Final battles are arguably the most important part of any Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, as it brings the action-packed movie to a head and will often have lasting implications on the larger universe. Within the cinematic universe, some final battles have certainly been done better than others, whether it be because of the CGI, the emotional weight of the fight, the stakes, or the aftermath and effects on future MCU movies. Marvel has becan experimenting a bit with what a final fight can be, but most are still big, bright, and action-packed.
30 Iron Man Vs. Vanko - Iron Man 2
The most lackluster final battle in the MCU is in Iron Man and Whiplash had a plot hole with the lack of police involvement, and the final battle wasn't much better. The fight between Iron Man and Vanko was okay, but compared to the advanced CGI and emotional weight of final battles that the MCU has produced since then, it is just mediocre. The stakes didn't feel particularly high, and it is a final battle that is easily forgettable.
29 Thor Vs. Malekith - Thor: The Dark World
Thor: The Dark World concluded a lackluster movie with an equally lackluster final battle scene. The final battle between Thor and Malekith was not very interesting to watch, and Loki was the only saving grace of this fight. Overall, it wasn't a memorable final battle with poor CGI that lacked any true emotional consequence.
28 Hulk Vs. Abomination - The Incredible Hulk
With the return of the Abomination in human form in She-Hulk this final battle certainly carries more weight now than it did even two years ago. While this movie is generally regarded as one of the MCU's worst movies to date, the final battle was probably the best thing about it. While it still doesn't quite stack up to the epic CGI and lasting effects that other final battles have produced, it was arguably a solid way to conclude the film.
27 Iron Man Vs. Killian - Iron Man 3
The most interesting thing about the final battle in Iron Man 3 was seeing Pepper Potts step into battle for the first time wearing an Iron Man suit. The rest of the fight lacked any real substance, as the emotional stakes against Killian weren't very high, and the lasting effects within the MCU were null. This was another MCU final battle that was unfortunately easily forgettable and didn't add much to wrapping up the overall story.
26 Zombie Strange Vs. Scarlet Witch - Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness
The return of both Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was highly anticipated, but unfortunately, the movie failed to meet many high expectations. One aspect of the movie that was subpar compared to the original was the final battle. Wanda's villain arc was ruthless, and although the final battle was supposed to be between her and Zombie Strange, it was ultimately America Chavez who won the battle, which led to a somewhat dissatisfying ending.
25 Thor Vs. Loki - Thor
Thor vs. Loki in the original Phase 4 proving Loki doesn't need Thor to stand alone as a great character. While the final battle itself is fine, it is somewhat difficult to get immersed in after witnessing the brotherly bond between Thor and Loki that unfolded in future movies.
24 Ant-Man, Wasp Vs. Ghost - Ant-Man And The Wasp
Ant-man and the Wasp attempted to balance multiple villains and storylines. While Marvel movies have successfully managed multiple villains against the backdrop of an already exciting story before, Ant-Man and the Wasp felt a little cluttered. When the final battle against Ghost came to a head, it just felt confusing. Intermixed with the battle was the fight with Jimmy Woo, who, after appearing in WandaVision, appears to have an MCU future. On top of that, the gang had to fend off black market dealer Sonny Burch, which led to the final battle feeling just as messy as the rest of the movie.
23 Captain Marvel Vs. Kree - Captain Marvel
While Captain Marvel was a fantastic movie and a major success for Marvel Studios, grossing over one billion dollars at the box office, the final battle was not what made it stand out. The reversal of Skrulls being good and the Kree being the villains was an interesting twist, but it came late in the film, which added to the underwhelming feeling of this final battle. Captain Marvel fighting the Kree at the climax felt like a weak and unforgettable moment compared to more emotional and powerful moments in the rest of the film.
22 Captain America Vs. Red Skull - Captain America: The First Avenger
Captain America: The First Avenger suffered from the same problem that Captain Marvel did. While the rest of the film was a great blend of heart, drama, action, and even humor, the final battle fell flat. It was an okay final battle scene, but it didn't stand out or feel special in any way.
21 Black Widow Vs. The Red Room - Black Widow
While the emotional weight of Natasha and Yelena's stories, and the gravity of what taking down the Red Room truly meant, was powerful, the final battle didn't convey it well. Ever since the Black Widow solo MCU movie, this final battle scene has been heavily critiqued for its heavy use of bad CGI that failed to look realistic in more than a few shots. It was a final battle that was important and weighty but somehow lacked the ability to hook viewers.
