Superhero battles can often be the lifeblood ofMarvelandDCsuperhero movies, but 20 of them over the past two decades are among the best. This is thanks to several factors, including the choreography, soundtrack (or lack thereof), and wider context.
It is exceptionally rare for a superhero movie to forego an action sequence that typically involves the main superhero going toe-to-toe with one or several villains. Then again, this isn’t always how some ofthe best superhero battle sequencesplay out, with some of the best involvingheroes fighting one another.
Whatever the case, these 20 superhero battles remain the foremost examples of how to best depict the mostaction-packed sequences in a superhero movie, with one clear winner for the best superhero battle sequence of all time.
20Batman Vs. Bane
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Bane, the final arch-villain ofChristopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, is the first to “break the bat.“The brutality of his duel with Batman is compounded by a lack of score, hammering home the hopelessness of Batman’s situation. This battle is as raw as it is consequential, centering the first live-action rendition of Bane that truly feels like a terrifying villain.
19Superman Vs. General Zod
Man Of Steel (2013)
Zack Snyder’s DC visionwas typified by a motif of superheroes being akin to gods among men.Nowhere is this vision clearer than in Superman’s excessively destructive battle with fellow Kryptonian General Zod, wherein the concrete Metropolis is torn to shreds in a sequence of pure spectacle and brutal, weighty blows.
18The Justice League Vs. Steppenwolf
Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
Although it shares certain beats with the theatricalJustice League,Zack Snyder’s Justice Leagueimproves on the final battle against Steppenwolf.The thrill of seeing the Justice League in action, intensified by an exceptional score, is enough to justifyZack Snyder’sJustice League’s place as one ofthe best-rated DCEU movies.
17Logan Defends The Children
Logan (2017)
Loganremains one ofthe most highly regarded superhero moviesfor good reason.Capitalizing on the inherent brutality of Wolverine, its R-rating allowed its final fight sequence, where Wolverine embarks on a redemptive rampage to defend a cohort of young mutants, to deliver on Wolverine’s berserker rage with no holds barred.
16The Highway Fight
Deadpool (2016)
Deadpool’s opening fight against a heavily armed cohort of goons on a busy highway was definitive forDeadpool’s live-action reputation.The R-rated violence, Deadpool’s incessant, fourth-wall-breaking quips, and the inventive choreography make it stand outas one of the most unique and memorable fight sequences in any superhero movie.
15Assault On Lex Luthor’s Base
Superman (2025)
Supermanhas swiftly become one ofthe best Superman adaptations ever made, yet its best fight sequence belongs to the supporting character, Mister Terrific. Set to the sound of Noah and the Whale’s “5 Years Time,“Mister Terrific’s effortless subjugation of Lex Luthor’s goons with his T-Spheres has justifiably launched the character into superstardom.
14The Deadpool Corps Massacre
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Of all the genre-defining fight sequences inDeadpool & Wolverine,the climactic brawl against the Deadpool Corps was among the most spectacular. The features that make it stand out include the long-awaited debut of Wolverine’s cowl, the continuous shot that facilitates an unrestrained showcase of their violent skills, and a now-iconic theme song with Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.”
13Wonder Woman In No Man’s Land
Wonder Woman (2017)
At a time when the DCEU was flagging,Wonder Womanentered the franchise as the best-rated DCEU movie at the time. Wonder Woman’s defiant and emotional showcase of her powers during World War 1 is significantly enhanced byslow-motion shots and a particularly rousing scoreas she almost single-handedly changes the fortunes of the entrenched Allies.
12The Hallway Fight
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
A large part of what makesJames Gunn’s superhero moviesso unforgettable is his use of music, and nowhere is this more apparent than inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s hallway fight sequence.Its utilization of a continuous shot to the tune of the Beastie Boys' “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” helps to make it the perfect send-offfor the titular team.
11The Battle At Liberty Island
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
The final fight sequence inSpider-Man: No Way Homeis the closest Marvel has come to adapting a brawl with the Sinister Six. After blowing minds with the reintroduction of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker,the climactic fight against Spider-Man’s most iconic villains delivered even more fan service, complete with the heart-wrenching rescue of MJ.
