The Marvel Cinematic Universe has seen a number of deaths that only seem worse the more they’re thought about. From the very beginning of the MCU’s movie timeline, the franchise has not shied away from killing its characters. As well as the majority of the franchise’s villains meeting their mortal ends, the MCU has also seen multiple heroes die, alongside countless supporting characters being killed along the way.
The movies and TV shows of the MCU, often make these deaths mean something in the greater workings of the franchise, but when some of them are more closely examined, they become incredibly horrible. When considering the reality of some of the deaths in the MCU, they seem so much worse, whether for logistical reasons or emotional ones. With that in mind, here are 10 MCU deaths that only get worse the more you think about them.
10
Jasper Sitwell Being Kicked Off A Roof
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier received incredibly high praise for its action sequences, especially when it came to the brutality of its fight scenes. It’s a movie that sees many character deaths, and although many of them are minor or supporting characters, few of them are pleasant. However, one in particular stands out as especially bad the more it’s thought about: Jasper Sitwell being kicked off of a roof by Natasha Romanoff.
The scene in question sees Sam Wilson, Steve Rogers, and Romanoff abducting and interrogating Sitwell over Hydra’s infiltration of SHIELD. After effectively torturing the agent by dangling him over a fatal drop, Sam and Steve are dismissed by Sitwell as being incapable of murdering him in such a way. Seeing his fear give way to tentative relief only to be snatched away as Romanoff kicks him to his death makes it clear that it was a horrible way to die, even for a character as unpleasant as Sitwell.
9
Black Bolt Imploding His Own Head
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)
Black Bolt made his long-awaited debut in the MCU as part of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’s Illuminati. The character was established as one of Earth-838’s most powerful and influential heroes, with his abilities well documented in both the comics and in his role on the short-lived TV show Inhumans. Black Bolt is among the heroes killed by the Scarlet Witch, with his death proving especially gruesome.
Knowing the destructive power of Black Bolt’s voice, Wanda uses her magic to remove his mouth. Realizing what she’s done, he lets out a scream, and the force is reflected inward, imploding Black Bolt’s head. The fear, pain, and confusion he must have felt in the moments before his death make it seem so much worse the more you think about it, especially as it was involuntarily self-inflicted.
8
Pietro Maximoff Making A Heroic Sacrifice
Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)
Avengers: Age of Ultron saw the full debut of the Maximoff Twins in the MCU after they were teased in the post-credits scene of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. However, only one of the twins was destined to become a full member of the Avengers in the franchise, as Quicksilver did not survive the Battle of Sokovia. In an act of heroism, Quicksilver was sH๏τ and killed protecting innocents and Hawkeye from the gunfire of an Ultron drone.
Considering Quicksilver was introduced as a villain, his death coming the way it did was subtly devastating. It was his final act in the MCU, and it was exactly the one that proved he could be a great hero within the franchise. It was a tragic moment and a heartbreaking death for the MCU, and it only gets sadder the more it’s thought about.
7
Proxima Midnight Being Ground Up By A Thresher
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Proxima Midnight’s role in the MCU was relatively minor and decidedly short-lived, but that doesn’t make her death any less gruesome. Introduced in Avengers: Infinity War as one of Thanos’ most trusted lieutentants, Proxima Midnight is shown fighting against the heroes of Earth in several locations. The Battle of Wakanda sees her battling multiple Avengers, and just when she gains the upper hand over Black Widow, Wanda Maximoff magically throws her across the battlefield.
As part of Thanos’s forces, no one grieved Proxima Midnight, but her death was still an unpleasant one.
It’s there that Proxima Midnight meets her grisly end, and she’s immediately caught by a moving thresher machine, where she is swiftly liquefied by its moving parts. Though it was undoubtedly a quick death, it must have also been an incredibly painful one, compounded by the abruptness with which Wanda was able to turn the tide of the battle against her. As part of Thanos’s forces, no one grieved Proxima Midnight, but her death was still an unpleasant one.
6
Gamora Being Sacrificed By Thanos
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Gamora’s MCU story may not be over, but her death in Avengers: Infinity War was a deceptively horrible one. After being brought to Vormir by Thanos, it is revealed that he must sacrifice her in order to obtain the Soul Stone. Coming alongside the revelation that she is the person he loves the most, Gamora is then sacrificed by Thanos in a shocking and surprisingly emotional moment for the Mad тιтan.
It’s the context of Gamora’s death that actually makes it seem worse on reflection. After spending most of her life hating and fearing Thanos, but still desperately seeking his approval, Gamora learns that he truly loves her, only for him to then kill her. It’s an ending that will undoubtedly have taken Gamora on an unpleasant emotional journey in the short span between her arrival on Vormir and being killed by her adoptive father.
