Captain Americais one of the most important heroes in theMarvel Cinematic Universe, and throughout his many appearances in the franchise, Steve Rogers has had to go through quite a few emotional moments.Chris Evans has done something unique when it comes to his Marvel co-stars. While multiple actors can claim they were part of theMCU’s best movies, Evans holds a record that no one has yet been able to break.
The actor appeared in at least one MCU movie from when he debuted as Captain America in 2011 up until his departure from the role in 2019. In that time, Evans' Steve Rogers went through a lot.He fell in love with Peggy Carter, lost her, and ended up with her again in the end.Marvel’s Captain America movieshad betrayals, shocking reveals, and more that shook Steve to his core. Adding to it, he was frozen for many years and had to get used to a whole new reality. These are Captain America’s most emotional MCU moments:
10Bucky Falls To His “Death”
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Steve Rogers has had to deal with many difficult events right from the moment he joined the MCU. First, having to prove himself worthy of taking the Super Soldier Serum,Steve’s life would not be easy just because he became Captain America. Instead, he had to deal with many heartbreaking moments after he became America’s hero, and one of the biggest of them was when he thought he lost his friend.
Not only did he survive, but Bucky is still active in the MCU long after Steve Rogers left the franchise, next appearing inThunderbolts*.
Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes and Evans' Steve Rogers were long-time friends who got the unique opportunity to fight side-by-side in World War II. After an exciting action sequence on a train,Bucky fell from a tall enough height that it seemed impossible for him to survive. Since Captain America still had a lot of work to do to stop the Red Skull, Steve now had to do so after watching his friend “die” before his eyes and being unable to save him.
9Captain America Crashes His Plane Into The Ice
Captain America: The First Avengerhas one of the MCU’s most heartbreaking endings. The Marvel moviemade fans fall in love with the relationship between Evans' Steve Rogers and Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter, only for it to end tragically. From the start of the film, it was made clear that Captain America would sacrifice himself and his own happiness for the well-being of others.
That was first exemplified when he threw himself on a grenade to shield those around him from the explosion without knowing it was never going off. That is why he chooses to go down with Red Skull’s plane in the Arctic to prevent it from reaching New York City and exploding to kill many. Besides Steve’s heartbreaking choice, the fact thathe talks with Peggy until the plane crashes, with his voice abruptly stopping, is so sad.
8Captain America Wakes Up In The Present
After crashing the plane, Captain America would not die, but see his life change in a shocking way. It was emotional to see Steve Rogers wake up in the present and realize thathe had slept for nearly 70 years. Pretty much everyone he knew was dead or old, which meant that the life he had and the world he was used to had been completely changed.
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Captain America: Brave New World
2025
Captain America’s “man out of time” story has always been a key part of who he is in the comics. However, seeing Evans bring all the nuances of what that realization means to Steve in that scene somehow made it even sadder. Adding to this is his quote in Times Square, withSteve telling Nick Fury that he “had a date,“remembering his plans to go dancing with Peggy, which heightens the impact of his new reality.
7Captain America Fights The Winter Soldier And Is Saved By Him
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
While Steve thought that Bucky had died back in World War II, the MCU would reveal that Sebastian Stan’s character had not only survived, but had gone through a major transformation.Captain America: The Winter Soldierreintroduced Bucky to the MCU, now serving as HYDRA’s mind-controlled assassin. The film had quite a few emotional moments between the two best friends, going from when Steve realized Bucky was alive to the movie’s ending.
While Captain America had shown several times throughout the film that he could easily dispatch those who got in his way, he chose not to fight Bucky at the end. There is something powerful about the fact thatSteve just let himself be repeatedly punched by the Winter Soldierbecause he believed Bucky was still in there. That paid off, as Captain America’s love got through to Bucky, who saved him from drowning when the Helicarrier fell.
6Peggy Carter’s Funeral
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
The MCU might have given Captain America another love interest and other teases of relationships that could have gone the romantic route. However,Steve Rogers always had only one woman in his heart, and that was Peggy Carter. That is why it hurt when the inevitable had to happen. Steve was able to spend some time with the old Peggy when he woke up in the present, but she was bound to die soon.
