10 Most Perfect Marvel Opening Scenes, Ranked

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Spider-Man giving a salute gesture in Spider-Man 2

Published Apr 11, 2026, 2:28 PM EDT

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His dedication to his craft has attracted renowned talent like Yuri Lowenthal to collaborate with him on his projects. As he grows and improves, Eddie is a shining example of a self-starter.

One of the most important parts of making a film is, without a doubt, making sure that it opens with a bang that gets people excited about the film and/or sets the tone (which isn't always "exciting" but still very effective). With how much Marvel and its many superheroes have taken over the entire film landscape, it's got to be a given that they've had some wonderful opening scenes over the decades they've been prevalent in Hollywood.

Superhero movie openings need to be effective in whichever way they decide to go—action and excitement, or more tone-setting—because if the audience feels bored or not compelled, the film will have a very hard time convincing them to stay locked in. There's a good handful of flicks that do it best, and set the example of how to do an opening right, and prepare the audience for a ride unlike any other.

10 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' (2023)

If one thing is true, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is just as much Gwen Stacy's (Hailee Steinfeld) story as it is Miles Morales' (Shameik Moore). That's immediately shown through the opening, which surrounds the young Spider-Gwen in her home world, depicting the events that directly lead to how she got involved in the Spider Society, which leads to where she was seen in the ending scene of the first film.

Audiences get to meet her father—establishing their relationship—she gets to fight a multiversal Vulture (Jorma Taccone), teams up with Spider-Woman (Issa Rae) and Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac), and, finally, her identity gets revealed to her father, Captain George Stacy (Shea Whigham). Not only is this action-packed, but it's just as heartbreaking, as it defines where Gwen is coming from when she lightly betrays Miles in the movie, being somewhat betrayed by her own father. Not only does this excite audiences with action, but shows them where Gwen is coming from in her character arc in the coming story.

9 'Captain America: The Winter Solider' (2014)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is commonly known as one of, if not the best, Marvel Cinematic Universe projects to date. Joe Russo and Anthony Russo took over the Marvel Studios landscape with this phenomenally-reviewed movie, that, some may say, "made Captain America cool again." While most think of the scene on the Lemurian Star as the "opening," the true opening is when Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) meets Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) in Washington D.C.

This scene is hilarious, establishing the long-running "on your left" joke between the two of these eventual partners, and is pretty much the perfect introduction to the kind of character Sam is. Most importantly, though, this scene establishes something far more important than excitement with an action scene, as it shows how Steve is adjusting to the real world, and his effort to get caught up with everyone else. Why is this so extremely important? By the beginning of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Steve has NOT changed since Captain America: The First Avenger. However, the world around him has. Depicting him trying to adapt to a world he doesn't know is a perfect way to set up his struggle with how the government he works for has changed, for the worse. Which is arguably the most important aspect of the film.

8 'Guardians of the Galaxy' (2014)

Chris Pratt as Peter Quill dancing with his headphones on in 'Guardians of the Galaxy' (2014).

Despite being one of the funniest MCU movies ever made, Guardians of the Galaxy actually starts with one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the MCU, too. Featuring Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) as a child (Wyatt Oleff) as he suffers from seeing the death of his mother, and being so heartbroken that he refuses to take her hand as she passes. It's absolutely brutal.

Not only does it depict the origins of the protagonist, but it acts as a direct contrast to the comedic scene that comes after. Not only because subverting expectations is one of the best ways to achieve humor, but because it helps show the audience this new layer. It makes the said humor to come after more clearly his coping mechanism, rather than him just being a funny guy because the writers want him to be.

7 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' (2018)

When Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse debuted in 2018, it shook the ground beneath not just the animation medium, but the film industry as a whole. The way this movie's script was written, the attention to detail put into the animation, and the messages behind it made it one of the best animated films ever made. It also has one of the best openings out there because of the dozens of things it manages to accomplish in such a short time.

Going into Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, if anyone saw a trailer, they knew the movie was about Miles Morales. So it had many questioning why it was that the movie was kicking off with an introduction to Miles' universe's Peter Parker (Chris Pine). That's because of the way it establishes the complete opposite of both Miles' and Peter B. Parker's (Jake Johnson) character arcs. It sets up the huge legend that the young and old heroes have to surpass, adding to the weight on his shoulders. However, while he represents the opposite of the two protagonists, he also establishes the message the two Spider-Men need the most: Spider-Man always gets back up.

