The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of poignant death quotes, leaving lasting impressions on audiences with their emotional weight. Relative to the length of the franchise, the MCU has seen a number of noteworthy character deaths, both hero and villain alike. In most cases, Marvel’s saddest death scenes are punctuated by some incredible writing, with the series’ beloved heroes and villains leaving the series with some powerful final words.
The various last lines of Marvel Cinematic Universe characters can be haunting in multiple different ways. In the rare instances that heroic characters die, typically through some noble sacrifice, they often leave guttingly sad statements behind that reflect on their journey. In other cases, the MCU’s best villains can leave chilling warnings or cutting observations behind, getting in one last stab at their foes with their last cursing breaths.
10 “I Am Iron Man” – Iron Man
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The most obvious and noteworthy of all the MCU’s deaths is easily that of Tony Stark. The series’ flagship character for many years, Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man had some amazing lines, from quick-witted quips to iconic statements. His most impactful line is also his last, proclaiming himself to be Iron Man in response to Thanos’ early celebration. Snapping his fingers to destroy Thanos’ army with the Infinity Stones, Tony Stark dies a hero after having lived so selfishly for so long, forever proving himself as the ultimate MCU protagonist.
By repeating these words once more prior to his death,
Tony Stark cements his legacy in place
, leaving behind big shoes that the Marvel Cinematic Universe seems to still be unable to fit.
The first time Tony says these words, it’s just as powerful, admitting himself to be Iron Man in a press conference at the end of the MCU’s very first movie. By repeating these words once more prior to his death, Tony Stark cements his legacy in place, leaving behind big shoes that the Marvel Cinematic Universe seems to still be unable to fit. Tony Stark claiming to be Iron Man almost breaks the fourth wall, also indicating Robert Downey Jr.’s own pop culture dominance in the role.
9 “I’m Damn Lucky You’re My Boy” – Yondu
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
If there’s one subset of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that has never been afraid to pull its punches, it’s the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. Each film in the series has featured some tragic death or another, and even if they aren’t always permanent, they always extract a heavy emotional toll. The most haunting final words of any Guardians of the Galaxy cast member could very well go to Yondu, who sacrifices himself to save Peter Quill.
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Star-Lord and Yondu’s found family relationship is one of the emotional anchors around which Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 operates. Though neither of the two will openly admit their father-son relationship while they both live, Yondu at least makes the effort to solidify their bond in his final moments. In reference to Peter’s biological father, Ego, Yondu assures him that he’ll always be his “daddy”, no matter who his “father” is, and that he’s proud of it.
8 “Sky” – Lylla
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
The other tragic death making up one of the deepest lows of the Guardians of the Galaxy series, Lylla’s last words are just as heartbreaking as her actual murder. Admittedly, existing solely within a flashback, it’s not ultimately surprising when the High Evolutionary coldly guns down Rocket Raccoon’s friends right in front of him. But Lylla’s final words are the twist of the knife that make the moment so viscerally haunting.
Leading up to their escape attempt, Rocket’s childhood friends, Lylla, Teefs, and Floor, fantasize about the outside world that awaits them, eager to see concepts like the sky in person. Lying on her back, Lylla can only smile and envision what the sky might look like one more time, before growing cold in Rocket’s arms. Somehow, the MCU was able to make the death of a talking otter one of the most emotionally rending scenes of its entire cumulative runtime.
7 “They Knew Death Was Better Than Bondage” – Killmonger
Black Panther (2018)
Of all the villains of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, few can argue to be as morally vindicated as Erik Killmonger. Though his atrocious means may not be justified by his ends, Killmonger’s desire to see Wakanda use its technology to help the suffering of marginalized groups around the world. Even if he ultimately falls in combat to Black Panther, Killmonger’s point of few is clearly appreciated by T’Challa, especially after his final wishes, which are ultimately honored.
Watching the sun rise on Wakanda one last time while bleeding out in the arms of his cousin, Killmonger requests that he be buried at sea. He elaborates that he makes this request as a tribute to those who jumped from slave ships on the trans-Atlantic slave trade, “Because they knew death was better than bondage.” Killmonger’s last words were so compelling that T’Challa essentially adopts a version of his own philosophy, finally bringing Wakanda public with a dedicated outreach program.
6 “You Will Never Be A God” – Loki
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Loki has had the most “deaths” of any Marvel Cinematic Universe character. Faking his own death twice before coming back in the form of a rogue variant split off from the sacred timeline, Loki has had many “final words” over the course of the series, always finding a way to come back. That being said, the original Loki’s true death in Avengers: Infinity War serves as a haunting warning to his killer, none other than the Mad Titan Thanos.
As Thanos watches the life drain from Loki’s eyes, the trickster god manages to choke out one final warning – “You will never be a God.” Not only does this give Loki a last-minute victory of ego over his killer, at least holding some title above him, but it acts as an ominous prediction of Thanos’ own failure and narcissism. As proven by his younger self, deep down, Thanos wants to re-make the universe in his image, something Loki can see as someone who once desired the same thing.
