Considering that the average movie is now more than two hours long, a few minutes of it may seem rather insignificant or unimportant. But everything changes when those minutes form the opening scene of the film. In that case, that sequence becomes a fundamental part of the production, because it is the one that has to hook the audience into the film. This is something that the MCU know very well. Through their extensive lineup of movies and TV series, they’ve managed to give fans what they really want: an exciting introduction to a gripping new story, either featuring beloved Marvel Comics characters or with new ones yet to be introduced.
Looking at all the productions that have been part of the MCU so far, starting at Iron Manwho launched the universe, to, more recently, Thor: Love and Thunder, it’s pretty obvious that Marvel Studios has gotten pretty good at getting things going with a bang. In those first minutes, they do everything they can to convey the essence of the film or show. They’ve delivered funny scenes, others with more emotional undertones, and scenes connecting different MCU productions – you name it, they’ve got it. And while it’s easy to ignore the opening scenes due to the importance of the main events in the story, some of them are still fondly remembered by fans. Let’s take a look at some of the best.
8/8 Thor: Ragnarok
The movie of 2017 Thor: Ragnarok begins with the God of Thunder locked in a cage, summarizing his latest adventures. He appears to be talking to the audience, but in reality he is talking to the corpse of a prisoner. Finally, Thor finds out that he is being held by Surtur, someone he thought was killed by his father. This Fire Demon then tells him about Ragnarok and his intentions to destroy Asgard after uniting his crown with the Eternal Flame in Odin’s vault. In the end, Thor manages to free himself, defeat Surtur and steal his crown, but not before using his sarcastic sense of humor to annoy his enemy.
7/8 Avengers: Infinity War
The third installment in the avengers story, Avengers: Infinity War takes a very different approach to what we’re used to in the MCU: it starts in complete silence. Immediately after, it presents an abandoned spaceship where the survivors of Asgard travel, intercepted by Thanos and his allies. He already possesses the Power Stone and threatens Loki that he will kill Thor if he does not give him the Tesseract. The hero assures him that the Tesseract on Asgard has been destroyed, but his brother later admits that he has it. Even though the Hulk appears to help them, Thanos is victorious, claims the Space Stone and kills Loki and Heimdall.
6/8 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness begins with an action-packed sequence: America Chavez and a Variant of Strange run away from a demon as they search for the Book of Vishanti. While Strange tries to steal Chavez’s power, he is killed by the demon, and the girl opens a portal, which transports them both to another universe. In it, the Stephen Strange we all know awakens from a nightmare before attending the wedding of Christine Palmer, for whom he still has strong feelings. But halfway through the party, he’s forced to leave to fulfill his duties when a monster attacks the town, and it seems to be chasing a very famous girl: America Chavez.
5/8 Avengers: Age of Ultron
Avengers: Age of Ultron is the sequel to 2015 The Avengers, and given the amount of work that has gone into bringing this group of superheroes together, it makes perfect sense to introduce them in this new movie that battles side-by-side from the start, because that’s what fans were hoping for. In this sequel, the Avengers are in Sokovia and encounter a Hydra stronghold to retrieve Loki’s scepter. But this time, these heroes face two very dangerous opponents: Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, twins with some very special abilities.
4/8 Spider-Man: No Way Home
The movie of 2019 Spider-Man: Far From Home ends with a fatal outcome for Spider-Man: Quentin Beck, better known as Mysterio, has released a viral video showing the superhero getting involved in his murder and making him look extremely badass. To top it off, he also exposed his citizen identity to the entire city, making him a public enemy. in 2021, Spider-Man: No Way Home picks up this scene, and the subsequent escape of Peter Parker and MJ, surrounded by civilians, in a hilarious yet stressful sequence. Finally, they both reach Peter’s apartment, where Aunt May and Happy simultaneously have a crucial conversation about their relationship.
3/8 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has a certain resemblance to Avengers: Age of Ultron, honoring the fans’ desire to witness this new ensemble of heroes working together. The film opens with a very brief scene set in 1980, with Peter Quill’s parents on a road trip, followed by the man revealing a strange-looking plant to his lover. From there, the production jumps forward 34 years and introduces the Guardians of the Galaxy fighting a monster. Despite the group’s concerted efforts, one of the members doesn’t seem to understand the gravity of the situation: instead of fighting, Baby Groot roams the battlefield dancing to “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra.
2/8 Iron Man
Iron Man is the movie that started the MCU, and to be fair, it really did a great job of setting the tone for all subsequent productions. It introduces Tony Stark, who is currently in Afghanistan on business. While being escorted into a military vehicle, the magnate has a drink and makes some jokes with the soldiers. But it quickly escalates: the truck is attacked and he is injured by an explosive from his own company. Tony is then kidnapped, which later leads to the conception of Iron Man.
1/8 Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: EndgameThe opening scene taps into the viewers’ deepest emotions, especially regarding their own family. The film opens with Clint Barton, better known as Hawkeye, enjoying a day with his family. After teaching his daughter how to shoot, they head out to lunch with the rest of the Bartons. But suddenly the whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving Hawkeye alone and stunned, unable to understand what has happened. That heartbreaking scene set the tone for the last part of The Avengersor at least the last one with the well-known group of heroes, packed with action, but also full of drama and nostalgia.