5
Anatoly Ranskahov Having His Head Slammed In A Car Door
Daredevil (2015)
First released on Netflix, Marvel’s Daredevil marked the debut of Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin. The first time in which Wilson Fisk’s true nature was fully shown remains one of the most unforgettably violent moments in MCU history, as he dealt out retribution for a slight from one of his criminal ᴀssociates. After believing that Anatoly Ranskahov embarrᴀssed him, Fisk repeatedly slams the man’s head into his car door, crushing his skull to a bloody pulp.
The death is even more horrible when the reality of it is considered from Ranskahov’s point of view. The growing sense of unease immediately giving way to being physically overpowered by an enraged Kingpin is bad, but the pain of being killed in such a manner is worse. It took many slams to fully kill Ranskahov, meaning that he was likely aware of what was occurring during the vicious and fatal attack.
4
Loki Being Choked To Death By Thanos
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
There have been many shocking superhero deaths in the MCU, but few as devastating as that of Loki in Avengers: Infinity War. Considering the movie picked up immediately after the events of Thor: Ragnarok, Loki had only just completed his MCU redemption arc and witnessed the total destruction of his home and then the slaughter of Asgardian refugees by Thanos. Embracing his new role as a hero, Loki stands up to the Mad тιтan, only to pay the ultimate price.
loki
Thanos’s reaction to Loki’s attempt to trick him is simple and effective. He grabs the God of Mischief by the throat, then proceeds to choke the life out of him in one of the MCU’s most graphic deaths to date. Not only is it a slow and terrifying way to die, but considering the wider context of its place in Loki’s MCU story, it’s a death that gets sadder and more upsetting the more it’s thought about.
3
Maria Stark Being Murdered By The Winter Soldier
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Another of the MCU’s deaths by choking, which is even more horrible than it seems, is glimpsed during a flashback in Captain America: Civil War. The scene shows a brainwashed Winter Soldier setting out on a mission for Hydra, attacking Howard and Maria Stark in their car. After making them crash, the Winter Soldier proceeds to kill Howard. Then, turning to his wife, Maria, he chokes her to death and casually walks away.
Maria’s death is especially horrible when you really think about it. One moment, she’s traveling somewhat happily with her husband, and the next, the car is crashing. Then, her husband is killed right in front of her, all before her final moments were spent up close and personal with Hydra’s most terrifying ᴀssᴀssin. It’s a horrible and terrifying death for an MCU character who was completely innocent.
2
Vision’s Double Death
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Avengers: Infinity War saw many unpleasant deaths, but Vision’s was by far the worst. Realizing that Thanos is attempting to gather the Infinity Stones, Wanda is forced to kill Vision, destroying the Stone in a moment of noble sacrifice for the artificial life form. However, Thanos simply uses the Time Stone to turn back Vision’s death, much to the hero’s horror. The Mad тιтan then unceremoniously tears the Mind Stone from Vision’s head, killing him almost instantly.
Vision’s double death gets worse the more you think about it. Making the impossible decision to lay down your life for the greater good only to be brought back to witness your greatest fear come to pᴀss is utterly horrifying. Vision’s final moments were spent knowing that Thanos would win despite his heroic sacrifice, and that’s an especially terrible way to go out.
1
Sharon Davis Dying On The Witches’ Road
Agatha All Along (2024)
The cast of Agatha All Along featured multiple witches, but in the absence of a Green Witch, Agatha opted to bring gardener Sharon Davis, one of the survivors from Wanda’s Westview Hex. The Witches’ Road proves incredibly dangerous, however, and Sharon is unable to survive the first trial, succumbing to the poison in front of the other members of the coven. It’s a sad death, but it’s even worse when the wider context of Sharon Davis’s feelings is considered.
After surviving a terrifying ordeal in Westview, Sharon Davis was simply happy to be included in the coven’s adventure. She wasn’t a witch, nor did she have any knowledge or expertise to ᴀssist the coven, but her positive atтιтude made her incredibly likable. The abrupt, tragic, and avoidable nature of her death makes it so much more upsetting, and it’s undeniably one of the worst ways that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has killed a character off.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Created by
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Kevin Feige
- First Film
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Iron Man
- Upcoming Films
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ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, Blade (2025), The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Avengers: Doomsday (2026), Avengers: Secret Wars
- First TV Show
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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
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Upcoming MCU Movies
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Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday
- Release Date
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May 1, 2026
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Spider-Man: Brand New Day
- Release Date
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July 31, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027
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