. Because in the end, you're Iron Man.

💀 The Punisher

You've been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What's left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.

You don't ask for forgiveness, and you don't expect gratitude.
You see a corrupt, broken world and you've decided to do something about it, consequences be damned.
Frank Castle's war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours.
Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute.

⚡ Thor

Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.

You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth.
You're larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on.
Thor's story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector.
You bring the storm when it's needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much.

🛡️ Captain America

You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.

You don't bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard.
Steve Rogers didn't become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you.
Your strength isn't in your fists; it's in your refusal to compromise what's right, no matter the cost.
In a world full of people taking the easy road, you're the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' (2023)

Drax, Mantis, Starlord, and Nebula standing together in 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3'

Ever since director James Gunn debuted the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise in 2014, he turned some of Marvel Comics' biggest misfit toys into absolute fan favorites. After two successful entries in the trilogy, Gunn had a huge responsibility to finish it off with a great third project. Thankfully for everyone, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 wound up being a phenomenal project.

The ending of this third Guardians of the Galaxy project does a borderline perfect job wrapping up everyone's stories and giving them a happy ending. While everyone's individual endings are brilliantly executed, it's the group dance sequence with everyone in Knowhere to Florence + The Machine's "Dog Days Are Over." Despite there being a few scares along the way, everyone got their happy ending, and it's beyond tear-jerking in the best ways.

'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' (2026)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures' newest smash hit in the Tom Holland Spider-Man franchise is one of the most well-received superhero movies in recent years. Breaking records by quickly becoming one of the highest-grossing movies of all time—in a ridiculously short amount of time, by the way—and being loved critically by both hardcore Spidey fans and general audience members alike. After the first trilogy of the MCU's Wall-Crawler, people were pretty happy with the films, but many had things they wished they'd seen and hoped to see when moving forward with this character. The biggest thing people have been asking for is a more street-level Spider-Man, and that's exactly what Spider-Man: Brand New Day delivers.

The end of this rip-roaring, web-slinging ride is extremely cheer-worthy. Jean Grey (Sadie Sink) finds her redemption after saving Peter from a gunshot wound and heads upstate; Punisher (Jon Bernthal) realizes his wrongdoings in his methods; Michelle Jones-Watson (Zendaya) begins to remember—seemingly—her time with Peter; and, finally, the young hero decides to bring his best friend, Ned Leeds' (Jacob Batalon) back by doing their iconic handshake. Spider-Man: Brand New Day's ending has people smiling and feeling satisfied all around.

'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' (2014)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is often considered not only one of, if not the best, MCU movies, but one of the best superhero movies of all time, as well. This is for a plethora of reasons, discovered throughout the journey of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) unveiling a government conspiracy and discovering that his best friend, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), is actually alive and has been brainwashed into becoming the terrifying assassin, The Winter Soldier.

The entire runtime of Captain America: The Winter Soldier is amazing, and it is wrapped up greatly as Steve decides he's going to continue searching for his bestie, after he was saved by him following the final battle—so, there must be good within him, still. At the same time, said friend goes to the iconic Captain America Museum to discover more about himself, showing the audience firsthand that he's looking for answers to be the man he once was.

'Spider-Man: No Way Home' (2021)

Ask any Spider-Man fan, and they'll tell you that they love to see the young hero be miserable—a huge part of why Spider-Man: Brand New Day has been so successful. While he's not too miserable throughout the third film in his franchise, Spider-Man: No Way Home, it's the ending that brings the feeling of melancholy and sets the stage for Spider-Man: Brand New Day to have the exact thing that has made it so appealing.

Spider-Man: No Way Home ends with Peter Parker making the ultimate sacrifice to save his friends and the multiverse by sacrificing his identity. To save the collapse of the universe(s), he erases his identity from the minds of the entire world. While he promises MJ and Ned that he'll come back to them and remind them of who he is... he chooses not to, in order to protect them. It's genuinely so heartbreaking and is one of the most Spider-Man-feeling endings of a Spidey flick in a very, very long time.

'Avengers: Endgame' (2019)

Steve (Chris Evans) talks to Sam (Anthony Mackie) who holds the Captain America shield in Avengers Endgame

Avengers: Endgame has fought back and forth with Avatar for the highest-grossing movie of all time, and for very good reason. It wasn't just a gigantic event movie that acted as a culmination of the long, 10+ year-running cinematic universe, but a genuinely well-written story. It acts as the sendoff for the first 11 years of the MCU and most of the original 10 Avengers.

It's because of this that seeing the wrap-up of so many stories felt so impactful for so many people, especially with the death of the fan-favorite Tony Stark. While the MCU has continued forward post-Avengers: Endgame, this finale ended up as what many people consider one of the greatest eras in superhero cinema. Steve Rogers gets his happy ending, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) goes off to discover himself, Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) goes to settle down with his family, Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) unfortunately also met her end, and the perfect endings for so many other major MCU characters.

'Avengers: Infinity War' (2018)

While Avengers: Endgame was a phenomenal event/finale movie, it's Avengers: Infinity War that acts as, without a doubt, the best The Avengers flick. This is thanks to the fact that the third film in this series is a borderline perfectly executed project that, on paper, should have failed in every way. Somehow, though, directors Joe Russo and Anthony Russo weaved this project together with flying colors.

They also finished the story in one of the most heart-wrenching ways an MCU movie ever has. Everyone knew—given that they knew this 2018 film was going to act as a "Part One," of sorts—that this was going to end in a cliffhanger, but non-comic fans had no clue that half of the universe was going to get destroyed. What makes this so great, though, is that while it acts as a perfect cliffhanger, it is simultaneously a great full-circle moment that solidifies this as Thanos' (Josh Brolin) story and can be consumed as a single plot—that ends depressingly, that is.