5 “With Great Power, There Must Also Come Great Responsibility” – Aunt May
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
One of the most famous quotes in Marvel Comics took a surprisingly long time to manifest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Typically, Spider-Man’s sentiment that “With great power comes great responsibility” comes from Uncle Ben, typically portrayed as one of the last things he says to Peter before being killed. In previous MCU films, Spider-Man only made vague allusions to this phrase, never fully committing to the full thing.
That is, until Aunt May’s shocking death in Spider-Man: No Way Home. After being grievously wounded in the thrilling apartment building fight, Aunt May leaves Peter with a much more comic-accurate re-phrasing of the iconic words of wisdom. Compared to the disaster of Madame Web’s “When you take on the responsibility, great power will come.”, this version of the line is the thin silver lining to Aunt May’s heartbreaking exit from the series.
4 “You’re Unbearably Naive” – Ultron
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
It isn’t always anti-heroes like Loki who get the last word in despite being the one to meet their death at the hands of an opponent. Unable to convince his younger sibling to join him on his crusade against humanity, Ultron humors Vision with one last conversation after he’s whittled down to just a single drone. While Vision offers a cheerful sentiment on the temporary beauty of humanity, Ultron can only groan and call him “unbearably naive“.
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As mean as Ultron’s final words are, it’s hard not to say that they didn’t have a kernel of truth to them. Vision ends up being shocked by the lengths his lover will go to in resurrecting him in WandaVision, proving Ultron’s point about the ugly potential for wrongdoing humans hold. Considering Ultron will be returning in Vision’s upcoming series, these words could also refer to the futility of Vision’s attempt on his life, with Ultron’s true consciousness still existing somewhere as a backup.
3 “You Didn’t See That Coming” – Quicksilver
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Ultron’s final words weren’t the only poignant bits of dying dialogue from Avengers: Age of Ultron. Quicksilver’s death, while quite unceremonious, managed to be surprisingly eloquent with its choices for Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s final line delivery as Pietro Maximoff. Skidding to a stop after being riddled with bullets in his last minute bid to save the life of a stray Sokovian child (Not to mention Hawkeye), Quicksilver repeats his catchphrase from the film a final time – “You didn’t see that coming.“
Previously, Quicksilver used the same words to taunt his Avenger opponents, boasting his super speed as imperceptible to the human eye. But in this context, Quicksilver correctly calls Hawkeye out for being surprised he’d be willing to make such a sacrifice. With his delivery of the line, it seems as though Pietro also surprised himself with his actions, never before figuring himself to be the heroic type before seeing a child in the same dangerous situation he and his sister were once threatened by.
2 “Don’t Waste Your Life” – Yinsen
Iron Man (2008)
One of the most underrated influences in all the Marvel Cinematic Universe is none other than Ho Yinsen, Tony Stark’s fellow captive at the hands of the Ten Rings terrorist organization. Helping Tony build the very first Iron Man armor, Yinsen is mortally wounded in the chaos of their escape attempt, resigning himself to death as Tony marches out as Iron Man for the first time. His dying words went on to leave a massive impact on the series, begging Tony not to waste the second chance at life the armor had given him.
His dying words went on to leave a massive impact on the series, begging Tony not to waste the second chance at life the armor had given him.
Indeed, Yinsen deserves more credit for being responsible for Tony Stark’s heel turn from callous capitalism into altruistic heroism, not wanting to waste his good friend’s sacrifice. The Dr. Erskine to Tony Stark’s Steve Rogers, Yinsen’s inspiration of Tony to do good deserves more influence. It’s a shame Yinsen didn’t make an appearance in Soul World during Tony’s brief post-snap trip there in Avengers: Endgame, which would’ve served as a nice bookend to Tony’s arc.
1 “Perhaps I Treated You Too Harshly” – Thanos
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
While Thanos dies twice in Avengers: Endgame, the demise of his second incarnation is a completely silent resignation to the same fate he inflicted on trillions of beings. It’s the original Thanos’ last words before being decapitated by Thor that leave a much greater emotional crater, particularly for one MCU character. Looking up at Nebula one last time, Thanos muses that he may have been too cruel of a father figure to her, only to be swiftly killed by Thor before he can exagerrate.
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Like most lines from Thanos, “Perhaps I treated you too harshly” has taken a second life as a popular meme. But Nebula’s reaction to Thanos’ shocking admission of guilt, however small, over the way she was treated turns her world upside-down. Gingerly touching her cybernetic implants, which were installed as punishments for failure, Nebula is clearly shaken to the core by the final words of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s all-time greatest villain.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Captain America: Brave New World
Release Date February 14, 2025
- Thunderbolts*
Release Date May 2, 2025
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
Release Date July 25, 2025
- Blade (2025)
Release Date November 7, 2025
- Avengers: Doomsday
Release Date May 1, 2026
- Avengers: Secret Wars
Release Date May 7, 2027
Captain America: Brave New World
Thunderbolts*
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
Blade (2025)
Avengers: Doomsday
Avengers: Secret Wars