Superhero films often build toward jaw-dropping climaxes, but it’s the final scene that lingers longest in the audience’s mind. Whether it’s aDCtwist that reshapes the story, or an emotionalMCUpayoff years in the making, these moments became iconic overnight. Some endings leave viewers with their jaws agape, while others bring quiet tears, satisfying years of storytelling.
From early comic book adaptations to theinterconnected MCU timeline, these scenes prove that superhero cinema’s last impression can be just as powerful asDC’s biggest battle. Many might debate which moment reigns supreme. However, the number one pick is impossible to argue against.
10Batman On The Rooftops
Tim Burton’sBatman(1989) ends with a shot that perfectly encapsulates Gotham’s new protector. After the Joker’s defeat, the city celebrates, the Bat-Signal lights the sky, and Batmanstands perched high above, scanning the horizon for future threats. Danny Elfman’s triumphant score swells, making the moment unforgettable.
Audiences glimpse Vicki Vale looking up in admiration, while Commissioner Gordon reassures citizens their hero is watching over them. The shot pans upward to Batmanstanding like a gargoyle, cape billowing, as the Bat-Signal illuminates in front of him. This ending cements Michael Keaton’s Batman as a mythic figure.
He’s Gotham’s mysterious, untouchable guardian. For 1989 audiences, it was theultimate superhero punctuation mark. It framed Batman as in inspiring and iconic hero while promising more adventures without needing a single line of dialogue from the Dark Knight himself.
9"Go Get ‘Em Tiger"
Sam Raimi’sSpider-Man 2ends on a note of triumph and uncertainty. After realizing she loves Peter Parker, Mary Jane Watson flees her wedding and reunites with Web-Head. Hearing sirens outside, MJ tells him,“Go get ’em, Tiger,”fully embracing his dual identity as Spider-Man.
Peter swings into the city as John Paesano’s score swells – only for MJ’s smile to fade slightly as she watches from the window. It’sa subtle moment that hints she knows the dangers ahead. It’s a bittersweet closing beat: Peter has his love and his mission, but their future will be complicated.
This moment perfectly blends heroism and humanity, capturing Raimi’s signature blend of comic-book energy and heartfelt emotion. The last swing through New York feels exhilarating, but MJ’s subtle shiftreminds that victory always comes with sacrifice. Few superhero endings have ever felt so exhilarating and so bittersweet at the same time.
8Batman Begins’ Joker Tease
Christopher Nolan’sBatman Beginscloses with one of themost exciting sequel teases in superhero history. After defeating Ra’s al Ghul and restoring order, Batman meets with new ally Jim Gordon. Gordon hands him a Joker playing card, explaining a new criminal is on the rise – someone who“likes to leave a calling card.”
The moment was electrifying. It suggested this was thetrue beginning of Batman’s newfound vigilantism. It also set the stage for Heath Ledger’s iconic turn inThe Dark Knightand thebest opening scene in superhero cinema.
In just a few seconds, Nolan perfectly bridges his grounded origin story with the promise of escalating chaos. This scene didn’t just endBatman Beginson a high – itinstantly made viewers desperate for the sequel.It proved that the right final note can transform a good ending into a legendary one.
7Spider-Man’s Identity Is Revealed
The ending ofSpider-Man: Far From Homewas truly shocking withone of the MCU’s boldest plot twists. After Peter defeats Mysterio, a video leaks to the Daily Bugle, with J. Jonah Jameson (a returning J.K. Simmons). In it, Mysterio exposes Spider-Man’s identity to the world.
“What the—?!”Peter exclaims, perfectly matching the audience’s stunned reaction as the screen cuts to black. For decades, Spider-Man’s secret identitywas sacrosanct in film and comics. Ending a lighthearted adventure with such a seismic revelation was a truly daring move.
This final scene instantlyset the stage forSpider-Man: No Way Home’s multiverse chaos. It made clear that Peter’s life would never be the same. It’s a masterclass in ending on a gasp-worthy cliffhanger that leaves audiences buzzing until the next installment.
6The Hero Gotham Deserves
The Dark Knightcloses with Batman framed for crimes he didn’t commit to protect Harvey Dent’s legacy. As Gordon delivers the now-iconic speech (“He’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now,”)Batman flees into the night. Hans Zimmer’s scorerises as the Batpod roars down a dark tunnel.
Gordon’s words turn Batman into a tragic martyr. It’s a particularlymorally complex ending for a superhero blockbuster. It turns the Dark Knight into both savior and fugitive.
The shot of Batman disappearing into the shadows cements Nolan’s version of the character as a symbolwilling to endure vilification for the greater good. Few superhero films have ended on such a bittersweet, operatic note. It balances triumph with loss in a way that resonates for years afterward.
5Steve Rogers And Peggy Carter Get Their Dance
Avengers: Endgameends its sprawling saga with an intimate, emotional moment decades in the making. After returning the Infinity Stones, Steve Rogers chooses to stay in the past andlive the life he missed. He finally reunites with Peggy Carter.
Endgame’s last shotshows them dancing together in a quiet home, smiling,the world outside irrelevant. No battle, no quips – just a heartfelt payoff to years of longing and sacrifice. This ending resonates because it’s both a conclusion and a reward.
Captain America finally grasped the peace he earned. In a franchisedefined by cosmic stakes, it’s a tender reminder that sometimes the greatest victories are personal. Audiences left theaters not cheering, but smiling through tears at Steve’s long-delayed happy ending.