I Know The Perfect Way For Avengers: Secret Wars To Redeem Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter After Her Latest Comments About The Hero’s MCU Ending
Hayley Atwell was underwhelmed by Captain Carter’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness cameo, and Avengers: Secret Wars can redeem her.
That happened inCaptain America: Civil War. Peggy’s funeral was a heartbreaking affair, with Steve mourning the death of the love of his life while his stance on the Sokovia Accords was dividing the MCU’s heroes.A visibly distraught Steve was one of those who carried Peggy’s coffin, making the moment as emotional as it could be. Thankfully, the MCU would find a way for them to reunite.
5Captain America & Bucky Fight Iron Man
While fight scenes are often seen as exciting moments where the action can sometimes take over the story,Captain America: Civil War’s final battle is easily not only one of Steve Rogers' most emotional MCU moments, but of the franchise as a whole.Steve knew that Bucky had killed the parents of Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark, choosing not to tell him so that he would not try to kill Bucky.
That reveal led to the audience being able to pinpoint the moment Iron Man’s heart breaks. Then, Captain America and Bucky engage Iron Man in one of the franchise’s most visceral fights. After Tony takes out the Winter Soldier, only the two main heroes of the Avengers are left fighting. Things get personal, withSteve beating Tony and leaving his iconic shield behind. It is an emotionally charged moment that broke up the Avengers.
4Steve Rogers Watches Bucky Barnes Turn Into Dust
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Avengers: Infinity War’s ending is not only the most shocking ending to an MCU film, but easilyone of the most wild finales in movie history. Thanos' arrival made it one of the franchise’s most fast-paced and chaotic entries. Pretty much every MCU hero was pulled into the conflict, with Captain America returning after he had spent quite some time on the run with his team.
Despite his best efforts to stop Thanos in Wakanda, even managing to hold the Mad Titan back by himself for a moment, Captain America was unable to stop the villain from using the Infinity Stones.The first hero to be snapped away by Thanos was Bucky Barnes, with Steve having to watch his best friend die again before his eyes. His defeated look as he fell to the ground showed that Captain America did not know what to do, which was heartbreaking.
3Steve Sees Peggy In The Past But Doesn’t Talk To Her
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Avengers: Endgamefound some interesting ways to weave Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter back into the story. Her first appearance in the film was enough to make anyone cry. Going back to the past to retrieve one of the Infinity Stones, Tony Stark met his dad, whileSteve Rogers stood just outside of Peggy’s office. He could see the love of his life, only she did not see him.
It was clear that Steve still missed Peggy and wanted them to be together.
The longing in his eyes, all the words he wanted to say but chose not to, and more made it one of the film’s most tragic moments. It was clear that Steve still missed Peggy and wanted them to be together. The emotional momentwould later inform the decision Captain America makes at the end of his MCU tenure, and based on his reaction here, it is completely understandable.
2Old Steve Rogers Gives Sam Wilson His Shield
Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson is the MCU’s new Captain America. He deserved the mantle, andAvengers: Endgamecame up with one of the franchise’s most emotional moments for Sam to take the next step in his journey. After having defeated Thanos with the Avengers, Captain America realized he had earned the right to retire and finally live his life with Peggy like he always wanted to.
An old Steve Rogers comes back to the present to hand off his shield to Sam Wilson. The moment he appears is already enough to make fans cry, as it means that Steve will no longer be around. Evans does a phenomenal job as the older Steve Rogers, who has had an entire life fans do not get to see. They have a sweet conversation about Steve living the life he always wanted to, and when Sam Wilson doubts himself, Steve reassures him, showing the strength of their friendship.
1Steve And Peggy Dance As The Infinity Saga Ends
Finally, Captain America’s most emotional MCU moment has to be his last, at least so far. Since Sam realized Steve got married, but he did not reveal who his wife was, it seemed like the answer was obvious. Marvel Studios revealed that whenAvengers: Endgame’s closing moments followed Steve in the past, with him deciding to stay with Peggy Carter.
Captain America’s final MCU moment could not have been better than him dancing with Peggy and the two sharing a kiss. Before he had been frozen for nearly seventy years,Steve and Peggy had promised one another they would go dancing. That finally came to pass, with Steve staying in the past to live with the woman he loved, making it the most emotional moment ofCaptain America’s MCU journey.