6 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' (2022)

After the profoundly saddening loss of the former star of the Black Panther franchise and MCU as a whole, Chadwick Boseman, the direction of the sequel was incredibly up in the air for quite a while. The amount of pressure that director Ryan Coogler had to have had on his shoulder must have been incredibly heavy. Were they going to recast T'Challa, or were they going to have the character pass on within the cinematic universe, too? The extremely talented director chose the latter, and it was most certainly the best decision, and that is proven in the opening of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

In a heartbreaking scene, audiences get to see how T'Challa passes in-universe, for a similar reason as Chadwick did. It made it very clear that this was not just going to be a Black Panther installment, but a tribute to the actor, and the profound impact he had on the entire world when he brought Black Panther—who is known as the first black superhero in comics—to life. It brought tears to eyes within the first few minutes, and showed viewers that Shuri (Letitia Wright) is struggling with the same thing they are, connecting them to her—and the others who loved T'Challa—deeply.

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

After the beyond shocking post-credits scene of Spider-Man: Far From Home, the question of how Spider-Man: No Way Home was going to open lingered throughout the lead up to the project's release. Director Jon Watts decided to pick up mere seconds after the second film left off, and depicts Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and Michelle Jones-Watson (Zendaya) fleeing the public as his identity is revealed to the entire world.

As he struggles to escape, carrying M.J. at the same time, he also eventually has to try and hide it from Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) and Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), so he can tell them himself... but he doesn't get that chance. Seeing the repercussions of Spider-Man's identity being revealed is thrilling, action-packed, but also gets audiences invested in the plot as they realize how much this could truly destroy the young hero's life.

4 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' (2017)

Baby Groot dances while a battle unfurls behind him in 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2'.

After the massive success that was Guardians of the Galaxy, people were immediately looking forward to whatever was going to come next for their new favorite MCU characters. After the great opening of the first movie, James Gunn had to find a way to surpass it and, boy did he. The opening of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is so funny and entertaining and immediately hooks audiences.

Not only does it have the ever-adorable Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) dancing around, but it immediately tells the audience that the soundtrack—one of the most beloved parts of the first movie—is going to be as good as it's ever been. It also has some great action happening in the background, which adds both to the humor and the entertainment of the scene.

3 'Spider-Man 2' (2004)

Spider-Man 2 is commonly considered one of the greatest superhero movies ever made. After such a large success in 2002 with the first Spider-Man movie, Sam Raimi knew he was going to need to go bigger, better, and deeper. He opens the film with what may be the perfect blend of character work and action. Starting with another great narration by Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire)—soon interrupted by arriving at his job, almost running down his boss—and building the stakes of potentially losing his job, Spider-Man 2 immediately shows where Peter Parker is at in his personal life. He's struggling, unreliable, and yearning for the love he could have had with Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst).

Then, right after, when he realizes he will never make it to the location he's delivering pizza to on time, he suits up and swings across the city with the pizzas in hand, trying to make it on time, while saving kids from getting hit by a truck. He even takes time to tell them to be careful. It's fast-paced and thrilling, but also does a great job establishing the fact that being Spider-Man will always take priority for him, and will always deter from his life as Peter.

2 'Avengers: Infinity War' (2018)

The MCU's Infinity Saga ran for quite some time—11 years to be exact—and when it needed to come to an end, beginning with Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel Studios and the Russo Brothers absolutely killed it. The intro of the film kicks off with Thanos (Josh Brolin) having already raided and pretty much destroyed the Asgardian ship that Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and the rest of Asgard escaped in at the end of Thor: Ragnarok.

And then, he killed Loki and absolutely brutalized Hulk. From then on, the audience knew that most of the cast were not safe. Anyone could die, and at the end of the film, most of them did. Thor had to watch his brother be murdered, and that sets him on his war path to kill Thanos by forging the mighty axe, Stormbreaker. In the MCU, no opening beats the one that kicks off Avengers: Infinity War.

1 'X2: X-Men United' (2003)

While some might not immediately think of this scene when asked about opening Marvel movie scenes, because it's been over two decades since it came out, the opening of X2: X-Men United is unlike any other. It's got some action, with the one and only Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) raiding the freakin White House, taking on Secret Service agents left and right.

His agility and ability to teleport makes this scene extremely fast-paced and thrilling. The choreography is wonderfully done, and shows just how truly powerful mutants are, with simply one being able to raid the White House, getting all the way to the Oval Office. It really doesn't get better than Nightcrawler absolutely ripping the White House apart and getting inches away from killing the President of the United States.

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