For most of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, has been a man out of time. Originally a WWII soldier recruited by the U.S. to fight Hitler and the Nazis, he was eventually frozen in ice and thawed in modern times when Nick Fury needed him for the Avengers Initiative. Marvel often jokes about and references how Captain America is too righteous, pure, and kind for our modern society. Here are our favorite moments when Captain America showed his noble qualities in the Marvel film series.
Mid-Battle, Cap Asks Tony to Watch His Language
They are the two opposing leaders of the Avengers. Tony Stark is reckless, arrogant, and (sometimes) foul-mouthed. The fearless Captain America, however, is a proper boy scout who sometimes asks Tony to watch his language, even embarrassing himself in the process. The scene is pure, and that’s why we love Cap.
During Battle, Captain America Takes Time to Seriously Introduce Himself to Groot
In defense of Captain America, besides the Guardians of the Galaxy members, not many people understand what “I am Groot” means. So when Cap hears this in Avengers: Infinity War, he thinks it’s a self-introduction. And he responds in an extremely sincere way.
Captain America Throws Himself on a Grenade to Save His New Recruit Comrades
Chester Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones) complains that wars aren’t won by being nice. They’re won by courage, guts, and instinct. He takes a live grenade and throws it into the middle of a platoon. Heroes scatter to take cover, but Rogers throws himself on it. It’s a test. And he passes.
Captain America Moves Mjolnir a Centimeter, Proving He’s Worthy to Lift Thor’s Hammer, Shocking Thor
Only those who are worthy can lift Thor’s hammer. That’s what the Avengers are told. One night, while hanging out in Stark Tower, they all try to see if they can lift Thor’s hammer. Only one person manages to move it a little… the righteous and kind Steve Rogers, the god among men.
Captain America Makes a List of Things He’s Missed, Including “Disco”
In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America meets Sam Wilson, and the two hit it off. They’re both dedicated men, soldiers loyal to their mission. Sam also wants to help Steve learn about all the fun things he missed while frozen… including Star Wars and disco.
Steve Tries to Align Himself with the Reflection of a Soldier, but He’s Too Short
From the start, Steve Rogers has had two defining characteristics: unwavering patriotism and being a weakling. Whenever the MCU evokes memory of either, it often tugs at the heartstrings. When the young man who dreams of serving his country tries to see himself in the reflection of a soldier’s uniform but realizes he’s too short (at least for now), our hearts ache.
The Captain Gets the Joke
Steve Rogers is a man from the past. In The Avengers, he’s confused most of the time, watching the “science bros” Tony Stark and Bruce Banner exchange theories, and Thor fight the Hulk. But when Nick Fury makes a joke about a “flying monkey butler,” a reference to The Wizard of Oz, a work from Steve Rogers’ era, he gets it! When he tells the team he gets the joke, he’s incredibly endearing.
Steve Has to Admit to Rocket That the Soldier Who’s Been Frozen for Decades Has Never Been to Space Before
After waking up from the ice, Steve Rogers encounters many things he never expected. Going to space must be a big one. When Rocket Raccoon asks which Avengers have never been to space, Rogers raises his hand like a fourth-grader, a moment that makes us acutely aware of how disconnected Steve is from the times.
Captain America Listens to Wanda and Vision Argue About Destroying the Mind Stone, Lamenting All the Sacrifices He’s Had to Make
Captain America is often the moral compass of the Avengers. This sometimes puts him at odds with the government, and sometimes with his teammates. When he hears lovers Vision and Wanda arguing about destroying the Mind Stone, Cap intervenes, saying, “We can’t trade lives.” But in the end, they have to.
Steve Tells Nick Fury He Has a Date
A wonderful final scene. Steve Rogers crashes into the ice, sacrificing himself to save thousands, and he has a date with the love of his life, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). When he wakes up in the future, he realizes he missed the date. Only temporarily.
Steve Travels Through Time and Finally Keeps the Date
It’s a great ending for Steve and Peggy. At the end of Avengers: Endgame, we see Captain America return all the Infinity Stones to their rightful places, then stay in the past so he can spend the rest of his life with Peggy. It’s the sweetest ending for one of the MCU’s most beloved couples.
Captain America Refuses to Fight Bucky on the Exploding S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier Because Bucky Is His Best Friend
There have been too many times when Captain America (Steve Rogers) could have made his life easier by simply taking care of Bucky. But even when Bucky is brainwashed by Hydra and becomes the Winter Soldier, Captain America still sees him as a brother. So Steve throws away his shield and refuses to fight Bucky anymore, a noble act. And he pays a price for that decision.
Steve Whispers to a Child in the Museum, Asking Him to Keep His Secret Identity
This is exactly how the righteous and kind Steve Rogers would handle such a situation. He’s on the run from a corrupt government, sneaking around in the Smithsonian Museum exhibition about his life. And he’s spotted by a kid. Steve just asks the kid to keep quiet and keep his secret. Yes, Captain.
Telling Friend Tony Stark the Most Brutal Truth, Captain America Can’t Lie
At the heart of Captain America: Civil War lies a shocking secret. Bucky, whom Captain America has protected throughout the movie, killed Tony Stark’s parents. He was the Winter Soldier at the time, but that doesn’t make it any easier. When Tony discovers the truth and asks Steve if he always knew, Captain America can’t lie. He tells Tony he did know. The team officially splits, not reconciling until Avengers: Endgame.