4Miles Tells His Origin Story
InSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Miles Morales ends his journey by narrating his own version of the classic Spider-Man origin. After embracing his powers and saving the multiverse,Miles reflects on his new life.“Anyone can wear the mask,”he says, before he leaps through New York City.
It’s a stylish, self-aware twist on the superhero ending. It wraps the film’s themes of identity and legacy into a confident statement while repeating the trope established right from the start with Peter Parker’s origin. By repeating this introduction technique, Miles’newfound confidence as a superhero is cemented, lifting him to the same rank as the other Spider-heroes he encountered.
Miles’ words are set against quick flashes of his life, his friends, and his city, all accompanied by the movie’s kinetic visual style. This ending is celebratory yet humble, marking Miles’ full transformation from uncertain teen to his universe’s Spider-Man. It is energetic, hopeful, and leaves audiences ready for whatever comes next in his story.
3The Snap
The ending ofAvengers: Infinity Warstunned audiences worldwide. After a desperate battle in Wakanda and on Titan, Thanos completes the Infinity Gauntlet. He snaps his fingers, erasing half of all life in the universe.
What follows is a quiet, haunting montage of heroes dissolving into dust – Spider-Man’s“I don’t feel so good”was especially haunting. Alan Silvestri’s score fades, leaving stunned silence as Thanos watches the sunrise in peace, believing he’s saved the universe. The film cuts to black with no victory, no hope – just shock.
For a superhero movie,ending with the villain’s success was unprecedented. This made “The Snap” one of cinema’s most unforgettable and conversation-sparking finales. Audiences left theaters shaken, desperate for answers, and counting the days untilEndgame.
2"I Am Iron Man"
The firstIron Manends with one of the boldest moves in superhero cinema. Tony Starkcompletely discards the concept of a secret identity. After defeating Obadiah Stane, Tony faces a room full of reporters, ready to recite the carefully crafted cover story S.H.I.E.L.D. provided.
However, at the last second, he hesitates, smirks, and simply declares,“I am Iron Man.”It’sa mic-drop moment.It immediately set Marvel Studios apart from other superhero franchises, where maintaining secrecy was standard.
This ending instantly defined Tony’s swagger, confidence, and ego. It also signaled that theMCU would forge its own path. It also left audiences buzzing with the possibilities of a superhero who operates entirely in the public eye.
1The Wolverine Dies
InLogan, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine meets his end in a wayboth brutal and deeply moving. After protecting Laura and the other mutant children from a vicious clone, Logan is mortally wounded. In his final moments, he tells Laura,“So this is what it feels like,”acknowledging the family he finally found.
Laura calls him“Daddy”as he dies. It’sa small but devastating wordthat sums up their bond. The film closes with the children burying him, Laura turning the cross on his grave into an “X” before walking away.
It’sa raw, unglamorous superhero endingthat delivers closure to a 17-year journey. It honors the character’s legacy while breaking audience hearts. It is without a doubt the most moving and compelling closing scene in superhero movie history.
Batman
Cast
Batman is a 1989 superhero movie directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne. The film features Jack Nicholson’s chilling portrayal as Jack Napier, who turns into the Joker and reigns terror on Gotham. Kim Basinger also stars in the film as Vicki Vale, along with Michael Gough as Bruce’s trusty butler named Alfred.
Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2 continues Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, with Tobey Maguire returning as Peter Parker. Released in 2004, the film follows Peter’s struggle with balancing his personal life and superhero responsibilities, while confronting the formidable villain, Doc Ock, portrayed by Alfred Molina. Parker’s relationships with Mary Jane and Harry Osborn further complicate his journey.
Batman Begins
Batman Begins is the inaugural film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, featuring Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne. Released in 2005, it follows Wayne as he transforms into Batman to combat the pervasive corruption in Gotham City, creating a new identity to fight crime outside the system.
Spider-Man: Far from Home
Spider-Man: Far from Home, directed by Jon Watts, follows Peter Parker on a European school trip, where he is recruited by Nick Fury to team up with Mysterio. They work together to battle elemental creatures, but soon unravel a mysterious plot threatening the world, testing Spider-Man’s abilities and resolve.
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan, is the second installment in the Batman trilogy starring Christian Bale as Batman. Released in 2008, the film follows Batman’s alliance with Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent as they combat the organized crime that threatens Gotham, facing the menacing Joker.
Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, concludes the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Infinity Saga. It follows the remaining Avengers as they attempt to reverse the destruction caused by Thanos, navigating complex dynamics and forging alliances to restore balance to the universe.
Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse
In the first animated Spider-Man film released in theaters, Miles Morales, a teenager who idolizes Spider-Man, gains Spider-Man powers of his own. While learning to use his new abilities, Miles crosses parallel dimensions and teams up with the different versions of Spider-Man from those dimensions to stop a threat to all reality.
Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War brings together the Avengers and their allies to face a new threat from the cosmos, Thanos, who seeks to collect the Infinity Stones. The film, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, unites numerous superhero characters in a battle to prevent Thanos' ambition of altering reality itself.
Iron Man
Iron Man is the first film in the long-running Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. Robert Downey Jr. stars as Tony Stark, who becomes Iron Man after he is kidnapped and discovers terrorists are using weapons developed by Stark Industries. Gwyneth Paltrow stars as Tony’s love interest Pepper Potts alongside Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan and Jeff Bridges as the villainous Obadiah Stane.
Logan
Logan is set in a near future where an aging Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, takes care of a frail Professor Xavier, portrayed by Patrick Stewart, at a secluded location near the Mexican border. Their secluded existence is disrupted by the arrival of a young mutant, pursued by malevolent forces.
