5 Time Capsule Scenes That Perfectly Capture the Essence of The Early MCU

By this point in time the Marvel Cinematic Universe is nothing if not stuffed. That’s a doubled edged sword. On one hand, there’s no shortage of content to enjoy but, on the other, whenever a multitude of projects exist under the same umbrella, they tend to blend in together. However, the early days still stand out, particularly Phase One. Phase Two was where these movies truly became events, like how the post-Avengers Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America movies experienced major revenue bumps. However, Phase One is the span of six films that feel truly special. It was when the MCU was figuring out how to be a true shared universe and now that we’re in Phase Six their early days charm is enormous.

These were the days before the Disney+ shows, the days before Disney felt comfortable pouring hundreds of millions into then-little-known IPs like Guardians of the Galaxy. From Iron Man to The Avengers, here are the nostalgia-fueled moments that make Phase One so special.

5) Iron Man’s First Mission

The first MCU movie is still the best of the bunch for many fans. And, within the energetic masterpiece that is Jon Favreau’s Iron Man, there are quite a few moments that were both incredibly marketable and exciting developments to the engrossing story. For instance, Tony Stark being held for ransom after taking an arrogance-fueled ride with a few soldiers. Or his final fight with Obadiah Stane, which is still one of the MCU’s most compelling fights 17 years later.

But nothing beats the first time Stark suits up in the Mark III and flies out to Gulmira. Everything about it works, from the angry look he has as he watches terrorists with his weapons on television to his shoulder rockets targeting a half dozen gun-wielding men to his evasion of the Air Force just afterwards.

4) Thor Gets His Hammer Back

While the first Thor movie isn’t the best Thor movie, it does have a certain intimate storytelling that really allows you to get to know the title character. Well, him as well as his strict but compassionate father, Odin, and his jealous and deceptive brother, Loki.

The movie is less concerned with bombastic set pieces (though there are several) than it is with introducing the title character and showing him experience true growth. Thor’s development from self-absorbed and irresponsible to compassionate and selfless is just as great as Stark’s transition from completely arrogant playboy to somewhat arrogant altruist, if not better. No scene shines a light on this transformation better than Odin acknowledging Thor’s newfound responsibility and deeming him truly worthy of his armor and Mjölnir.

3) Saving the Soldiers

Before Bucky Barnes’ tragic “death” (the first of many tragic incidents to befall the character), he finds himself being saved by his now-jacked best friend, Steve Rogers. Captain America: The First Avenger is arguably the best installment of Phase One, it’s even some folks’ favorite entry in the MCU canon as a whole, and the reason for that can mostly be chalked up to the fact it really sells the very concept of hope.

If any single scene is the perfect example of this, it’s Captain America’s rescue mission. He goes behind enemy lines, infiltrates Red Skull’s compound, and rescues a platoon that had been effectively written off by their commanding officers. It’s the moment that makes the audience sure Captain America is the exact hero who can and will lead a group of similarly superpowered (well, mostly) individuals.

2) Captain America’s Sacrifice

Standout moments in Captain America: The First Avenger could be a list in and of itself. From front to back its charming, does a great job of capturing the 1940s’ aesthetic, and has the best romantic coupling in Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter. Because most MCU installments blend together by this point, The First Avenger continues to seem increasingly like a very special outlier.

It was also hugely important to the MCU. This was the movie that preceded The Avengers and, in that movie, Captain America was the leader. Iron Man may have been the most popular character, but Cap was the most integral member of the team. And he wouldn’t have been that, had he not chosen to nosedive Red Skull’s bomb-toting plane in the ice, sacrificing his romance with Peggy and, seemingly, his life as a whole. It’s the MCU’s ultimate hero moment.

1) Assemble

When The Avengers hit theaters in 2012 it was the exact moment when the MCU transitioned from a combination of moderately successful franchise starters (and two huge successes in the Iron Man movies) to a pop culture and financial juggernaut. After four of them, with increasingly massive rosters, the concept of a team up movie doesn’t feel particularly special now. But back then? It very much was.

Nothing exemplifies just how much an event this was than the shot showing off the entire team. Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Hulk and Black Widow, each pose in perfect synchronization with the circling camera movement, and it was magic that got people cheering and clapping.

Which MCU Phase One scene makes you feel the most nostalgic for the late aughts and early 2010s? Let us know in the comments below.

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